Student Profile Analysis: Josh

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Gifted Characteristics

• has a strong curiosity and is inquisitive on a variety of topics
• is a zealous reader of many different genres
• thinks and processes information quickly and logically
• is observant and empathetic
• can recall facts and has a powerful memory
• understands sarcasm and humor
• is creative
• is responsible and a good leader 
• enjoys research and gaining new knowledge
• questions authority
• is morally conscience
• is self-motivated

Classification
I would classify “Josh” as a Social Leader.  He is an excellent leader and communicator among his classmates.  He previously attended the Summer leadership academy in Davidson County.  He is also a leader on the football field.  One of his coaches stated that he is always the first player back to practice after a water break, helps guide other players who are struggling and inquires on what he can do to play more effectively.  In the classroom, “Josh” takes a leadership role when working in small groups and during whole class instruction and discussion.  He very social (in a good way), is well-liked and seems to get along with students of all levels and backgrounds.

Gifted Program Setting
Josh is grouped with other high-performing students in the accelerated or advanced class for all of his core subjects.  

School Life
“Josh” appears to “have it all”-intelligence, popularity, and athleticism.  However, he is very complex.  He battles a fine line between being inquisitive toward teachers and being disrespectful.  While he is viewed as helpful and encouraging to some classmates, others see him as arrogant and condescending.  He is always willing to offer an answer, most of the time before others have had a chance to get their answer.  Occasionally I see an eye roll or two from his classmates.  I love having him as a student and enjoy his questions, his eagerness for new knowledge and complex thought processes.  But there are some teachers who view him as a know-it-all who always wants to argue.  He likes to know the "why" and the meaning behind answers.  I think he makes me a better teacher because he keeps me on my toes and encourages others to gain a deeper understanding. 

Ideal Learning Environment

In an ideal setting, “Josh” would profit intellectually from a smaller class size, a variety of readily available technology, and more authentic instruction.  He's in a class of 29 students now and that's much too large.  A I don't think we have an appropriate learning environment for "Josh" in Davidson County.  He already takes advantage of the extras that we offer (Leadership Academy, Duke TIP, Alpha Mu Math Society competition, Battle of the Books, etc.)  I'm torn on where the best location is for "Josh" to gain his formal education.  He's well-rounded and excels in all subjects, but the School of Math and Science may be a good choice for "Josh".  

The Autonomous Learner Model

After researching the various curriculum models presented in class,  I narrowed my decision down to the Osborne-Parnes Creative Problem-solving process, Kaplan’s Grid Model, and the Autonomous Learner Model.  Ultimately I decided that the Autonomous Learner Model would best integrate within my teaching style and my preferences.  Self-directed learning, being responsible for one's own self, being a decision-maker, and the ability to work independently are skills essential to being a 21st Century learner and becoming a productive adult in the future. Developed to encourage students to become more independent and responsible for their own learning, the Autonomous Learner Model gives students the opportunity to guide their own learning and make their education more meaningful.  In this model, teachers modify their traditional role to become more of a facilitator of the learning process.  An Autonomous Learner; by definition is "one who solves problems or develops new ideas through a combination of divergent and convergent thinking and functions with minimal external guidance in selected areas of endeavour." (Betts and Knapp, 1981)  The major goal of this model is to facilitate the growth of students as independent, self-directed learners, with the developed skills, concepts and positive attitudes.  Self-directed learning provides the students opportunities to accomplish the following:  develop more positive self-concept & self-esteem; comprehend their own abilities; develop skills to interact effectively; increase knowledge in a variety of areas: develop critical and creative thinking skills; develop decision-making and problem-solving skills; develop individual passion areas of learning; demonstrate responsibility for their own learning, in and out of the school setting; and become responsible, creative, independent, life-long learners. (Betts, 1999)  Meeting the student’s individual needs is emphasized in the ALM model through the five major dimensions: orientation, individual development, enrichment, seminars, and in-depth studies.

In the Orientation dimension, learners discover more about themselves and their abilities, and are supplied with opportunities to interact in groups and provided a foundation for concepts of the gifts and talents that they possess.  In the second dimension, Individual Development, students establish necessary skills and concepts to develop into life-long learners and become self-sufficient in their learning.  This dimension of the ALM promotes the education of the entire student, not just the academic aspects in a more conventional education.  The Enrichment dimension, dimension three, provides students with enhanced opportunities to examine curriculum and topics uncommon in the typical classroom.  Students are allowed the freedom to select content meaningful to them and to engage in cultural and service activities to encourage humanitarianism within the students.  Learners also investigate, design, execute, and present a product.  Dimension four, the Seminars, is designed to give students several chances to complete research on a specific topic and introduce the topic in a group forum.  This provides the students the chance to transform from students to facilitators.  The final dimension of the ALM is the In-depth Study dimension, which encourages learners to seek and develop new knowledge in fields they are passionate about.  The students designate what topics they will learn about and the methods in which they will learn and present their information.  Presentations and assessments are completed at the conclusion of the self-driven project.

The aspect of the Autonomous Learner Model that appeals most to me is the emphasis on creating a learner who is responsible for his/her independent learning, and as a result, he/she can develop a hunger life-long learning.  The ALM increases a students’ knowledge base, independence, and ability to make decisions and find creative solutions to problems, while developing interpersonal skills to interact more effectively with surrounding people.  When students take ownership of their own learning, it becomes more worthwhile and important to them, increasing their passion for acquiring new knowledge throughout their life.  This model is also easily adaptable and is beneficial for gifted students who often are able to work independently and possess the maturity needed to reflect on their own learning.  Education of the whole student, another favorable aspect of the ALM model, inspires learners to be charitable and believe that they can make a difference in their society.  “A life-long learner seeks truth, friendship, knowledge, and wisdom.  He accepts himself and others and strives to make the world a better place.  The journey is the key to new discoveries every day and is never-ending.”  (Betts, 2005)

Betts, G. (2005, January 1). The Journey of Lifelong Learning. Retrieved November 23, 2014.

Betts GT & Kercher JK. (1999). Autonomous Learner Model: Optimizing Ability. Greeley, CO: ALPS.

Betts GT & Knapp J (1981) The Autonomous Learner Model: A Secondary Model. In Secondary programs for the gifted and talented. Los Angles, CA: National/State-Leadership Training Institute for the Gifted and Talented.

Culturally Diverse Bias in Gifted Education

There is no denial that prejudice and discrimination, whether intentionally or not, remain in our world and in our educational system today.  To be completely unbiased in any aspect of education sounds perfect, but is impossible because we are all human and we are diverse.  Just like the students we teach, we teachers come from different backgrounds, have different life experiences, and our own different cultures.  I believe very few educators purposely discriminate against culturally diverse groups; however studies show that the number of minority students enrolled in gifted programs is historically lower in proportion than their white peers.  I feel that the main underlying causes for the under-representation of African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and other culturally diverse groups lies in the procedures and practices used to identify and educate gifted students.  Teachers are less likely to identify them to be tested; minority students score lower on the current assessments due to test bias; and once in a gifted program, culturally diverse students are not able to work to their potential. 

Oftentimes students in minority groups are less likely to be recommended for entrance into gifted programs due to teacher referral bias.  Given the responsibility to suggest students for gifted assessment procedures, educators must consider that students who are economically disadvantaged and/or cultural minorities may lag behind their peers in their life experiences.   As a result, their giftedness may not be as visibly obvious as students who were given more opportunities as young children.  For example, students raised in economically poor homes may have experienced less time reading with a parent if that parent had to work multiple jobs and was absent from the home much of the time.  This doesn’t signify that those students were cared for any less.  On the contrary, having a parent work more than one job in order to provide for their family illustrates their devotion to providing for their family.   However, the student may still suffer negative effects from the lack of parental involvement in their earlier developmental years.  Teachers commonly identify students who appear to be bright in math, reading, writing, or advanced critical thinking as potentially gifted, recommending additional assessments.  On the other hand, minority students may shine in less conventional ways, and those students who exhibit their giftedness in other uncommon areas may be overlooked.  Potentially an educator may not consider an African American, Native American, Hispanic, or economically disadvantaged student as gifted if that student hides his/her brilliance.  Giftedness is not always appreciated in some minority groups, and subsequently students don’t value their talents, especially if it makes them appear different and separates them from their friends.  African American students, especially, are accused of “acting white” if they are enrolled in gifted education programs, where being white is the norm.  Overcoming teacher bias in identifying potential for further evaluation for gifted programs is just the first obstacle many bright minority students must encounter.

Despite their popularity and widespread use, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the use and usefulness of intelligences tests for making decisions about culturally diverse students. “Decades of research have proven that standardized tests are an unreliable and inaccurate measure of student achievement and do not measure student potential. In fact, the data reveal that the strongest correlation is between test scores and socio-economic status.”  (Strauss)  The documented culture bias of many standardized tests contributes to the issue of under-representation of minority students in gifted education programs.  Theres is a distinct bias in the validity of many intelligence tests.  Basically, does the test measure what it’s intended to measure?  Testing a Hispanic student in English, who is not yet proficient in English, does not evaluate his/her intelligence.  Rather it assesses his/her language skills.  That student may know the right answer, but cannot show it if they do not understand the question.  Another concern is that certain students from culturally diverse backgrounds my not have the knowledge or experiences necessary to correctly answer a question.  If a question is posed about a topic unknown to a student due to lack of exposure or experience, he/she is at a disadvantage.  For instance, if a Hispanic student is asked a question about football on an evaluation, he/she may misinterpret the question to mean what we consider the sport of soccer, since it is known by that name in most countries other than the United States.  Often, intelligence tests are given too much power, and if a student scores poorly, there is a reasonable probability that they will be denied the chance to enter a gifted education program.  Educators should not interpret test scores in isolation.  Instead various forms of data should be collected and utilized to form a more comprehensive decision.

Finally, gifted education courses, themselves, may discourage participation by culturally diverse students.  “A study by Moore, Ford, & Milner (2005) identifies that attrition is common among minority students in gifted programs.” (Pauley and Johnstone)  Minority students can feel isolated from their friends if they are separated and served in different classroom or group setting.  Further isolation may occur if the content is not relevant to the student, taking into account his/her cultural background, or if the instructional methods of the teacher are culturally mismatched to the student’s needs.  Minority students who feel uncomfortable with the differences between themselves and the other gifted students may adjust to conform to the social and behavioral norms of their own culture in order to fit it, thus becoming an underachiever.   They don’t want to appear different from their friends and would rather not be detached from what they find comfortable.  Nor do they want to confront ridicule from fellow classmates for trying to “act white.”

The methods used to identify and programs designed to educate gifted students are key defects in classifying culturally diverse students as gifted.  Whether they are overlooked by their own teachers, score a less than desirable score on intelligence tests, or receive inadequate instruction once accepted into a gifted education program, minority students are lagging behind their white counterparts in the area of gifted education.  If culturally diverse students are continuously denied access to gifted education programs, then those programs will increase the gap between those students and their peers that are accepted into the gifted programs. The difficult challenge to ensure gifted students in all groups benefit from gifted programs equally in our educational system continues, and needs to be corrected by getting to the root of the inconsistencies and then creating a real and credible plan that can be authentically assessed.  

Pauley, Gayle and Johnstone, Kristina (2009). Addressing Under-representation of Student Populations in Gifted Programs. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Olympia, Washington. http://www.k12.wa.us/HighlyCapable/pubdocs/2010/UnderRepresentationGiftedPrograms.pdf

Strauss, V. (2013, March 20). Do Schools For ‘the Gifted’ Promote Segregation? The Washington Post. Retrieved November 7, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/03/20/do-schools-for-the-gifted-promote-segregation/

Whiting, G., & Ford, D. (2009, December 23). Cultural Bias in Testing. Retrieved November 7, 2014, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/cultural-bias-in-testing/

Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting is the portrayal of the life of a poor, yet brilliant janitor at M.I.T.  Hunting and his friends are working class citizens from South Boston that grew up in an economically poor atmosphere lacking educational influence. He is stuck in the same cycle that has always led his life, and has never been given the opportunity to explore his desires.  The low socio-economic theme throughout movie shows the relationship between education and poverty. Hunting, without a distinct educational background, is subject to his negative environment and feels trapped in his surroundings.  This lack of a nurturing foundation allows Hunting and his friends to settle for a life in poverty that they’ve always lived rather than bettering their situations.  Through his own self-determination to better himself,  Hunting educates himself by reading books that he has borrowed from the public library.   He is able to succeed because he works hard and decides that he wants to be more than what he’s been in the past.  Just like Will Hunting, gifted children can be found in many aspects of society and are sometimes viewed as problem children. They can be gifted in art, music, writing, mathematics or other areas of education, yet it is how their gifts are developed that influences how they will succeed in life.   Appearing to have never been challenged and nor had to use his exceptional abilities,  Will Hunting is a gifted mathematician that does not know how to channel his talent.  

While there is an array of characteristics that identify gifted students,  Will Hunting exhibits many of the distinguishing traits.  Hunting is extremely creative and imaginative, as is evidenced in his various battles in the courts stemming from his multiple arrests.  Even though he is arrested repeatedly, he is always able to use his vast knowledge and extensive vocabulary to convince the judge that he should be acquitted of all charges.  His creative defense strategy and arguments are also an example of his flexible thinking and his disregard for authority.  Throughout the movie, Hunting questions established rules, beliefs, and authority.

Like many gifted students, Hunting has a deep compassion for others, as evidenced by his love and camaraderie for his friends, who he describes as his brothers.  He doesn’t hesitate to come to the rescue of his friend, Chuckie Sullivan, when Chuckie faces severe embarrassment in the bar near Harvard.  Instead, he turns the tables on the pompous Harvard student, making him appear unintelligent.  He loves to read books and has an almost photographic memory, which he displays at the bar when he is able to quote ideas from a textbook that the male Harvard student tries to pass off as his own original ideas.   Hunting’s ability to process information at a deeper level is astounding.  Even though he values his close friendships with his neighborhood buddies, he is willing to leave his friends so that he can work on solving the theorem posted by Professor Lambeau in the hallway at Harvard.  He has a strong absorption in his interests in mathematics and other areas in his self-guided learning.  He is able to solve an extremely difficult theorem in a few hours because of his keen observation skills.  Rather than just mopping the floors, he notices his surroundings, more specifically the theorem posted in the hallway.  Hunting also is very perceptive as he recognizes that the therapist is gay-a fact that the therapist denies.  Again Hunting utilizes his clever perception when he confronts Dr. Maguire about his wife and tells him that he married the wrong woman, noticeably hitting  a nerve with Dr. Maguire.   

Obviously intrinsically motivated due to his lack of a caring family, Hunting, an orphan was shuffled from foster home to foster home.  It was up to him to make his life what he wanted it to be.  Hunting was not given the opportunities that many people who are more economically and socially adept are given.  Instead he had to create his opportunities.  His love of learning is evident in his self-directed studies of multiple disciplines and in the books he reads borrowed from the public library.    


An indisputably brilliant 20 year old would appear to have the world at their feet.  However due to his low self-esteem and disadvantaged past, Hunting experiences an intense inner turmoil-should he interview for the NSA job? Should he follow after Skylar to California?  Hunting feels that he’s not good enough for Skylar or for a better life.  Like many gifted underachievers, Will Hunting struggles with the fear of failure or disappointment.   Should he leave the comforts of his familiar surroundings in search of what better life might be possible for him?  His intellectual gifts, which seem effortless, are undeniable, yet he lacks direction of how to use his gifts for his success.  He’s suffered both physical and emotional abuse throughout his childhood.  Bearing the burden of abandonment and fear, he purposefully lies and pushes away anyone that tries to get close to him. Hunting finds solace in his low socio-economic surroundings of South Boston, and his friendships with chums of the same societal stature.  Will Hunting, like all gifted students, is unique with a multitude of talents, yet the endless potential of any gifted individual relies on an encouraging and supporting environment.

EXCELLENCE VS. EQUITY

The middle school concept is designed to meet the varying needs of adolescents.  Middle school students are unique intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically from other age groups, as well as being notably different from each other.  Both gifted students and middle school students in general need stimulating activities to help them develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.  A safe environment where positive interaction is valued between teachers and peers is essential to all middle school students, including gifted learners.  Positive self-esteem, a struggle for most middle school students, is crucial for their success.  As they strive to find their identity, perhaps the most identifying feature of middle school students is their need to "fit in" academically and socially.  

While many developmental characteristics among middle school students and gifted students are similar, gifted students often experience more difficulty "fitting in" due in part to their drive for academic success.  Gifted education exists to advance the development of intellectually gifted students. As a result, gifted students, who demonstrate strong potential, are often challenged to develop to their full potential.  On the opposing side, the Middle school concept values a more uniform education where all students have an equal chance to succeed.  I feel it’s important that educators recognize the advantages of both equity and excellence.

Because many middle school administrators emphasize the negative impact of homogeneous grouping on at-risk learners, heterogeneity has become a staple in many middle schools.  As a teacher, however, I see significant benefits in grouping gifted students by ability levels.  In my experience, some forms of homogeneous grouping is beneficial to both at-risk students and gifted learners.  When students are in a heterogeneous group, it is extremely difficult to differentiate to appropriate levels for all levels of students, especially gifted students.  Often times, the curriculum is often “dumbed down” to reach the lower level students.  A one-size-fits-all approach is not conducive to educating students of such differing educational levels who are in the same heterogeneous classroom and should be discouraged.  Educators should plan for both personal excellence and equity of access to advancement for all learners who are at risk, including those who are gifted.  I agree that heterogeneous teams are beneficial, however I feel that students should be grouped homogeneously within their team for instructional purposes in core content areas.

The emphasis of the middle school model on equity for all students appears to be fair for all students.  Is ability grouping fair?  Rosselli and Irvin bring up the idea that grouping gifted students homogeneously is equated with social discrimination.  However, to prevent gifted learners from failing to reach their potential, they need to be challenged academically.  Since gifted students often reach mastery of skills before their less gifted counterparts, homogeneous grouping can be beneficial to their educational progress.  Isn't it also discrimination if students aren't placed in an appropriate educational setting just because they aren't economically disadvantaged or a minority?  Do we want to encourage mediocrity or stimulate excellence?

Middle school is akin to a world where all students are given trophies just for participation.  One of my favorite statements made by Rosselli and Irvin is "Achieving success for all students is not equated with achieving the same results for all students."  All students strive to be successful, no matter what their educational level, and I feel that heterogeneous classrooms often point out the obvious shortcomings of students who struggle academically.  So the question remains, can we have both excellence and equity?  

Rosselli, H., & Irvin, J. (2001). Differing Perspectives, Common Ground: The Middle School and Gifted Education Relationship. Middle School Journal,57-62.

Serving the Underserved…Twice Exceptional Students

Many times gifted students in general are underserved.  However the subcategory of Twice Exceptional students seems to be the most difficult students to identify and as a result, are oftentimes overlooked. Many teachers and parents are unaware of the characteristics of a Twice Exceptional student and fail to recognize a student’s giftedness if the student has a learning disability or if the student displays a learning disability,  his/her giftedness is often masked.  

“A twice-exceptional student is one who experiences special educational programming to accommodate one or more handicapping conditions while also promoting the student’s potential for exceptional achievement in one or more areas in which they may be gifted” (Whitmore, 1981).   Because of the academic discrepancies and inconsistencies in student learning, Twice Exceptional students are routinely left in regular education classrooms or receive either gifted services only or exceptional children’s services exclusively.  This dilemma creates a frustrating atmosphere for the student both at home and at school.  In my experience as a teacher, I’ve recognized 2 cases of Twice Exceptional students.  However, I imagine there have been more cases that have gone unnoticed or undiagnosed.  

My first encounter with a twice exceptional student was a 5th grade boy in my class who excelled at math and reading comprehension, but would scream and throw items when he was required to complete a writing assignment.  The student was identified as gifted in math and reading comprehension, yet he refused to work with the AIG specialist or was a discipline problem in their small group and as a result, stayed in the regular classroom.  He was diagnosed as autistic and he also had severe behavioral & emotional problems including OCD, ADD, extreme outbursts and depression.  In addition he was grossly unorganized.  Yet in spite of his weaknesses, he was brilliantly creative, loved to read,  and knew everything minute detail about anything Star Wars.  Although he was accepted by his classmates, he had few friends because he was so different.  I don’t feel as though his needs were met.  He made ok grades, but he wasn’t challenged intellectually.  By the time I taught him in 5th grade, the excuse was that “that’s just the way he is.”  

This year I have a 7th grade female that is a twice exceptional student, being identified AIG in both math and reading, yet requiring extended time and a separate setting due to ADD, OCD and a processing disorder.  She is extremely quiet, disorganized, forgets to turn in completed work, is frustrated easily, and is the last one to finish an assignment.  However she is exceptionally intelligent and consistently scores well on classroom and state assessments.  Her need for extra time to understand and process information is very evident as it takes her a significant amount of time just to organize her thoughts.  She is in the AIG cluster class for all core subjects and is highly successful, but that hasn’t always been the case.  She struggled in past years because although she was bright, she couldn’t process the information quickly enough to keep up with the other AIG students.  Two years ago she was also diagnosed with a learning disability, despite it being masked by her advanced intelligence.  As in her case, often students who are identified in a gifted program are not identified for special education programs because they are seen as mutually exclusive in the educational domain.

The fact is that twice exceptional students are falling through the cracks of our educational system.  It is difficult for educational professionals to integrate the twice exceptional learner’s extreme strengths with their noticeable weaknesses.  Several reasons complicate the identification process for twice exceptional students.   While services for children with learning disabilities are federally mandated (IDEA), giftedness is not addressed federally.  Rather it is left up to individual states or school systems to create criteria to identify gifted students.  As a result, there is no tantamount law to protect the rights of students who are both gifted and learning disabled.  Another stumbling block to twice exceptional identification is that standardized tests, the most accepted procedure for identifying gifted students, will not successfully recognize a student that is both disabled and gifted.  Instead more comprehensive methods must be used for identification purposes.  Another reason educators overlook or underserve these students is because they are unaware of their existence  because their intellectual gifts and learning disabilities mask each other so that the students appear to be just average students who aren’t working to their potential.  No matter what the reason for the lack of representation for the twice exceptional student, changes need to be made.  Both the disabilities and the areas of giftedness need to be addressed by school personnel in order to provide an equitable education for these students.  The challenge for the educational society is how to identify the students and how to respond to their academic needs.

Supporting the Identification and Achievement of the Twice-Exceptional Student. (2010, September 1). Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/gifted_ed/twice_exceptional.pdf

Whitmore, J. (1981). Gifted children with handicapping conditions: A new frontier. Exceptional Children, 48(2), 106-113.

Why am I interested in Gifted Education?

Why am I interested in Gifted Education?

I'm interested in gifted education for many reasons...

• because I was in "gifted" classes in elementary and middle school, then AP and Honors classes in high school
• because I teach students that are gifted 
• because I am a mom of a gifted child (the other 2 haven't been identified, but I have a feeling they are gifted as well)
• because I think that these students are often looked over in the public school system-more focus seems to be placed on the students preforming below grade level than trying to challenge and grow the students that are above grade level
• because gifted students are misunderstood-they are many times much more advanced academically than socially and don't understand how to adapt
• because, in my experience, students that come from lower social/economic classes don't want to embrace their giftedness-they don't want to be labeled as dorks or nerds
• because I'm interested in learning how to challenge and encourage gifted students 
• because gifted students can "think outside of the box" and be more open-minded
• because I want to stimulate their brains and inspire them to use their gifts to become successful adults
• because I think the gifted students are our future leaders