Whether teaching a class of gifted students or overseeing a local gifted group for a Friday night outing, these kids can be much more than a handful to manage effectively. Military tactics are as futile as anarchy, so leave those to the armed services. Here are some techniques for keeping the group on target.
Establish Control and Ground Rules For the Gifted Group
Taking control of the gifted group from the start is the way to set up a good rapport. Speak in a calm, loud but low voice to get their attention. Start by eliciting participation in the development of a set of ground rules everyone will follow when part of the group. Items like taking turns speaking, treating others with mutual respect and obeying directions are a must. Include suggestions from the students to ensure there is buy-in on the list of rules.
Have all children agree to the rules verbally when the list is completed. Ensure that they understand the consequences of non-compliance, whether that means exclusion from events or time out in the cloak room. When a serious offense occurs, be sure to follow through on the punishment.
Whatever happens, keep emotions in check. The commercialized phrase, "Don't let them see you sweat" is an appropriate mantra for anyone on the verge of losing it with someone in the group. These kids are very astute and can intuitively pick up on weaknesses, self-doubt and nervousness.
Disruptive Ingenuity of Gifted Children
No matter how many explicit ground rules are on the list, someone in the group will find a way to creatively disrupt the group at some point in time. This may take the form of mysterious noises from the cell phone going off in the ceiling to students conversing in alternate languages.
When these interruptions occur, don't become flustered. Ignore or chuckle and add the new item to the ground rule list for future reference. Some gifted kids use this kind of humor as a way of getting added attention even if they otherwise demonstrate a grudging acceptance of the status quo of the group.
The way the adult reacts to the situations presented is key. A big response will encourage future episodes. Showing backbone and a sense of humor will likely endear the authority figure to many in the group, though some will still try to push her buttons if the opportunity presents itself.
Principles of Conditioning Theory for Handling Gifted Children
The best advice with any group applies here as well. Positive reinforcement for good behavior is key. Keep in mind that the reward should be soon, certain and positive for the behavior to be properly reinforced.
Positive reinforcement is much stronger than any punitive measure, when it is done right. Often, some form of punishment never becomes necessary with gifted kids. These kids are more adult-like than normal children and learn very quickly. If they perceive more advantage to good behavior than bad, they will often make the right choices with little overt encouragement.
After spending a little time with a group of children, an observant educator will be able to pick out the leaders in the group. Often, winning over these kids will result in the majority of the group following his lead. This is not to say that the leaders should be given special attention or privilege, however. Taking the time to coax participation from the more introverted children is well worth the effort in terms of results. If the introverts become comfortable contributing to the group, everyone will gain in terms of the quality of the information shared and overall educational experience.
Gifted children in a group setting can be a challenge to control, direct or teach. Establishing ground rules with a firm voice and commanding presence is the best way to start. Hone in on the leaders of the group to get buy in and help the more shy children to feel part of the group. Use the principles of soon, certain and positive reinforcement to keep the group motivated and in line with the overall objective.
References:
Davidson Institute for Talent Development. Tips for Teachers, 2003.
McGrail, Laura. Modfying Regular Classroom Curriculum for Gifted and Talentd Students. Prufrock Press (accessed June 10, 2010).
Sharp, Alex. Why Preservice Teachers Need Gifted Ed Exposure. Suite101.com. Mar. 2, 2009.
Please also read the article Fostering Academic Excellence in the Gifted.
Therese Haberman - With a MS degree and 25 years in HR mgmt, in 2005, Ms.Therese began a writing career specializing in children and HR.
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