Malleable Minds: Translating Insights from Psychology and Neuroscience to Gifted Education is a new publication of the National Research Center on Gifted Education. The premise of the book is to present new finding on 1) what motivates children to learn and 2) what fosters the perseverance and resilience that leads to long-term achievement, and 3) what kinds of tasks and instruction build the underlying abilities that we call intelligence or talent.
Although the book is geared toward educators there are great insights for parents. The first topic that can influence parenting is the concept of mindsets towards intelligence. The researchers categorized two mindsets. The first they term fixed mindset, and those that hold this mindset believe that intelligence is a fixed trait. The second theory is termed growth mindset. In this theory, the belief is that "No matter how much intelligence you have, you can change it quite a bit." (Dweck 1999)
What do mindsets predict? . . .(a) students' desire to learn (b) their belief in the power of effort (c) resilience in the face of setbacks and (d) their achievement over difficult transitions.
Some of the practices that induce a fixed mindset- like praise for intelligence- are particularly germane to students who are considered gifted. When they are told how smart they are or complimented for their strengths, many of these students adopt a fixed mindset. They begin to worry about how smart they look, to believe that they should not need effort to achieve in school or accomplish their goals, and to lose their resilience when they experience difficulty.
(Malleable Minds, 2012)
How does this impact parenting? If you want your child to improve achievement, be resilient and reach their highest potential, you need to help instill in your child a growth mindset. You need to help them value and believe in effort as a vehicle for academic success. They should understand that even geniuses have to work hard for great discoveries. In fact, focus, perseverance and self-improvement or deliberate practice is the one thing that separates geniuses who make creative contributions from those who were equally talented early on. Parents are the greatest influence on their child's values, and can help instill a growth mindset.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Gifted Student's Socio Emotional Needs
This is a short excerpt from Nicholas Colangelo's monograph, Counseling Gifted and Talented Students. Sometimes educators and parents get so caught up in addressing academic need that we forget to address students' socio-emotional needs. Dr. Colangelo's work helps me keep a good balance.
The following insights are based on a synthesis of research as well as my own observations/work over the past nearly three decades.
• Gifted students are typically as well adjusted as other peers.
• Social-emotional issues are present because of exceptional ability.
• In our society it is not smart to be smart.
• Meeting the cognitive needs of gifted students often meets simultaneously their social-emotional needs.
• Teenage years are the most difficult socially for gifted students.
• To be a gifted minority student is an added social challenge for these students.
• Intelligence is no assurance of character.
• Gifted students are not prone to suicide in any greater numbers than other students in their age group.
• Depression, anxiety, and isolation are among the common difficulties with gifted students.
• Gifted students do not have lower or more inflated self-concepts than nongifted age peers.
• Gifted students are more sensitive to the social needs of their nongifted peers than the reverse
• The messages that students receive from society about exceptional talent are only ambivalent in regards to intellectual talent.
• Underachievement in schools by gifted students is a manifestation of a combination of social-psychological tensions.
• Parents do not always know what is best for their gifted children.
• It is possible to be gifted and disabled (or have a disorder) simultaneously.
• Children benefit from counselors as part of their development in schools.
Gifted students get less than their share of counselor time and attention.
The complete monograph can be found at the National Research Center for Gifted and Talented.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
November 2013
I want to inform you of the generosity of Paul Sanford. He has given us $4000 for our robotics program. His generosity has made it possible for us to upgrade to the newest version of Lego Robotics and to compete in the FIRST Lego Leagues Robotics competition. Thank you for the generous gift.
Third Grade
The third grade group has been studying techniques to improve creative thinking. We have used the techniques of productive thinking, SCAMPER and Category List. We have been working on evaluating our ability to think fluently, flexibly, with elaboration and originality. We have enjoyed creative thinking activities.
The students have also investigated five traits of giftedness, above-average ability, task commitment, creativity, courage and caring. We have looked closely at each trait and then evaluated ourselves on these traits. Our last activity will be to make a book to show our strengths in these areas.
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade students have been studying social justice. We have investigated religious intolerance, racism, child labor and bullying through literature and art. The students have worked on developing their visual and verbal communication skills through art, drawing, writing and poetry labs. This month, we began an independent research project on a self selected social injustice. Next month, we will use the knowledge from our research to create a persuasive piece to promote social justice.
Fifth Grade
The fifth graders have been working hard to prepare for the FLL competition. They have learned how to program the robots and have completed numerous tasks. To complete a task, students used creative problem solving, inventive thinking, logical thinking, and scientific research. The tasks are very complex. The second component of the competition is to present an invention to solve a natural disaster. The students researched natural disasters and decided to address flooding. They listed many inventive solutions and then decided to create a new type of ditch that has a drop down to a storage tank when the ditch fills. We learned more about flooding and the most current techniques to mitigate flooding from Calette Orr. Thank you Mrs. Orr.
We will compete at Arab High School on December 7th.
Miscellaneous
Do you need resources for holiday gifts? Here is a resource from Hogies Gifted Education
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/shopping_guide.htm
Third Grade
The third grade group has been studying techniques to improve creative thinking. We have used the techniques of productive thinking, SCAMPER and Category List. We have been working on evaluating our ability to think fluently, flexibly, with elaboration and originality. We have enjoyed creative thinking activities.
The students have also investigated five traits of giftedness, above-average ability, task commitment, creativity, courage and caring. We have looked closely at each trait and then evaluated ourselves on these traits. Our last activity will be to make a book to show our strengths in these areas.
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade students have been studying social justice. We have investigated religious intolerance, racism, child labor and bullying through literature and art. The students have worked on developing their visual and verbal communication skills through art, drawing, writing and poetry labs. This month, we began an independent research project on a self selected social injustice. Next month, we will use the knowledge from our research to create a persuasive piece to promote social justice.
Fifth Grade
The fifth graders have been working hard to prepare for the FLL competition. They have learned how to program the robots and have completed numerous tasks. To complete a task, students used creative problem solving, inventive thinking, logical thinking, and scientific research. The tasks are very complex. The second component of the competition is to present an invention to solve a natural disaster. The students researched natural disasters and decided to address flooding. They listed many inventive solutions and then decided to create a new type of ditch that has a drop down to a storage tank when the ditch fills. We learned more about flooding and the most current techniques to mitigate flooding from Calette Orr. Thank you Mrs. Orr.
We will compete at Arab High School on December 7th.
Miscellaneous
Do you need resources for holiday gifts? Here is a resource from Hogies Gifted Education
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/shopping_guide.htm
Thursday, September 12, 2013
September News
Alabama Association for Gifted Children will hold their annual conference September 26th and 27th at McWane Science center. Parents are welcome any part of the conference, but on September 27th there will be sessions specifically for parents. Please visit the AAGC website for more information (http://www.alabamagifted.org/?page_id=948 ).
Fifth Grade students have begun our FLL Robotics. We are building one of the field kits, and starting on our Project. This year's topic is Natural Disasters. If you have any contacts with scientists or EMS, we would love to reach out to them as experts to consult. We will begin afternoon sessions on Wednesdays as soon as the software is loaded.
Fourth Grade has begun a unit on Art and Social Justice. We will be looking at issues of injustice, and ways to be agents of change. Visual Art and written art will be the media we will investigate. We will learn how writers and artists can use their talent to make meaningful change.
Third Grade has begun and we are focusing on learning about the brain and how we can maximize our abilities. We will learn creative thinking skills and critical thinking skills as part of this unit. We will also learn about giftedness and the five traits of eminence, above average ability, creativity, task commitment, courage and caring.
We have lots of excitement and learning going on. Thank you for your support.
Fifth Grade students have begun our FLL Robotics. We are building one of the field kits, and starting on our Project. This year's topic is Natural Disasters. If you have any contacts with scientists or EMS, we would love to reach out to them as experts to consult. We will begin afternoon sessions on Wednesdays as soon as the software is loaded.
Fourth Grade has begun a unit on Art and Social Justice. We will be looking at issues of injustice, and ways to be agents of change. Visual Art and written art will be the media we will investigate. We will learn how writers and artists can use their talent to make meaningful change.
Third Grade has begun and we are focusing on learning about the brain and how we can maximize our abilities. We will learn creative thinking skills and critical thinking skills as part of this unit. We will also learn about giftedness and the five traits of eminence, above average ability, creativity, task commitment, courage and caring.
We have lots of excitement and learning going on. Thank you for your support.
FLL Robotics Volunteers
We have received two field kits this year. The Kimbel family generously donated a foldable table and the funds to purchase a second field kit. I am now looking for adults to help build the items for the second table. Please come whenever you have free time Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday 8 am to 3pm. I will supply you with the Legos and the directions.
Lego play for adults!
Lego play for adults!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
NAGC Mile Marker Series
The National Association for Gifted Children ( NAGC) is a great resource for information on addressing the needs of gifted and talented children. One of their resources for parents is the Mile Marker Series. There is a preview of the CD available for free (preview). This is an excellent place to start learning about the GT label, what it means, and how to help develop your child's potential.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Happenings
We are busy working to finish projects. Third grade is in the middle of the unit, Journeys and Destinations. They are working hard to finish a study of the book, The Green Book. Fourth grade is working on their website for the unit, At The Mall. The website shows their creativity and their algebraic abilities. Fifth grade is working on the unit, Autobiographies. They are writing an autobiographical essay and studying Children's authors. We are very busy finalizing the semester.
It doesn't seem possible but with testing and other end of the year activities, SPACE students only have five more SPACE days as of April 1. We are working hard to complete what we can, but our time together is short. It never seems that I get enough time to work with your students. Both the children and I have so many ideas for learning!
Thank you to all the parents and children who helped make me feel special during teacher appreciation week. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
It doesn't seem possible but with testing and other end of the year activities, SPACE students only have five more SPACE days as of April 1. We are working hard to complete what we can, but our time together is short. It never seems that I get enough time to work with your students. Both the children and I have so many ideas for learning!
Thank you to all the parents and children who helped make me feel special during teacher appreciation week. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
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