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The Very Young and Gifted:. What do they need? . Susan Rambeau Victoria B. Damiani , Ed.D ., NCSP Indiana University of Pennsylvania Center for Gifted Education. . Some Early Signs of Giftedness*. Unusual alertness in infancy Less need for sleep Long attention span High activity level
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The Very Young and Gifted: What do they need? Susan Rambeau Victoria B. Damiani, Ed.D., NCSP Indiana University of Pennsylvania Center for Gifted Education.
Some Early Signs of Giftedness* • Unusual alertness in infancy • Less need for sleep • Long attention span • High activity level • Recognizing caretakers early • Early language development • Curiosity • Keen powers of observation Harrison, C. (2004). Giftedness in early childhood: The search for complexity and connection. Roeper Review, 26(2), 78-84; Silverman, L. K. (1993). Counseling families. In L. K. Silverman (Ed.), Counseling the gifted and talented. (pp., 151-178) Denver: Love.
Assessment Options • Individual tests of intellectual ability • Standardized achievement tests • Curriculum-based assessment • Rating scales • Observations • Trial experiences
Do NOT shy away from presenting complex or abstract underlying themes. • Examples: • Telling Time • Identifying Money • Temperature • Fractions Cukierkorn, J.R., Karnes, F.A., Manning, S.J., Houston, H., & Besnoy, K. (2007). Serving the preschool gifted child: Programming and resources. Roeper Review, 29(4), 271-276.
Base activities on the student’s interest. • Responsibility • Intrinsic Motivation
Allow for more detail. • Examples: • Higher Level Books • Advanced Vocabulary • In-depth Props • Similarities and Differences • Guest Speakers • Allow typical preschoolers to participate in some of the enrichment activities. • Foster, S.M. (1993). Meeting the needs of gifted and talented preschoolers. Children Today, 22(3),28-30.
Allow for more detail in the different centers you have set up in the classroom. • Writing Center • Science Center • Arts Center • Manipulative Center • Dramatic Play Center • Reading Center • Technology Center
Writing Center • Have an alphabet strip along with common words located in the center so the student can begin to form sentences. • Make arrangements with a pen pal on their academic level. Cukierkorn, J.R., Karnes, F.A., Manning, S.J., Houston, H., & Besnoy, K. (2007). Serving the preschool gifted child: Programming and resources. Roeper Review, 29(4), 271-276
Science Center • Scrambled Animals Dramatic Play Center • Include props that allow for in-depth scenarios during play. Farmer, D. (1996). Parenting gifted preschoolers. Austega Web Site. http://austega.com/gifted/preschoolers.htm Foster, S.M. (1993). Meeting the needs of gifted and talented preschoolers. Children Today, 22(3),28-30.
Arts Center • Introduce music appreciation. • Allow the students to play an instrument. • Introduce art appreciation. • Provide activities rather than crafts. • Foster, S.M. (1993). Meeting the needs of gifted and talented preschoolers. Children Today, 22(3),28-30.
Manipulative Center • Unifex Cubes • Tangrams • 24 Piece Puzzles • Optical Illusions • Mazes • Card and Board Games • Foster, S.M. (1993). Meeting the needs of gifted and talented preschoolers. Children Today, 22(3),28-30.
Reading Center • Include a variety of reading material. • Level of difficulty • Interests • Types • Picture Books • Magazines for Kids • Poetry Cukierkorn, J.R., Karnes, F.A., Manning, S.J., Houston, H., & Besnoy, K. (2007). Serving the preschool gifted child: Programming and resources. Roeper Review, 29(4), 271-276. Imison, K. (1997). Teaching to foster talent development: Vignettes of gifted children in Australia. Gifted Child Today, 20(3),24-28.
Technology Center • Practice Keyboarding • PowerPoint Presentation of completed work Cukierkorn, J.R., Karnes, F.A., Manning, S.J., Houston, H., & Besnoy, K. (2007). Serving the preschool gifted child: Programming and resources. Roeper Review, 29(4), 271- 276.
Social and Emotional Domain • Feelings of Awkwardness • Hidden Talents • Transporting Students • Cross-Age Activities • A Leader as well as a Follower Cukierkorn, J.R., Karnes, F.A., Manning, S.J., Houston, H., & Besnoy, K. (2007). Serving the preschool gifted child: Programming and resources. Roeper Review, 29(4), 271-276. Sweeny, N. (1995). Gifted children have special needs too. Early Childhood News, 7(3), 11-13.
At Home Ideas • Trips to the museum, theatre, as well as traveling • Plan a party • Buying a Pet Foster, S.M. (1993). Meeting the needs of gifted and talented preschoolers. Children Today, 22(3),28-30.
Keep in Mind • Give it time • Be a co-learner • Keep complete and inclusive records • Devil’s advocate • Be patient Harrison, C. (2004).Giftedness in early childhood: The search for complexity and connection. Roeper Review, 26(2)78-84. Imison, K. (1997). Teaching to foster talent development: Vignettes of gifted children in Australia. Gifted Child Today, 20(3),24-28.