Q: My first grader seems more wiggly than her peers, and is easily bored. At first, we thought maybe the cause was ADD or ADHD. But, she's reading at a 4th grade level. Could her boredom be a result of giftedness?
A: YES! In fact, I'd say that you've hit the nail on the head! I've discussed this very issue with several of my clients.
Many people assume that gifted students are the ones who sit still and get all their work done and are automatically motivated.
Gifted students, however, are at high risk to be high school drop outs and career underachievers for two primary reasons.
1. Because many things are easy for gifted students, they often give up when something doesn't come easily.
2. When something does come easily to them, they're bored and don't complete the task, or do it half-heartedly making unneccessary errors.
So, you can see that giftedness is a double-edged sword.
Parents and educators of the gifted have a great challenge, blessing and responsibility. You'll have to be on top of your game to keep your gifted kiddo on track.
Here are a few tips:
1. Remember that intellectual age isn't necessarily the same as physical or emotional age. Just because your first grader reads like a fourth grader, it doesn't mean she can sit still like a fourth grader. Cut back your expectations. Establish a minimum requirement of sitting still for academic tasks for one minute per year old, and build from there, a minute at a time. Give frequent wiggle breaks.
2. Gifted kids are often obsessed with a particular topic, author, or book genre. Go with it! Use their interests as rewards. "When you finish your math and miss fewer than 2, you may choose to read your book on the digestive system of dogs." That may motivate gifted students more than offering a piece of candy or a trip to the zoo!
3. Don't waste his time and talent on "busy work." Why make him copy each spelling word five times when he could write a book if you let him? Instead, allow him to write the story that's plaguing his mind, and go through the writing process with him, editing for spelling as your spelling lesson.
4. Gifted kids often feel like they can't "turn off" their brains. They are constantly daydreaming, thinking, wishing, inventing, judging, worrying, analyzing.... You may hear him talk to himself in bed at night or while playing alone. Help him balance time alone with time with peers. Help him wind down for a better night's rest by encouraging him to journal or talk to you before bedtime. Establish firm bedtime rituals.
5. Give rewards, both concrete and verbal praise, for completing tasks, easy or challenging, to the best of her ability. Without giving her a guilt trip or Messiah complex, firmly establish the value of her gift and the responsibility she has to use it well.
Claim Ephesians 6:7 as a life verse for your child,
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were sereing the Lord, not men."
Or, how about 1 Corinthians 10:31?
"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
The best comprehensive website on giftedness I've found is:
www.hoagiesgifted.org. (Thanks to Adele for sharing!)
I'd love to hear from other moms of gifted/advanced students. Please share your questions or advice in the comment section below.
I will write about giftedness again soon, so check back!
Happy Home Schooling,
Mrs. Sherry
c 2007
