Gifted and Gifted and Talented Talented StudentsStudents

SOME MYTHSSOME MYTHSAll gifted children are high achievers;

they don't have to work hard for exam success.

Gifted children are self-directed, they know where they are heading.

Gifted children enjoy serving as examples for other children and they should always assume extra responsibility.

'Giftedness' is something to be envious of.

REALITIES?REALITIES?Can be perfectionists and idealists: grades +

achievement = self-esteem + self-worth. This can lead to fear of failure; a barrier to achievement and development.

Social and emotional development may not be at the same level as intellectual development.  

High expectations = constant guilt and anxiety over achievements or grades perceived to be low.

Boredom!    

Individual DifferencesIndividual Differences Unique profile of talents, abilities,

strengths and relative weaknesses.

Factors that help one child to develop will not always be appropriate for others.

May develop faster in some respects and slower than expected in other respects.

Some gifted children are "mappers" ( Sequential learners ), while others are "leapers" ( Spatial learners ). Leapers often can't say how they got a "right answer". Mappers may get lost in the steps leading to the right answer.

Hearts and MindsHearts and MindsDevelop self-esteem and confidence,

through merited praise and encouragement.

Praise effort and perseverance in preference to ‘cleverness’: build resilience

Allow failures and mistakes: build resilience

Learn to interact with others. Be most proud of who they are, and

not simply of what they achieve. Ability is not the centre of your relationship.

What What three three things could your things could your parents/family do to help you make parents/family do to help you make greater progress?greater progress?

What can I do?What can I do?Complement don’t replicate what

goes on at school. Talk with them and listen to them. Extend general knowledge with a

‘fact of the week’, extend vocabulary with ‘word of the week’

Encourage physical activity. Use ICT. Encourage sampling new activities.

More ideasMore ideasPuzzles, crosswords, logic games,

word games, card games and board games to develop thinking skills and social interaction.

Learn a new language together?A broad range of experiences. Space and some free unstructured

time to experiment and develop hobbies and interests: self-regulation and engagement

Avoiding Avoiding UnderachievementUnderachievementPeers.Busy adolescents who are involved in

clubs, sports, and religious activities are less likely to underachieve. Those with too much free time may develop poor self-regulation strategies.

Develop regular patterns of work and practice. Regular time for homework and reading can be very helpful for developing positive self-regulation strategies.

Web LinksWeb LinksThe DfES websites for parents:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/ExamsTestsAndTheCurriculum/DG_10037625 and www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/parentalinvolvement.

Looking Ahead to Looking Ahead to RUSSELL GROUP RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIESUNIVERSITIES

University of BirminghamUniversity of BristolUniversity of CambridgeCardiff UniversityUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of Glasgow Imperial College LondonKing's College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity of Leeds

University of LiverpoolLondon School of

Economics and Political Science

University of ManchesterNewcastle UniversityUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of OxfordQueen's University BelfastUniversity of SheffieldUniversity of SouthamptonUniversity of Warwick

1994 Group1994 GroupUniversity of Bath Birkbeck, University of London Durham University University of East AngliaUniversity of EssexUniversity of Exeter Goldsmiths, University of

London Institute of Education, LondonRoyal Holloway, London Lancaster University

University of Leicester Loughborough University Queen Mary, University

of London University of ReadingUniversity of St Andrews School of Oriental and

African Studies University of Surrey University of Sussex University of York

Looking ahead?Looking ahead?

GCSE requirements:◦Medical courses may ask for 5 or more A*◦Have to have Maths and English to C for

any university but many now ask for at least B in both first time round for all courses

◦Examples: English degree requires MFL, Business requires B in Maths, Psychology requires B in Maths and science.

◦UCL introducing a foreign language requirement at GCSE

Looking ahead.Looking ahead.Choices at GCSEThe English Baccalaureate English, mathematics, history or

geography, the sciences and a language.

At A Level select at least two of your 4 AS courses from the ‘facilitating subjects’: English Literature, Geography, History, Languages, Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry