PSYCHOLOGY

Teaching Gifted Children

Teaching Gifted Children

Introduction

Chloe is a bright pupil in grade 8th. She is gifted when it comes to the subjects Science and Math and is amongst the 5% of children in United Kingdom who are currently gifted or exceptionally talented which makes it up to 3 million children in UK alone. Gifted children are those who are high achievers as they are talented and exceptionally able. They are different from their peers as they learn quicker and sooner than others do.

Gifted Children like Chloe and Their Characteristics

Chloe was identified, as a gifted child after data was collected to determine this through quantitative and qualitative methods. The Quantitative methods were tests and assessments and Qualitative data was the nomination from peers, parents and the faculty at the school, a checklist was created to assess the child's achievements and the potential she had and examples of her work (Robinson, 2002).

The Characteristics Chloe have are what got her the attention from her teachers and parents initially. These are also the characteristics most children who are talented and gifted have in common. She exhibited keen power of observing things and minor details. She was a quick learner and started to read before school age. She has a rich vocabulary and likes to use unusual and rarely used words. She is very intellectually curious and absorbs data so rapidly that she has been often referred to as a sponge. She has a good memory, is able to recall information from various situations, has the capability to concentrate for long periods of time, and has a large span of attention. She reasons well and also is an efficient problem solver. Her interest is intense and has an imagination that has been termed unusual. Her interests are different from those who are of her age. Her interests are in resolving and looking for answers of questions such as global warming and poverty. She is sensitive in nature and can get upset easily however she is a compassionate person as she is concerned about justice, right, and wrong.

Those who are intellectually able see the world different from how others of their age do which is what makes them stand out and sets them apart. Due to this, they can be left in isolation most times as their instinctive sensitive nature and almost adult like behavior makes it hard for them to develop and maintain friendships. It is crucial to remember that these individuals have the same sensibilities and are vulnerable like other children, which makes it the duty of the parents and educators to support and nurture their needs.

Ways Chloe Can Reach her Full Potential

Those who are gifted and exceptionally talented can be both a challenge as well as be resourceful to a school. The educational needs of these students need to be met by educators, as many times these children are capable of learning and reaching advanced levels. The ideal situation would be for schools to hire special staff who is trained and skilled to ...