Emotional Safety

Sunday, 14 August 2011 15:19

I've been sharing my journey through the Certificate of Gifted Education (COGE) with the University of NSW. I've just completed the final assignment, and it has been a very worthwhile undertaking. I've been able to add a strong theoretical base to my extensive experience, and have become familiar with the latest research.

The last assignment asked how we could make the gifted child feel emotionally safe in the regular classroom. As many gifted students do not join OC classes or go to selective high schools, this is an important consideration. Along with appropriate differentiation and grouping gifted students together whenever possible, it is so important just to be understanding of their difference. Making allowances for their faster learning and adjusting tasks and expectations can go a long way to helping them feel accepted by the teacher. A good sense of. humour really helps, too.

Above all, teachers should avail themselves of the options for professional development, such as the CD Rom/on-line modules developed by GERRIC (members click here). It really helps a teacher to understand the needs of gifted children.

Just in...

Did you know?

Gifted children vary a lot. Some are great at sports. Some have disabilities. Children can be gifted or not along one or more of a large number of dimensions. Labels like "gifted" need to be used carefully as all children are different.

NSWAGTC Blogs

The blogs appearing on the NSWAGTC site are designed to provide colour, news and subjective views about the many issues and concerns facing gifted children and their parents, care-givers and educators.

Some of the blogs are associated with formal roles of the NSWAGTC, such as the President and the Webmaster. These allow the persons filling these roles to note to members any current news and changes.

Other NSWAGTC blogs are written by individuals with experience of gifted children from one or more perspectives - for example Cate's Blog is from the viewpoint of a primary school teacher and parent of gifted children. These blogs are written solely by the person identified and represent his or her views, rather than necessarily those of the NSWAGTC.

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