Philosophy of Gifted Students Essay

Shona Hemphill July 22, 2009 EDSP 4510 sec. 476 Structuring Gifted Programs If I had to pick the most important model from the Structuring Gifted Programs figure in chapter eleven, I would have to choose Individualized Instruction. This model breaks down instructions for assignments in a manner that is unique to an individual’s understanding. If a student does not understand the instructions, the teacher will personally come to the student and explain the instructions to him/her. Or, the teacher could possibly already be aware of the students who are gifted and incorporate special instructions for the gifted students. A regular lesson plan may not be challenging enough for a student who is gifted. I personally have a problem understanding instructions and I know how accommodating this model can be. Everyone processes information differently and that should not be the reason why students fail or gifted students go unnoticed. Breaking down instructions individually is extremely important because it helps to determine what kind of student you are dealing with. Take myself for example, on our first assignment I did not find all of the instruction, therefore, the assignment that I turned in was not the best that it could have been. However, once I was provided a second chance, and I fully understood the instruction, I was able to give one hundred percent to the assignment, and earned a grade of ninety six percent. Had I not had the opportunity to go back and really understand the instructions, I would have probably received a â€Å"C† for that assignment. Properly understanding instructions play a major part in a student’s performance, and Individualized Instruction can be a big help with this issue. Another important model from the figure in chapter eleven is, Gifted Clusters. I believe that this model focuses on getting groups of gifted students together to learn on a more advanced level. The gifted students that are in a classroom can be clustered together whenever there are group projects, that way it relieves the pressure of the gifted student doing all of the work whenever they are assigned to a group. This model also helps the gifted students to feel included because they will be surrounded with people that are a lot like themselves. Sometimes gifted students have a problem with fitting in with other students. This model is one of the best because it attempts to resolve the issue of fitting in. Being in a cluster of gifted individuals help the students feel as if they belong. With the everyday pressure that gifted students experience, this model may slightly lessen some of the pressure because it lays the foundation of a social network. Sometimes socializing can be difficult for gifted students, but if they were grouped together, it just might be easier to open up, and get to know one another. This model is important because it may also have an effect on self esteem. Once students began to socialize and find a place where they feel like they fit in, they began to become more confident and self assured. I speak from experience. I was lost at one point and really felt like I did not belong. I then started to hang out with people who were more like me and had some of the same beliefs and values that I possessed. Before I knew it, I was not as shy, I noticed that I walked with my head held high, and I became a social butterfly. When I think back about five years ago, I was nothing like I am now, and I have my cluster of friends to thank for that. The last model from the figure in chapter eleven that I find to be extremely important is Honors Classes. This model concentrates on placing gifted students in the appropriate classes so that they can reach their fullest potential. If a student is performing at a level that seems to be more advanced that average students, then they will be placed in honors classes. Honors classes are a bit more challenging than the standard classes that are traditionally taught in schools. Sometimes these classes can be fast paced and cover twice as much information than the standard classes. These classes really attempt to cater to the gifted students. This model is one of the important ones because of the challenges that honors classes provide for the gifted students. These classes allow the students to use their knowledge and skills and to keep the brain actively learning. As I said before, nothing is worst than getting out of bed in the morning and going to school, only to learn something that you already know. Honors classes help to maintain a student’s giftedness, and without it, the student’s brain capacity may decrease if it is not continually being stimulated. Every school should offer honors classes because it is imperative that students get the education that is individually required for them to have the most successful academic career as possible.