Considering GT move

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Considering GT move

by Amanda

Mar 3, 2010

What are the pros and cons of teaching GT? What are the expectations? I currently teach Special Ed. Thanks.

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Sara On 3/03/10, Amanda wrote: > What are the pros and cons of teaching GT? What are the > expectations? I currently teach Special Ed. Thanks.

I love it. The pros are the kids and how much fun they are to teach. They lap up learning like sponges. They appreciate intriguing things that other kids don't even notice much less appreciate. If ...See MoreOn 3/03/10, Amanda wrote: > What are the pros and cons of teaching GT? What are the > expectations? I currently teach Special Ed. Thanks.

I love it. The pros are the kids and how much fun they are to teach. They lap up learning like sponges. They appreciate intriguing things that other kids don't even notice much less appreciate. If presented in the right way, a GT student can be intrigued by most anything because if you really think about it, there is something of interest in everything.

When taught as GT students, GT kids Love their school day and leave it looking forward to coming back the next day. And I find their parents for the most part as bright and talented as the kids and very pleasant - and interesting - to be around.

The only con is that some parents are very driven and always want more, more, more and their children however bright are yet children who can't do more, more, more. Some parents equate giftedness with work, work, work. They see their child's talent as a reason to drive the child hard.

I can contend with such parents but my post would get too long if I told you how but know it's very possible not only to contend with such parents but also to charm them and ultimately get along with them and sometimes - even get them to see your point of view and lighten up on their child.

Perhaps another con would be - I spend hours every night preparing still after 20 plus years of teaching. I'm constantly searching for something new, something that will intrique them even more. The Internet has made those hours of preparation much easier as now I can spend them at home instead of a library.

And this is Not a con for me but other GT teachers sometimes complain of their students' willingness to debate them... GT kids do not take things at face value or without question. Their minds are working and they see through conventional explanations in about - 30 seconds. With GT kids, you too much think like them and be ready to be reflective and to reason with them and to be logical in your thinking.

"Because I said so" is usually not the best way to approach GT kids and if you want to teach like that, you will end up battling with your GT kids who need reasons and are Very capable of understanding reasons and telling good ones from bad.

Mar 5, 2010

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