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.
Great to be here learning with everyone again this week. Justine from Auckland, New Zealand. Teacher and full-time PhD student focusing on gifted and talented ed. #gtchat
Hi! I’m the Founder of #thinkLaw, where we help Ts teach #criticalthinking through legal cases and shady fairy tale/nursery rhyme characters. I’m excited to host this #gtchat on #empathy , but it’s hard to empathize with you #noreaster folks with my 80-degree Phoenix temps!
Hey All! I'm Kimberly, founder of a PD org called Inquiry Partners and a prof. at UW College of Ed in rainy and grey (surprise, surprise) Seattle, WA #gtchat
Sarah from central PA- gifted Ed teacher for 2nd-9th graders. Currently teaching a unit for GT Ss on critical thinking, so I'm looking forward to this chat! #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. #gtchat
Lurking to learn? Please say ‘hi’ and then view a livestream from Participate Learning at https://t.co/1zR97oWQw0 Enjoy the chat! All the links and a summary of this chat will be posted later on our blog at https://t.co/uVoNvnl3iS#gtchat
Thanks Colin. I've learned so much since joining this chat a few weeks ago. My research is aimed at giving students, parents and teachers a voice in gifted ed. Empathy for me is key. #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 building empathy in the classroom with the team from @thinkLawUS !
#gtchat
A1. Never assume that you know a student - or parent's - background or situation. Know them as people first and students second. Don't make assumptions. #gtchat
A1) As a substitute teacher, I often see very young students console a sad classmate; but these sentiments disappear quickly by the upper elementary years. Circle time is an opportunity for teachers to model empathy; time lacking in later years. #gtchat
A1: The 1-size-fits-all way our education system makes empathy hard sometimes. So I loved my 1st period Gov. teacher for letting me eat breakfast in her class after my 1.5 hr commute from Brooklyn to the Bronx every day. She showed me she cared, so I showed up to learn. #gtchat
A1: We spend the majority of 5th grade learning about different perspectives on a variety of topics. Ss do an independent POV project that honors their interests and shows how and why people feel the way they do about a given topic. #gtchat#GTElemChathttps://t.co/3v3zw41Tcp
A1) #gtchat as a classroom teacher, I am consciously teaching & modeling empathy. We read mentor texts and have class discussions about standing in other’s shoes
A1) Have found that young GT learners of all ages want depth of discussion, to explore emotions and ethics and the impact of choosing between alternative paths, whether in reaction to fiction, historical events, sciences, peer connections #gtchat
A1: When I was in 7th grade one day a week for our enrichment class we had character education and it was basically learning empathy. My teacher would wear old green shoes for this hour as we learned to walk in others shoes. Something I’ll never forget. #gtchat
A woman attends a #StPatricksDay parade. A person on a float throws a cabbage into the crowd hitting her in the face. She sues. Should she win? Tap into your students' curiosity and sense of justice by using this real-life legal case. - https://t.co/n1ujz08Kk7#GTChat#thinkLaw
A1) As a parent, I wish I could; but am hard pressed to think of an instance where given the opportunity, my children were ever shown empathy within their educational experiences. #gtchat
Do you have any resources or go to mentor texts?? I often find it difficult to locate texts that are challenging as far as Lexile while engaging and appropriate as far as content. #gtchat#GTElemChat
A1) I spent a lot of time in MS which is usually considered a wasteland for #empathy but I saw a lot of beautiful moments. One that stands out was on field day a group of S's asked ahead of time if they could make sure the events were accessible to our adaptive athletes #gtchat
A1+: I'm a teacher/attorney, and “thinking like a lawyer” is a great empathy builder. In litigation, I think about the motivations & fears of my client, my opposition, and the judge. Attorneys get a bad rap, but there’s a reason 25 past presidents have studied law! #gtchat
A1) GT kids demonstrate a range of innate capacity for empathy. Some are really very good at putting themselves in others' shoes, to think about emotions abstractly. Others really struggle, may not immediately see the point. However, that's not confined to GT folks. #gtchat
A1) A 4th grade GT learner I work with experienced a serious injury that impacted her for months- she's now developing an event to create craft bags for children in the hospital- I'm there for support, encouragement, and resources when needed #gtchat
That's incredibly sad and makes you wonder about a lot of things... empathy is everything in this world really. If we can't put ourselves in someone else's shoes then maybe we're in the wrong profession... #gtchat
A1: When I was in 7th grade one day a week for our enrichment class we had character education and it was basically learning empathy. My teacher would wear old green shoes for this hour as we learned to walk in others shoes. Something I’ll never forget. #gtchat
My Empathy page https://t.co/hGRpBB3mrx "When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That's when you can get more creative in solving problems." Stephen Covey #gtchat#edchat
A2: We often see little empathy for #gifted students because too many think “they are going to be just fine.” 4 students in my 2nd grade g/t class didn’t graduate from HS. They are not going to be “just fine.” And even if they were, is “just fine,” really good enough? #gtchat
A1) Should add that I've been a classroom volunteer with primarily GT 4th - 6th graders for 6 consecutive years, coordinating curriculum, providing book recommendations, working with those ages on regular basis #gtchat
A2: #Gifted students sometimes struggle to empathize with students who do not grasp new concepts as quickly as they do. It’s crucial to address this because brilliance + humility + #21st century communication skills = the leaders of tomorrow. #gtchat.
A2) GT students often experience a significant lack of empathy from their teachers at very young ages. It can cause a lifetime of discouragement when they feel misunderstood and marginalized by adults. #gtchat
Using mentor texts is a great way to teach empathy because it's not personal. It's harder for Ss to start with trying to understand what's really going on behind the scenes with someone who is targeting or being mean to them #gtchat
A1) #gtchat as a classroom teacher, I am consciously teaching & modeling empathy. We read mentor texts and have class discussions about standing in other’s shoes
My Empathy page https://t.co/hGRpBB3mrx "When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That's when you can get more creative in solving problems." Stephen Covey #gtchat#edchat
A1) I've seen multiple instances of GT kids stepping forward in bullying situations (identifying, calling out), to problem-solve with peers, who show emotional intensities that cause them to empathize so deeply they carry it with them well beyond actual events or exposure #gtchat
A2) #gtchat at times, GT kids can be hyper focused on their own interests and worries. Also relating to peers can be hard. Reading others faces is also challenging
Using mentor texts is a great way to teach empathy because it's not personal. It's harder for Ss to start with trying to understand what's really going on behind the scenes with someone who is targeting or being mean to them #gtchat
A1) #gtchat as a classroom teacher, I am consciously teaching & modeling empathy. We read mentor texts and have class discussions about standing in other’s shoes
A2: GT Ss are often oversensitive and respond negatively to empathy from other Ss. We do a gifted learner unit that teaches Ss about themselves as GT people and learners. It has helped them better understand themselves and others. #gtchat#GTElemChathttps://t.co/F7YYJo49Op
Compassionate Critical Thinking: How Mindfulness, Creativity, Empathy, and Socratic Questioning Can Transform Teaching (Amazon) https://t.co/AYXMzLz7uU#gtchat
A2) When kids are bored they act out. G/t students who are uninterested or unmotivated do not receive a lot of empathy. I don't have a lot of time for you wasting your potential type thinking #gtchat
A2) When teachers fail to understand what the label ‘gifted’ entails – more than academics; it can create an atmosphere in which GT students no longer feel they should be expected to show emotions that aren’t extended to them. #gtchat
It’s tough to put the lens on ourselves. We spend so much time emphasizing the need for empathy from student to student. When, as teachers, we set the stage. #gtchat
I drew a blank too, then remembered that when she was in 6th grade my daughter and her classmates started a fundraiser after reading "Long Walk to Water." They got featured in the paper. #gtchat
A2) The asynchronous development of some gifted students can make it harder for them to really empathize with same age peers but heightened sensitivities can make it easier to empathize #gtchat
I was just thinking that - that it can go against them and others not understanding the gifted Ss and again, making assumptions - particularly in the case of the 2e Ss. #gtchat
A mentor text is a piece of writing that models what you're trying to teach. So if you're trying to teach empathy you might select a story about a kid who is struggling socially but has a lot going on at home that people don't know about #gtchat
Using mentor texts is a great way to teach empathy because it's not personal. It's harder for Ss to start with trying to understand what's really going on behind the scenes with someone who is targeting or being mean to them #gtchat
A1) #gtchat as a classroom teacher, I am consciously teaching & modeling empathy. We read mentor texts and have class discussions about standing in other’s shoes
It’s tough to put the lens on ourselves. We spend so much time emphasizing the need for empathy from student to student. When, as teachers, we set the stage. #gtchat
A3: Teaching #metacognition enhances empathy, especially when you help Ss think about the thinking of others. For instance, you can take 2 wrong answers, have students think about what these problem solvers were thinking, and then have them choose the “best” wrong answer. #gtchat
A3: Building #Empathy vs. Academic Rigor is a false choice! When your instruction involves analysis of multiple perspectives, root cause analysis, collaboration, and #designthinking, you necessarily enhance our students’ ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. #gtchat
Somehow you never forget that. In third grade I began crying about something, a classmate said out loud with sympathy that "Jeremy's crying," and I got help. #gtchat
A3. Yes. Even when the Ss designed our Makerspace, they used Design Thinking and empathy is one of the key stages throughout the process. It guides the whole process. #gtchat
A3) Students need to understand what empathy is and ways to express it. By opening a dialog on what it is and isn’t, students gain a greater appreciation of its importance in their own lives. #gtchat
A3: We use the @Olweus bullying prevention program @fountaindalees and through this we have weekly classroom meetings in which we talk about our feelings and the feelings of others in a variety of situations. #gtchat#GTElemChat
A3) Introducing the idea that empathy can improve both the student’s life and the lives of those around them becomes challenging when you realize that they’re only in school a fraction of their day. Home environment matters, too. #gtchat
A3) I think a great starting point when studying conflicts in history, literature, or current events is to always ask what's really going on here? Problems are rarely about surface issues. Ss will begin to develop the habit of deeper analysis when it comes to conflict #gtchat
Q4) Empathy has 2 parts. The first is emotional empathy; responding with appropriate emotions. How do you foster the development of emotional empathy in GT students? #gtchat
Yes @Mrsbennahaas! I love that these techniques explicitly teach you how to listen. How to THOUGHTFULLY listen. And THOUGHTFULLY respond. As a kid my teachers used to ask us to watch Sunday news shows to master this. But today...#gtchat
A3: Teaching #metacognition enhances empathy, especially when you help Ss think about the thinking of others. For instance, you can take 2 wrong answers, have students think about what these problem solvers were thinking, and then have them choose the “best” wrong answer. #gtchat
A4) Emotional empathy can be extremely difficult to foster in classrooms where teachers are overworked, underpaid and expected to be defender, counselor and psychologist all while trying to teach. #gtchat
A4: Before 6th grade, I wish someone would have taught me the difference between sadness, frustration, anger, anxiety, fear...#emotionalintelligence. That would have made those times much more bearable for me. Let’s make sure our #gifted parents and teachers do better! #gtchat
Q4) Begin by validating their feelings. It's okay for you to have the feelings you are experiencing. But then make the connection that it's also okay for other people to have different feelings about the very same issue or situation #gtchat
A4) #gtchat I think sometimes the dots need to be connected through modeling, mentor texts, and talking through personal scenarios that occur in a time manner.
A4) Model it; demonstrate it toward them and everyone in the school environment; take some time discussing a larger meaning behind everything you learn. #gtchat
Q4) Empathy has 2 parts. The first is emotional empathy; responding with appropriate emotions. How do you foster the development of emotional empathy in GT students? #gtchat
A4: Part 1: Talking to Ss is the best way to develop emotional empathy in Ss, in my opinion. Remaining transparent, open, and willing to work through things together is key. #gtchat#GTElemChat
A4) Emotional empathy can be integrated across the curriculum with careful and thoughtful planning. It can be included by subtle reminders to students to think before they speak to or act toward others. #gtchat
A4) #gtchat I have also found it to be helpful to draw out situations (comic book style) and have student draw an alternate (better) ending to prepare for next time
...and especially if they haven't yet got an understanding of gifted and talented students and their specific learning, social and emotional needs. #gtchat
A4: Part 2: I have always been intrigued by this quote - “a way of being quiveringly alive” from @seng_gifted when considering the emotional intensity of GT students. This article is well worth the read! #gtchat#GTElemChathttps://t.co/NEFbBKwsKZ
Spot on @JeremyDBond! As a teacher, when parents came to me frustrated or angry, especially with #gifted and other special needs children, I always remembered that oftentimes, these parents have had to advocate for their children sometimes since the second they were born! #gtchat
A4) Model it; demonstrate it toward them and everyone in the school environment; take some time discussing a larger meaning behind everything you learn. #gtchat
Q4) Empathy has 2 parts. The first is emotional empathy; responding with appropriate emotions. How do you foster the development of emotional empathy in GT students? #gtchat
A2) They may be impatient with others' level of learning, that it reflects laziness or bad character. Teach the importance of understanding different people, that each is a unique reflection of self and experience. #gtchat
A4) #gtchat I think sometimes the dots need to be connected through modeling, mentor texts, and talking through personal scenarios that occur in a time manner.
A4) Sometimes adults overthink this, i.e., there are plenty of opportunities to conduct conversations that drill into / make use of existing curriculum as a lens for exploring empathy. Robust questions and facilitated discussion, Socratic seminar, etc. #gtchat
A1+: I'm a teacher/attorney, and “thinking like a lawyer” is a great empathy builder. In litigation, I think about the motivations & fears of my client, my opposition, and the judge. Attorneys get a bad rap, but there’s a reason 25 past presidents have studied law! #gtchat
A4) Part 1 Obviously within reason, but I think iSs learn when they see their T's be emotionally vulnerable with their Ss. One day my son broke his arm. I told the Ss I was worried and had to pick him up. It was like a lightbulb moment; Oh she's human & someone's mom! #gtchat
Q5) The 2nd part of empathy is intellectual empathy; the ability to thoughtfully hear and understand others experiences. How you develop intellectual empathy in GT students? #gtchat
A1) I spent a lot of time in MS which is usually considered a wasteland for #empathy but I saw a lot of beautiful moments. One that stands out was on field day a group of S's asked ahead of time if they could make sure the events were accessible to our adaptive athletes #gtchat
Q4) Part 2 When I was in HS a S was killed in a car wreck & my English teacher (who always had something to say) came in and said, "I don't know what to say" and cried. To me that was the most powerful thing she could have said. I'll never forget. #gtchat
A4) GT kids in middle / high school want these conversations to ring with authenticity vs. centering on contrived scenarios. Book talks are such a rich opportunity for bringing empathy into the classroom. #bibliotherapy Same with film or even current events. #gtchat
A5: Exposing #gifted kids to the Arts is a great way to build intellectual #empathy. My drama teacher had us build elaborate back stories for our characters, even for small parts. Analyzing visual art & musical lyrics develop these #criticalthinking skills as well! #gtchat
A5) #gtchat my previous suggestions of drawing out situations w/ comic book style/stick figures can be helpful. Continuing to model & remind GT students about feelings other than just mad or happy
A5) Intellectual empathy must be modeled by teachers and administrators every single day. It isn’t enough to touch upon occasionally. It should be an integral part of lesson planning throughout the school year. #gtchat
A5: Giving #gifted students explicit instruction on decision-making is a powerful tool for building intellectual #empathy. Would you rather, Rank from worst-best & explain why, & what would you do questions provide a great platform for exploring emotional empathy. #gtchat
A5: Exposing #gifted kids to the Arts is a great way to build intellectual #empathy. My drama teacher had us build elaborate back stories for our characters, even for small parts. Analyzing visual art & musical lyrics develop these #criticalthinking skills as well! #gtchat
Q5) Intellectual empathy, to me, is the easier of the 2 to address. So I think it's a good starting point when teaching empathy in a classroom. I can intellectually understand a lot of things. Emotions are trickier. #gtchat
I'm very interested in bibliotherapy and plan on doing a pilot run with my Ss this spring! Do you have a list of books or a go-to resource you could share? #gtchat
A5) Intellectual empathy requires teachers to thoughtfully listen and respond to students in a respectful manner. GT students don’t tolerate ‘lip service’ when they giving careful consideration to the questions their asked. #gtchat
A5: Teaching patience is key. So often GT Ss are eager to share what they know and what they’ve done but they struggle to be patient enough to hear what others say! #gtchat#GTElemChat
There ya go. Actually, I've been surprised seeing my daughter's fellow middle schoolers so open with their emotions -- such as when the play they'd rehearsed for months was all over, especially if it was their last year doing it. That was the boys. #gtchat
Guilty as charged! My hand used to hurt and I would have to support it with my other hand because of how eager I was to get my turn, and the point I wanted to make could have made 5 minutes ago and I would have no clue! #gtchat#gtelemchat
A6) Intellectual empathy is drowned out by emphasis on test prep, lack of support staff, tight budgets and time constraints which redirect discourse to rote learning and preconceived notions of what is meant be ‘education’. #gtchat
So very true. I am well acquainted with GT learners in Middle and High School who will shut down / withdraw / tune out when adults condescend or use "sweet talk" -- they don't care if it's well-intentioned, they intensely dislike being talked down to or trivialized. #gtchat
A5) Intellectual empathy requires teachers to thoughtfully listen and respond to students in a respectful manner. GT students don’t tolerate ‘lip service’ when they giving careful consideration to the questions their asked. #gtchat
A6: By default, I think most educators (esp. in upper grades) steer away from emotional anything b/c it feels too warm & fuzzy. But we aren’t preparing SS for lifelong success if we don’t help them deal with the emotions they are destined to feel in their lives. #gtchat.
A5) I'm tired of mediocre curriculum that doesn't integrate a live audience. Intellectual empathy requires an actual audience where ideas can be expressed, shared, and owned #symbiosis#purpose#gtchat@gtchatmod
A6: Ideally school counselors would work with every educator to seamlessly integrate emotional and intellectual empathy into existing instructional units. Reality #educators must wear both their teaching and counseling caps to give all students this crucial life skill. #gtchat
A6) Intellectual empathy is not valued any longer by society; it’s not included in the standards. Base knowledge trumps comprehension in many general ed classrooms where GT students spend a majority of their time. #gtchat
A6) Emotional empathy is more challenging to develop- it's a group effort that takes a village. Intellectual empathy helps, but isn't everything. #gtchat
A5) we’ve been working on our communication and listening skills. Speaking stones help kids monitor how much they talk and we’ve learned RASA from @TEDTalks Receive, Appreciate, Summarize, Ask or Add. Great for truly listening and understanding #gtchat
Yes! You can't experience community without having community! Empathy isn't built in front of a computer screen. It's built by being face to fact and having conversations #gtchat
A5) I'm tired of mediocre curriculum that doesn't integrate a live audience. Intellectual empathy requires an actual audience where ideas can be expressed, shared, and owned #symbiosis#purpose#gtchat@gtchatmod
A6) Intellectual empathy is drowned out by emphasis on test prep, lack of support staff, tight budgets and time constraints which redirect discourse to rote learning and preconceived notions of what is meant be ‘education’. #gtchat
See resources I assembled at link for 2/27/17 – The Care & Feeding of Advanced Readers. Much of what's there emphasizes titles suitable for Middle Grades, though some YA lit interspersed #bibliotherapy#gtchat#empathy Could discuss this topic at length https://t.co/UzcqwDuI0x
A6) Intellectual empathy is not valued any longer by society; it’s not included in the standards. Base knowledge trumps comprehension in many general ed classrooms where GT students spend a majority of their time. #gtchat
A6) A professor once shared a quote: life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel - kind of if you can’t laugh you’ll cry - a defense mechanism for gt kids? or just a dif perspective #gtchat
A6: I believe emotional is the hardest. Discussion & debates are built into most lessons fostering intellectual empathy however it’s hard for Ss to imagine life any other way than theirs making emotional empathy harder to learn. It must be more intentionally taught #gtchat
Our next chat will be on Thursday March 15th at 8E/7C/6M/5P US and Friday 16th March at 1 PM NZDT/11 AM AEDT/Midnight UK. PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGES! Our topic will be “Encouraging Intellectual Curiosity” #gtchat
