30 October 2011
Useful journal articles
Provides strategies in providing for gifted and talented students
http://www.cde.state.co.us/gt/gtOtherProgsComps.htm
USA competitions for gifted and talented
9 October 2011
Competitions can be a barrier
This post is going to highlight some problems associated with gifted and talented students participating in competitions.
Competitions are not inclusive for all students because some students fear failure and cannot perform under pressure and other students can simply not deal with the stress of trying to reach perfectionism (Riley and Karnes, 2005). Rimm (1986) states how some gifted and talented students may not be suitable to participate in competitions especially if there is an over emphasis on winning. It is more suitable for students to compete against themselves for 'self improvement'. Therefore, it is important that teachers discuss competitions with parents/caregivers before signing students up. Students need to do their own research into the competition too by asking themselves, "Am I interested in this? Do I have the skills to carry out the task, the time and the support? It is also important that schools work out the financial outlay before committing students to the programme.
Time: Many competitions require training or extra mentoring that may not be readily accessible. Deadlines need to be set and careful planning of the competition needs to be implemented. The teacher needs to ask themselves whether it is beneficial to be training students for competitions during the student's lunchbreak. Recently, I withdrew my own child from a competition because they got so frustrated they were being held in during their lunchtimes that they no longer wanted to participate. They felt like they were being punished because 'only the naughty kids stay in at lunchbreak'.
Inequities: Competitions are programmes to supplement and extend learning using particular skills and can be applied to all students across all curriculum areas depending on the student having sound work and study habits. Competitions should certainly not be offered in isolation but instead a way for many students to develop their strengths in a range of abilities in an essential learning area. The competition needs to link in with the curriculum and the student's strengths and interests.
Competitions are pointless unless the student is able to reflect on their achievement using the competition rubric outlined above in Riley & Karnes (2005).
Another barrier to competitions is the way schools deal with student performance. If students have performed well they should be recognised not just at school but in the wider community. Celebrate student success and raise the expectations allowing students who enjoy competitions to be able to better themselves.
Reference:
Riley, T.L., & Karnes, F.A. (2005). Problem-solving competitions: Just the solution! Gifted Child Today, 28(4), 31-39.
Rimm, S.B. (1986). Underachievement syndrome: Causes and cures. Watertown, WI: Apple Publishing Company.
Competitions are not inclusive for all students because some students fear failure and cannot perform under pressure and other students can simply not deal with the stress of trying to reach perfectionism (Riley and Karnes, 2005). Rimm (1986) states how some gifted and talented students may not be suitable to participate in competitions especially if there is an over emphasis on winning. It is more suitable for students to compete against themselves for 'self improvement'. Therefore, it is important that teachers discuss competitions with parents/caregivers before signing students up. Students need to do their own research into the competition too by asking themselves, "Am I interested in this? Do I have the skills to carry out the task, the time and the support? It is also important that schools work out the financial outlay before committing students to the programme.
Time: Many competitions require training or extra mentoring that may not be readily accessible. Deadlines need to be set and careful planning of the competition needs to be implemented. The teacher needs to ask themselves whether it is beneficial to be training students for competitions during the student's lunchbreak. Recently, I withdrew my own child from a competition because they got so frustrated they were being held in during their lunchtimes that they no longer wanted to participate. They felt like they were being punished because 'only the naughty kids stay in at lunchbreak'.
Inequities: Competitions are programmes to supplement and extend learning using particular skills and can be applied to all students across all curriculum areas depending on the student having sound work and study habits. Competitions should certainly not be offered in isolation but instead a way for many students to develop their strengths in a range of abilities in an essential learning area. The competition needs to link in with the curriculum and the student's strengths and interests.
Competitions are pointless unless the student is able to reflect on their achievement using the competition rubric outlined above in Riley & Karnes (2005).
Another barrier to competitions is the way schools deal with student performance. If students have performed well they should be recognised not just at school but in the wider community. Celebrate student success and raise the expectations allowing students who enjoy competitions to be able to better themselves.
Reference:
Riley, T.L., & Karnes, F.A. (2005). Problem-solving competitions: Just the solution! Gifted Child Today, 28(4), 31-39.
Rimm, S.B. (1986). Underachievement syndrome: Causes and cures. Watertown, WI: Apple Publishing Company.
29 September 2011
One size doesn't fit all
This blog has been created to act as a resource for parents and teachers to extend talented and gifted students across the primary and intermediate school years in the area of 'competitions'. If our talented and gifted children are not challenged in all areas of learning in and out of the classroom, they are the ones that become lost and turned off learning. I encourage you if your child needs extending in any of the curriculum areas, you approach your child's teacher with information about a competition that may be listed on this site. I also encourage you to interact on this blog with the comments icon of what you found interesting, useful or other competitions that may be available that are not listed here. This blog is for you. We only have one chance with our child's education so if you have a talented or gifted child, extend them and let them enjoy the challenges and problem solving in a competitive forum!
For more information about talented and gifted students you can click on the TKI website at the top of the blog and the various tabs on the righthand side.
5 July 2011
Out of different molds ...
Here’s to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing that you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.
They invent. They imagine. They heal.
They explore. They create. They inspire.
They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do (Apple Computer Advertisement).
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing that you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.
They invent. They imagine. They heal.
They explore. They create. They inspire.
They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do (Apple Computer Advertisement).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)