Student Voice

After asking my students what they wish they could tell their teachers about being gifted students, I searched for ways to have their voices heard. In order to have a platform for my students to connect with the larger community, this blog was created.

This post was originally created on 9/28/15. 

ASCD: What Students Want From Teachers

I asked them to write things they wish their teachers knew about gifted students in middle school. I asked them to tell me what they need from school from their perspective. They responded in bold colors, with heartfelt messages. PRISM students came back all day to add to the wall to have their unique voices heard. 

*In the days following this activity, the writing remained on the board and the students and I reflected on their messages. Over the course of 4 days, the students have re-read their statements and some have said that their frustrations made their comments sound meaner than their original intent. Nonetheless, when we give students a voice, we need to listen. Their feedback was honest and as their champion I am giving them a place to share and learn how to be empowered advocates for their needs as gifted learners. Links to resources for each statement have now been added as a caption and our hope is that educators will take this opportunity to reflect on their own practices to ensure all of our students are being given the opportunities they deserve to flourish in our schools. 

https://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/how-the-student-voice-can-make-education-better/

http://crushingtallpoppies.com/2015/04/01/anxiety-in-gifted-children-3-simple-steps-parents-and-educators-can-take/

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10129.aspx 

http://getmappen.com/info/planning/six-must-haves-for-gifted-students/#justifiable-and-authentic-curriculum

http://sengifted.org/archives/articles/the-gifted-identity-formation-model-in-search-of-the-gifted-identity-from-abstract-concept-to-workable-counseling-constructs

http://www.byrdseed.com/five-unexpected-traits-of-gifted-students/

http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources-parents/social-emotional-issues/perfectionism

http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt/hennesse.html

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10514.aspx

http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/lsherrell/files/2015/02/Differentiating-for-Gifted-Learners.pdf

                       

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/every-learner/6682

                       

http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/tag/Digests/e607.html

http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt/kennarch.html

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/50-ways-to-teach-current-events/?_r=0

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/news-literacy-critical-thinking-skills-peter-adams

Links for more information: 

What it Means to Teach Gifted Learners Well 

Gifted Kids at Risk: Who’s Listening?

Competing with Myths about the Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Students

National Association for Gifted Children Standard 4: Learning Environments

Ten reasons why your gifted child procrastinates

Cybraryman’s What Students Want Page