Challenging: Gifted Learners: Through Children's Literature

Abstract

Early primary educators whose classes include some students with advanced academic abilities must provide experiences that stimulate their intellectual development while meeting the educational needs of the typical learners. One way to provide for these advanced learners is to extend and enrich the mandated curriculum through the use of children's literature. Library books offer a broad range of topics upon which units of study can be developed. This method is cost effective as the books are readily available through the school or public library and the interest level is appropriate to young children. The units can correlate with the regular curriculum, include required basic skills, offer new knowledge, develop higher level thinking skills and instill a love of learning.

A Study of Well-Being and School Satisfaction Among Academically Talented Students Attending a Science High School in Korea

“…Feldhusen, VanTassel-Baska, & Seeley, 1989;Neihart, Reis, Robinson, & Moon, 2002;Renzulli, Smith, White, Callahan, & Hartman, 1976;Tannenbaum, 1983). Among the unique characteristics of gifted students are the following: advanced development in language and thought (Benbow & Minor, 1990;Jackson, 1988;Smith, 1991); logical thinking (Davidson, 1986;Walberg et al, 1981), advanced mathematical, musical, and artistic abilities (Winner & Martino, 2000); motivation, persistence, and advanced interests (Bryant, 1991;Gottfried & Gottfried, 1996;Renzulli & Reis, 1997); high internal control (Milgram & Milgram, 1976); high excitability and sensitivity (Piechowski, 2003); and perfectionism (Whitmore, 1980). These characteristics create unique educational needs.…”

Διαδικασίες Μάθησης Παιδιών Με Υψηλό Νοητικό Πηλίκο

“…Τα ευφυή παιδιά κατανοούν σύνθετες και αφηρηµένες έννοιες και σχέσεις, που φυσιολογικά µαθαίνονται σε µεγαλύτερη ηλικία. Σύµφωνα µε άρθρα των Bryant (1989) και Smith (1991), τα χαρακτηριστικά των παιδιών που µαθαίνουν να διαβάζουν σε µικρή ηλικία, περιλαµβάνουν τα εξής: ζήλο για µάθηση, ικανότητα αυτόνοµης µάθησης, αναβαθµισµένη γνώση, ικανότητα σκέψης και επίλυσης προβληµάτων, περιέργεια και διερώτηση, καλή µνήµη και προσοχή, καλή κρίση στα γνωστικά ερεθίσµατα, ικανότητα παραγωγής πρωτότυπων ιδεών και πλούσιο λεξιλόγιο.…”