Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT is a weekly chat on Twitter that takes place on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT in the U.S. For one hour, parents, educators, advocates and experts in the field of gifted and talented gather to share resources, links, authentic life experiences and insights about gifted issues.
Welcome to Global Gifted and Talented Chat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented @TXGifted#TAGT ~ Thanks for joining us to chat about “Educating the Profoundly Gifted” #gtchat
I’m Lisa Conrad ~ moderator, advocate for gifted children, conference presenter, blogger and parent of 2 gifted adults from Pittsburgh, PA. Please take a minute to let us know who you are and from where you’re tweeting! #gtchat
Jen in the frigid N IL (please save me from the Polar Vortex). Mom to 2 #2ekids. Writer/advocate/flute teacher. Likely to just lurk tonight. Winter has taken a bad toll. #gtchat
I’m Lisa Conrad ~ moderator, advocate for gifted children, conference presenter, blogger and parent of 2 gifted adults from Pittsburgh, PA. Please take a minute to let us know who you are and from where you’re tweeting! #gtchat
Jen in the frigid N IL (please save me from the Polar Vortex). Mom to 2 #2ekids. Writer/advocate/flute teacher. Likely to just lurk tonight. Winter has taken a bad toll. #gtchat
I’m Lisa Conrad ~ moderator, advocate for gifted children, conference presenter, blogger and parent of 2 gifted adults from Pittsburgh, PA. Please take a minute to let us know who you are and from where you’re tweeting! #gtchat
Are you new to Twitter chats? We use the Q1/A1 format for #gtchat … Please remember to use the #gtchat hashtag to participate in the conversation. This will make sure that other chat participants see your tweets.
Lurking to learn? Please say ‘hi’ and then view a livestream from Participate Learning at https://t.co/1zR97oWQw0 (Please Note: This service will be ending February 25th!) #gtchat
Hi, Lisa! I am Beth Sanders from Montgomery, AL. I am an instructional tech and professional learning coordinator and partner with the gifted coordinator in our district. We are hosting our first #ALGifted chat tonight and are excited to join yours before ours starts! #gtchat
Our first question is coming up; let’s get ready to chat! Please preface your responses with A1 Excited to collaborate and share ideas with you today about educating the profoundly gifted. #gtchat
Hi, Lisa! I am Beth Sanders from Montgomery, AL. I am an instructional tech and professional learning coordinator and partner with the gifted coordinator in our district. We are hosting our first #ALGifted chat tonight and are excited to join yours before ours starts! #gtchat
A1: 1/2 Same reasons society cares about the education of any child: "promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness..." #GTChat
A1. Society should care about the education of profoundly gifted learners because they are a critical part of our world. They are the learners that have unique abilities that will truly change our world for the better. #gtchat
A1 the profoundly gifted educational social and emotional needs are as different from age peers as those with special needs. Just the other side of a spectrum! And none will “just learn on their own” #gtchat#tagt
A1 The Big Picture: PG children are a relatively small population with an enormous potential to benefit society at large. Yet they are often marginalized by educational leaders committed to sustaining averages. #gtchat
A1 It’s a common refrain that ‘all children are gifted’; all deserve to have their needs met. In reality, PG children, as a group, rarely have their needs addressed let alone met. These kids have no reason to contribute to a society who ignores them. #gtchat
A1 Society loves to tell children to ‘be your best’; fulfill your potential. Yet, at the same time, is comfortable with limiting resources to help them do just that. #gtchat
A1) Society should care because suitable education for the profoundly gifted could mean the difference between world saving community participation and despairing disengagement maybe the difference between a hero or a villain emerging #gtchat
A1 Society loves to tell children to ‘be your best’; fulfill your potential. Yet, at the same time, is comfortable with limiting resources to help them do just that. #gtchat
A2 rapid early learning and growth in an asynchronous track. ie climbing stairs & pedaling bike at 24 months but unable to speak verbally. Later multiplying while barely able to read. #gtchat
A2 Profoundly gifted children show early language and motor skills development with almost half displaying ambidextrous ability. Parents have reported engaging in extraordinary conversations with very young children. #gtchat
A2) Early signs can be early and extensive language development, early abstract thinking and questioning, insatiable curiosity and heightened sensitivities #gtchat
I just learned a new term from you, Kate! I had to consult my gifted expert instructional partner 🤗 to make sure I understood the word and how it applied here! 😂 #gtchat
A2 In particular, profoundly gifted children are early readers who easily comprehend what they read. Most are reading before the age of 4 and many are self-taught. (Hollingworth/Gross/Morelock/Silverman,https://t.co/sGMTkzg6Jl.) #gtchat
Great chat happening about gifted education at #gtchat Very intriguing even if you are not the gifted teacher. Do you know how to spot gifted characteristics in the very young?
A2) Don't know if these meet the definition, but.... early reading, picking up an instrument early and then there was the time I was beaten in a logic based argument by a toddler
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Great point, Sheryl! We are going to chat about gifted advocacy @ 8pm using the #ALGifted chat if you can jump in with us there too -- I feel like I have so much to learn about how to support and fight for gifted learners in my role! #gtchat
Great chat happening about gifted education at #gtchat Very intriguing even if you are not the gifted teacher. Do you know how to spot gifted characteristics in the very young?
A3 Biological needs for a profoundly gifted child are usually out of synch with their intellectual abilities which can cause specific developmental needs. The term ‘asynchronous development’ was coined to describe this. #gtchat
I am curious about dyslexia in pg kids. I have seen rapid absorption of sight words lead to early reading (Harry Potter series finished in grade 1) and complete inability to cope with phonetics.
A2 Both of my PGlets made eye contact with me when they were born. The younger one also reached across the fry warmer, grabbed the side and started trying to pull himself over. He was ten minutes old. #gtchat
We are already half way through our chat! Thank you for sharing so many inspiring thoughts about educating the profoundly gifted! Please remember to use the #gtchat hashtag to participate in the conversation. #gtchat
Two weeks old he could hold his head up and look around; for so long people would comment on how alert he was. Yup, alert & never slept. ;) But 100% 2e. #GTChat
A3 Asynchronous development, or ‘many ages at once’, can be extremely disturbing to an unidentified child or child who isn’t informed of their giftedness; to realize you are different from your age-mates but not know why. #gtchat
A3) The Asynchronous Development of the profoundly gifted can mean that while some of their needs are common to their age group others such as educational and social/emotional needs are not - most parenting books are not helpful! #gtchat
A3 can lead to some early advocacy for parents. Our daughter was fully potty trained without being able to speak her needs. She signed them. Ts didn’t much like at preschool. #gtchat
A3 Profoundly gifted children are still kids. They may have different interests from their friends and perceive the world in different ways, but not possess the maturity to cope with these abilities. #gtchat
A2 Both of my PGlets made eye contact with me when they were born. The younger one also reached across the fry warmer, grabbed the side and started trying to pull himself over. He was ten minutes old. #gtchat
A4 The determination of when and how to test a child is more subjective than many understand; individual circumstances & the reason for testing should be taken into consideration. Generally, between the ages of 5 and 8 is a good starting place. #gtchat
A4 Testing very young children (<4) is not recommended. Basic childhood needs will affect the test results … fatigue, hunger, lack of familiarity with the tester, etc. #gtchat
It's something I really noticed when I first went to the PG Retreat. My wife didn't attend with me that year and thought I was crazy until she came with us the second year and saw it for herself. #gtchat
A4) Remember that testing young kids is unreliable. A bad day or not likely the assessor or just not caring can make tests useless. And lots of these kids don't easily grant authority to others. #gtchat
Hi #gtchat friends! I’m Ceejae Felix from Philippines and I’m a gifted citizen with wisdom (natural leadership ability, multiple intelligences, etc.). One name that describes me best is Leonardo da Vinci. See my Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, & Twitter accounts for pertinent info.
A4) If you require accurate scores it is important to use tests which do not have too low a ceiling - otherwise it is like measuring all the Harlem Globetrotters with a 6 ft ruler and saying they are all taller than that! #gtchat
Hi #gtchat friends! I’m Ceejae Felix from Philippines and I’m a gifted citizen with wisdom (natural leadership ability, multiple intelligences, etc.). One name that describes me best is Leonardo da Vinci. See my Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, & Twitter accounts for pertinent info.
A4) If you require accurate scores it is important to use tests which do not have too low a ceiling - otherwise it is like measuring all the Harlem Globetrotters with a 6 ft ruler and saying they are all taller than that! #gtchat
Interesting. Eye contact is aggressive - which is why folks who are easily overwhelmed hate it so much. I wonder if there is an introvert/extrovert relationship. Because there is also a stereotype of antisocial geniuses who look away. #gtchat
Okay #gtchat - I guess I’m here lurking too while I’m unsuccessfully multitasking. 😬 Parent of 3 kids who are 2e and educational specialist who gets into a wide range of roles (I get bored about every 3 years, get intense interests, and that leads me to new roles).
Also it’s important to use a test that differentiates score by narrow bands of age. A 10 year old 1 month is almost a year younger than a 10 year old 11 months #gtchat
My kids are all 2e. I was on the school Jets team for math, Quiz Bowl team, etc in the 80s. And I had a talent for daydreaming, missing homework, and walking into walls. 🤷♀️😳
I have one kid who in a section of a test where he was supposed to name as many animals as he could said, "Animals are boring, I will name as many Pokemon as I can."
#gtchat
They will need a unique approach appropriate to their individual strengths. Reading programs may benefit from being included with cross-curriculum gifted options that are meant to increase depth and complexity, heighten anticipation and stimulate interest. (Reis/Renzulli)
Okay #gtchat - I guess I’m here lurking too while I’m unsuccessfully multitasking. 😬 Parent of 3 kids who are 2e and educational specialist who gets into a wide range of roles (I get bored about every 3 years, get intense interests, and that leads me to new roles).
A5 Educating PG children can be challenging. PG children have significantly greater needs than HG & gifted children. Many schools may only see these students in rare instances; if at all. A teacher may encounter one once in a lifetime. #gtchat
They will need a unique approach appropriate to their individual strengths. Reading programs may benefit from being included with cross-curriculum gifted options that are meant to increase depth and complexity, heighten anticipation and stimulate interest. (Reis/Renzulli)
A5 Where differentiation of the curriculum & weekly enrichment may benefit gifted students; it will not suffice the PG. A 4 year old who is reading, writing & comprehending high-level math may need highly-trained teachers or radical acceleration. #gtchat
A5 PG students may require early entrance (K/college), mentoring, acceleration, self-paced & individualized programs, out-of-school enrichment, self-contained gifted classrooms. Flexibility is key as needs change quickly as child matures. #gtchat
In my elementary school, the language arts and math curriculum were all individualized and it was one curriculum for the whole school. Each child moved through at their own pace. When we got to middle school, we were grouped based on how far we got. #gtchat
Interesting. I have a habit of looking away when I talk to people. It feels like I can't always process thoughts and express myself, but if I catch it I"m fine.
In 15+ years of doing that, they had one student who finished the math curriculum with a year left to go in the school, but everybody else was accommodated at their level all the way through. #gtchat
A5) Profoundly gifted students need an individualized education which suits their specific needs at appropriate level pace breadth and depth including extreme subject or year level acceleration and contact with mentors #gtchat
A6 Parents struggle with the placement of their gifted child in the public edu system. Many schools are not equipped with a separate program for pg children. This often leads to boredom in class. Finding an excelled path will often cost more. #gtchat
A6 Parents of PG kids must be immersed in advocacy procedures & be prepared to document their child’s abilities. They need to be aware that they may need to be forceful advocates even when their child is quite young. #gtchat
"It wasn’t my child that was a misfit; his particular school situation was a misfit. It wasn’t ADHD; it was educational misplacement." Marianne Kuzujanakis, MD, MPH writes on her son's story in this article from the #SENG resource library: https://t.co/ddJEggovWD
A6 Parenting PG children can be very expensive & beyond many parents’ means. Parents may need to be creative & resourceful when providing enrichment & educational opportunities for their children. Financial assistance can be complicated. #gtchat
A6: Due to the inherent rarity, Ts likely have limited experience with PG Ss. Even gifted specialists may not have encountered a PG student...family collaboration/sharing essential #GTChat
A6 Parents of PG kids may be overwhelmed at first, but latter appreciate their child’s abilities as they grow & mature. It’s important to remember they are so much more than simply their intellect. #gtchat
Agreed. I’ve been teaching 30+ years in large suburban NJ district and last 10 years as the GT teacher. I teach top 3-5% of our population and I’ve only taught 1 PG I my career, but scores of HG have graced my classroom
A6) Parents of profoundly gifted children can face financial difficulties when trying to provide opportunities for their children. They can also have difficulty explaining the needs to teachers #gtchat
A6) Bad fit at school or with other kids starts early and often results in anxiety, depression, avoidance and other things that get seen as the problem rather than as a symptom of the underlying problem. Understanding can be elusive if you don't know what to look for. #gtchat
