Sarah Kasprowiczkasprowiczs@merton.k12.wi.us

Kelli Kwiatkowskikwiatkok@elmbrookschools.org

WATG Board of Directors

2012 Fall ConferenceGifted Lives: Engaged, Enlightened, Empowered

#WATG12

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF GIFTED CHILDREN?

•Healthy Relationship with themselves•Healthy Relationship with others•Healthy Relationship with their world

~Lisa Rivero, Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)

•Asynchronous Development•Intensity•Perfectionism•Misunderstandings

• 6 Profiles

Gifted children develop in multiple layers. They can appear very mature in some areas and less mature in others.

You could see all of the below items at the same time:

•Highly advanced intellect•Advanced sense of humor•Acutely aware of fairness and injustice in the world•Unable to tie their own shoes•Need to sleep with the light on•Unable to express their advanced thoughts in writing

Frustration with themselves, others and their world in general.

•Not much in common with age peers•Children may feel more like “themselves” with intellectual peers, younger children, older children or with adults•Friendship issue may occur

Gifted children have a more intense experience when making sense of themselves, others and their world.

INTENSITY

Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities and Theory of Positive Disintegration

Psychomotor Sensual Intellectual Imaginational Emotional

“MELLOW OUT” Written by Michael

Piechowski, Ph. D.

“Mellow out,” they say, to which I can only respond, “If only I could.” At birth I was crucified with this mind that has caused me considerable pain, and frustration with teachers, coaches, peers, my family, but most of all with myself.

~Carol, cover illustrator

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR INTENSITY

Help children with stress management Help with task analysis and time management Assistance with transitions Suggest involvement in Tae Kwon Do Discussions with student about triggers Counseling about intensity Do not attempt to “fix” the intensity. Children and parents need to accept intensity and

develop strategies to accommodate for themselves.

Parents might see:

Task avoidance Apathy Difficulty with task

completion Anxiety

Ideas for Coping Skills

BETTS AND NEIHART, 1988

The Successful

The Underground

The Creative

The At - Risk

The Autonomous Learner

Twice/Multi Exceptional

Matrix of Feelings, Behaviors and Support Needed from Home and School

LET’S HEAR FROM GIFTED CHILDREN

Video

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What are the advantages of addressing the social and emotional needs of gifted children in your school’s RtI process?

VENT ?

What are the challenges with addressing the social and emotional needs of gifted children in your school’s RtI process?

BRAINSTORM

What has worked well for your district when addressing the social and emotional needs of gifted children in your RtI process?

Intervention Needs Attendance Underachievement Technology Violations Conflict Resolution Decision-making Goal Setting and Achievement Social Skills Others?

Intervention Ideas Wisconsin DPI: RtI and Gifted Education Mentorships (getting one or becoming one) Diet Change Bibliotherapy Schedule change Small group based on interest/passion Alone time Journaling or Blogging

Intervention Ideas Service learning project Project-based learning (Buck Institute for

Education) School-Home communication system Time to exercise, run, move about Intellectual Peer Groups Outlet for creative expression

Art, Dance, writing, music

The New RtI: Response to Intelligence by Penny Choice and Dr. Sally Walker

SKYWARD STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

SKYWARD CATEGORIES CAN BE TWEAKED

SKYWARD

The Gifted and Talented module seems to be there just for reporting purposes.

The RtI module can be tweaked New drop down menus can’t be created. The

interface is rigid. New options within the existing dropdowns can

be added. There are 5 tiers available in Skyward’s RtI

Module Tier 1: Universal Tier 2. Select Tier 3: Targeted Tier 4: GT2 Tier 5: GT3

DROP DOWN MENUS

Add interventions that are connected to current classroom and district level GT programming Independent Contracts Accelerated Math WCATY coursework Leadership Camps Guidance Groups

Add Underachievement and social / emotional needs as an area of intervention need

(SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE GIFTED)

SENG Model Parent Group

Website Background information Videos Power Points Articles Conferences SENGinars

Establish an environment in which facilitators provide support and guidance, so parents of talented children can interact and learn from each other.

Increase parents’ awareness that talented children and their families have special emotional needs.

Develop parenting skills for nurturing the emotional development of talented children.

Provide parents with materials to enhance understanding of:

Characteristics of high potential children. Programs and opportunities for talented children. Relevant books and professional organizations. Referrals for more in-depth professional assistance.

Encourage parent involvement in and support of appropriate educational opportunities.

(SENG website)

THANK YOU!

#WATG12