Talented and Gifted Presentation by Dr. Jim Delisle

INTENSITY
A salient descriptor that characterizes the personality of a gifted child is
intensity. Intensity takes many forms that can be both strengths and
weaknesses. Recognizing and understanding these intensities can help toward
improving the social and emotional life of a child.
· INTENSITY OF THOUGHT
“Her mind is always whirring.”
· INTENSITY OF PURPOSE
“Once he makes up his mind to do something, he’s not satisfied until it’s
accomplished.”
· INTENSITY OF EMOTION
“She internalizes anything anyone says about her.”
· INTENSITY OF SPIRIT
“He’s always looking for someone less fortunate who needs help.”
· INTENSITY OF SOUL
“She asks questions that philosophers have asked for centuries and gets
upset when we can’t give her definitive answers to them.”
From J.R. Delisle, Once Upon a Mind: The stories and scholars of gifted child education. 2000.
Illustrations on subsequent pages are used with permission of Dr. James Delisle.
Eight Great Gripes of Gifted Kids
When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers
1.
No one explains what being gifted is all about – it’s kept a big
secret.
2.
School is too easy and too boring.
3.
Parents, teachers and/or friends expect us to be perfect all the
time.
4.
Friends who really understand us are few and far between.
5.
Kids often tease us about being smart.
6.
We feel overwhelmed by the number of things we can do in
life.
7.
We feel different and alienated.
8.
We worry about world problems and feel helpless to do
anything about them.
Do you have other gripes that aren’t on this list?
From When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs by Jim Delisle Ph.D. and Judy Galbraith, M.A
copyright 2002. Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. Minneapolis, MN
Ten Tips for Talking to Teachers 1. Make an appointment to meet and talk. By setting a specific time to meet with a teacher, it shows that you are serious about advocating for yourself; it also shows that you have respect for your teacher’s busy schedule. Make sure to be on time to your set appointment. 2. If you know other students who feel the way you do, consider approaching the teacher as a team. Don’t think of this step as “ganging‐up” on the teacher, because you will handle your issue with maturity. A teacher is more likely to change her classroom habits if more than one student is affected. 3. Plan what you would like to say before you go to your meeting. Write down all of your questions and concerns. You may even want to pull out the list of your concerns during the meeting, and you and your teacher can consult the list during your meeting – or you could even give the list to your teacher before the meeting so you both know what will be discussed. 4. Choose your words. Try not to be offensive when discussing your concerns. Instead of saying “The assignments are boring and take too much time,” think about saying, “Is there another way I could satisfy this homework requirement?” Avoid saying class and work are “boring” or a “waste of time.” Don’t offend a teacher if you want them to work with you. 5. Don’t expect the teacher to do all of the work or propose all of the solutions. Be prepared ahead of time to make suggestions or recommend what you think could be done to solve the issue. Your teacher will appreciate your willingness to help with the resolution. 6. Be tactful and respectful. Teachers also have feelings. The purpose of your meeting is not confrontation. Consider your meeting more like a cordial conversation. Try not to approach the meeting feeling angry because that will only block any progress to be made between you and your teacher. 7. Focus on your needs, not what the teacher is doing wrong. The more the teacher knows about you and what you think you need, the more willing she will be to help. The more defensive and attacked a teacher feels, the less willing she will be to help you. Instead of saying, “Your lectures are confusing and boring,” you might say, “I am a visual learner. Are there ways that your lectures could be accompanied by images that may help me understand what you are saying?” 8. Don’t forget to listen. Teachers may also have some suggestions and insight about what you could do to improve your understanding in the class. You must be willing to meet the teacher half way. 9. Bring your sense of humor. Oftentimes there are misunderstandings in the classroom. If you and your teacher can communicate openly, you may find that part of the issue was just miscommunication. 10. If your meeting isn’t satisfactory, get help from another adult. It’s important to discuss your needs with your teacher BEFORE you go to a counselor or principal. When you are willing to advocate for yourself, it shows your teacher that you are an adult that takes your education seriously. If you have discussed your needs with your teacher and you still find yourself struggling, then it may be time to get support from another resource. From When Gifted Kids Don’t Have all the Answers: How to Meet their Social and Emotional Needs by Jim Delisle, Ph.D., and Judy Galbraith, M.A., copyright 2002. Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN. www.davidsoninstitute.org
I have always used music as a way to express myself. I sing when I’m
happy. I sing when I’m lonely, I even hum when things taste good. My
parents would tell you that I sing all day long. First the lullabies, then
children’s songs tapes, classical music and even country have shaped how I
see the world. I think Walt Whitman said something about singing his
barbaric yawps from the rooftops of the world. That’s what I want to do. My
passion for music pushes me towards a career in the arts.
DoingGood.com
* Cameron Cohen, 14, Los Angeles, CA
After a long, boring bout in a hospital, Cameron developed the
iSketch app. for iTunes. It lets people paint with fingers or
brushes. So far, Cameron has donated more than $20,000 from
the sales of his app. to the hospital that treated him, so that they
can buy electronic games for young patients.
Mimi Ausland, 15, Bend, OR
After playing freerice.com, which sends rice to developing nations
for each correct answer to a math or vocabulary question, Mimi
decided to design a website called freekibble.com, which gives 10
pieces of dog food to the Humane Society for distribution to animal
shelters. Ellen Degeneres highlighted Mimi and is now the sole
sponsor of Mimi’s work through her pet food company, Halo.
Go to familycircle.com/dogood for more stories of wonder!
Gifted Adults: Their Characteristics & Emotions
Annemarie Roeper
1. Gifted adults differ intellectually from others
-sophisticated, global thinkers with a penchant for complexity of thought
2. Gifted adults retain childlike emotions
they bring a childlike delight to discoveries and life in general
3. Gifted adults’ views of self differ from others’ views of them
- others may ignore them, elevate them, or disparage them
4. Gifted adults are often driven by their giftedness
- they have no choice but to think, explore, create, and survive
5. Gifted adults need time for solitude
- daydreaming and “alone time” are vital to their well-being
6. Gifted adults search for meaning and purpose
- in themselves and others, they need to ask “why?”
7. Gifted adults have many diverse abilities and interests
- careers and hobbies are fleeting: “There is so much to learn and do!”
8. Gifted adults have strong senses of justice and morality
- they live to serve; they distinguish justice from equality
Important Things My Kids Taught Me
Ann Landers, October 15,1999
 1. It’s more fun to color outside the lines.
 2. If you’ re going to draw on the wall, do it behind the couch.
 3. Ask “Why?” until you understand.
 4. Save a place in line for your friends.
 5. If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.
 6. Making your bed is a waste of time.
 7. If your dog doesn’t like somebody, you probably shouldn’t either.
 8. Toads aren’t ugly. They’re just toads.
 9. Just keep banging until someone opens the door.
 10. Don’t pop someone else’s bubble.
 11. You shouldn’t ask to start the game over just because you are losing.
 12. Chasing the cat is more fun than catching it.
Thank you