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Parent / Family Resources
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Possible Problems That May Be Associated with
Characteristic Strengths of Gifted
Children* |
|
Characteristic
Strengths |
Possible Problem
Behaviors |
| Acquires and retains information
quickly |
Impatient with others; dislikes basic
routine |
| Inquisitive; searches for
significance |
Asks embarrassing questions; excessive in
interests |
| Intrinsic motivation |
Strong willed; resists
direction |
| Enjoys abstractions and problem solving;
able to conceptualize & synthesize |
Resists routine practice; questions
teaching procedures |
| Emphasizes truth, equity, and fair
play |
Worries about humanitarian
concerns |
| Seeks to organize people and
things |
Constructs complicated rules; often seen
as bossy |
| Large vocabulary; advanced, broad
information |
May use words to manipulate; bored with
school and age peers |
| High expectations of self and
others |
Intolerant, perfectionistic; may become
depressed |
| Creative / inventive; likes new ways of
doing things |
May be seen as disruptive and out of
step |
| Intense concentration; long attention
span and persistence in areas of interest |
Neglects duties or people during periods
of focus; resists interruption; stubborn |
| Sensitivity, empathy; desire to be
accepted by others |
Sensitivity to criticism or peer
rejection |
| High energy and alertness;
eagerness |
Frustration with inactivity; may be seen
as overactive |
| Independent; prefers individualized work;
reliant on self |
May be a non-conformist; may reject
parent or peer input |
| Diverse interests and abilities;
versatility |
May appear disorganized or scattered;
frustrated over lack of time |
| Strong sense of humor |
Peers may misunderstand humor; may become
"class clown" for attention. |
| Seeks cause and effect
relationships |
May experience discomfort with the unclear
or illogical (such as traditions or emotions) |
*Adapted from Clark (1992) and Seagoe (1974). Source:
ERIC Digest #E527
ERIC Digests are in the public domain and
may be freely reproduced and
disseminated. |
Links for
Families:
Mississippi
Department of Education's Gifted Education Page
This site
contains MDE publications and regulations regarding gifted education
programs as well as contact info for the gifted education specialist
at the Mississippi Department of Education.
Karnes Center
for Gifted Studies
This site lists
services available in Mississippi to parents, teachers, and others
interested in gifted children and youth.
Hoagies' Gifted
Education Parent Page
This is a resource site for parents and
educators of gifted children. It includes articles, research, books,
organizations, conferences, on-line support groups, academic
programs, products, humor, and more.
National
Association for Gifted Children
This site gives parents
information about giftedness, its characteristics, and why gifted
education should be supported. NAGC is a non-profit organization of
parents, teachers, educators, community leaders, and other
professionals who unite to address the unique needs of all children
and youth with demonstrated gifts and talents, as well as those who
may be able to develop their talent potential with appropriate
educational experiences.
ERIC Digests about
GIfted Education
These digests (short articles) on gifted
education are from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted
Education (ERIC EC), one of 16 federally funded ERIC
Clearinghouses.
Gifted
Resources
This enormous site has links to all kinds of online
gifted resources, including enrichment programs, talent searches,
mailing lists, early acceptance programs, contact information for
local organizations and government programs, and many other links.
It is constantly updated.
Gifted
Development Center
"Since 1979, The Gifted Development Center
(GDC) has served as a resource center for developmentally advanced
children and their parents and for gifted individuals of all ages.
We provide in-depth assessment, counseling, consulting services and
innovative materials..." (from the website).
Duke Talent
Identification Program
"The Duke
University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) identifies
gifted children and provides resources to nurture the development of
these exceptionally bright youngsters. Through Duke TIP a whole
range of activities and programs are accessible to parents and
teachers to meet the individual needs of gifted children." (from the
website)
Summer Institute for
the Gifted (SIG)
This site provides information about unique
programs for gifted students.
Davidson
Institute
A private foundation that offers free services
(including yearly fellowships up to $50,000) to profoundly
intelligent young people, their parents, and the professionals who
serve them.
GATE Programs
Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs promote differentiated
educational programs for students in grade school, middle school and
high school.
Special Schools for Gifted High
Schoolers:
The Mississippi School of the
Arts is a residential school that will provide advanced programs
of study in music, theatre, visual arts, dance, literary arts, and
media arts for artistically gifted eleventh and twelfth grade
students from districts across the state. Curriculum at MSA will
focus on the arts and humanities.
The
Mississippi School for Math and
Science is the nation's fourth, publicly-funded, residential,
co-educational high school emphasizing mathematics and science.
Located on the campus of Mississippi University for Women in
Columbus , MSMS is the school-year home to approximately 270
eleventh- and twelfth-grade students representing all geographic
areas of Mississippi.
Problem Solving Competitions:
Destination
Imagination "encourages students of all ages to build on their
strengths and to discover skills they never knew they possessed, be
they technical, theatrical, analytical, comic, linguistic,
musical...the list goes on." (quote from DI marketing vice
president)
Future Problem Solving
of Mississippi
"Teaching students creative problem solving
processes through competitive and non-competitive instructional
programs so they learn to work with others in designing positive
futures" (quote from FPS site)
Mississippi Chess Association
provides information about scholastic chess in
Mississippi.
Invent America is a K-8
teacher-created program that helps kids learn by inventing
Odyssey of the Mind
"fosters creative thinking and problem-solving skills among
participating students and features an annual competition component
at local through international levels. Students solve problems in a
variety of areas, from building mechanical devices such as
spring-driven vehicles to giving their own interpretation of
literary classics." (quote from their web site)
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