The social and emotional needs of gifted students by EUN Partnership aisbl

Maria, Greece

2023-09-25 10:23:27 UTC

A method used in differantiated teaching is the learning stations, which means different activities designed by the teacher on a specific subject, where all the students take part in groups and they go from station to station until they do all the activities. Something similar could be prepared with learning stations focused on a specific hobby for example, where all the students with familiar hobbies could meet and feel they belong to this group.

Alex, Italy

2023-09-25 12:41:56 UTC

Personally, when it comes to including gifted students I tend to get them to play the role of tutor in pair/group activities.
In case of tests or structured tasks, I assign them an extra exercise knowing that they are generally early finishers.
Last but not least, ask them to lead the class if I want all of my students to practice some conversation on a given topic.

Vasiliki, Greece

2023-09-25 15:11:32 UTC

they can take part in a team making their own game, quiz, student group and given them a central role in the team. Or in teams to play and organize activities where all students must partecipate and also change each time their team and go to an other

Sandra from Portugal

sandravasc — 2023-09-25 17:18:53 UTC

I agree with Alex from Italy when say that is a good idea to make then the leader and ask their help to let them be tutors of their peers.

Aurora, Slovenia

aurora_calvet — 2023-09-25 18:52:57 UTC

They can help, then can for example read for younger students, can play music if they are good at that or explain something that they know about (astronomy, planets, dinosaurs...).
Perhaps they don't like to talk in public and we can help them with that, perhaps they are not good at sports and we can help with that...

Edita, Lithuania

Edita_ — 2023-09-26 03:23:40 UTC

Supporting gifted students in forming peer relationships is crucial for their social and emotional development.
Social Skills Training: Teach effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Peer Mentorship: Pair gifted students with older mentors.

Interest-Based Clubs: Encourage clubs matching students' interests.

Group Projects: Assign collaborative tasks to promote interaction.

Flexible Grouping: Rotate group members for diverse interactions.

SEL Programs: Implement Social-Emotional Learning for emotional awareness.

Counseling and Support: Provide counseling or support groups.

Parent Involvement: Involve parents in fostering friendships.

Peer Awareness: Educate peers on gifted students' challenges.

Individualized Plans: Create tailored education plans.

2023-09-26 06:44:40 UTC

In my country we have homeroom class (one per week) where we do various workshops on social skills. And this is excellent opportunity for the gifted students who struggle with social relationships

Esra, Turkey

koyuncuesra — 2023-09-26 10:03:45 UTC

My school is for gifted students so they are all gifted in my class. When we have an activity, i give them choices. The students choose the activity they want to do according to their interests and abilities. So they study with the ones who have the same interests and abilities.

Elisa

2023-09-26 13:46:24 UTC

In Spain there is a special program for gifted students, in which they meet twice a month on saturdays with teachers and other peers. I am sure this is great for peer socializing. However, that is not enough. We need to make sure we are offering opportunities for these kids in regular schools as well. In mine, something that works very well is the chance to take part in an interdisciplinary project. It is offered to all students and they all attend workshops, conferences… but it is optional to do some kind of research as a final product. And in the past few years that has been something very appealing to our gifted students, who have used their critical thinking, their creativity and their research skills to produce something unique.

Magdalena Poland

2023-09-26 15:59:59 UTC

I agree with all of you who wrote that we could include students by giving them role of the leader or tutor but I doubt that it helps the socialize. I watched recording ans as I undersood they should be given the opportunity to be part of grup of students with similar gifts or talents. I Poland in Primary schools it is hard to give them that, usually we have one or two gifted students. When they go to secondary schools they can choose schools which are designed for gofted students.

ANNA, GREECE

2023-09-26 17:27:39 UTC

In Greece we do not have public schools for gifted children. It is true that the children who are gifted in sports are the ones who are the most popular in the class. While children who are gifted in other lessons are either quiet or show off their superiority. I think it is important for students to participate in groups and the composition of the group will change at regular intervals.

Monica , Romania

arotariteimonica — 2023-09-26 17:39:19 UTC

In Romania it is a similar situation as in Greece.

Mariana, Romania

m_gaiu — 2023-09-27 06:15:09 UTC

There is no special programme for gifted students in my country. Teachers and parents cooperate in order to make the most of these students' high abilities. In class we set them tasks that are more suitable for their needs and try to involve them in more challenging activities as often as possible.

Kerim, Turkiye

2023-09-27 07:29:39 UTC

to support gifted students, we need to find them first with taking into acocunt of their teachers and sharing a post where students own can reveal their talent. and then we can set groups according to their talents; we can create extra classes in schools after school for them or if they cant participate there, we can organise online meeting with them giving tasks. for example if they are curious about culture, we can make etwinning projects, meet them foreign students to learn about culture. If they are talented at Maths, we can give them more funny Maths tasks and do more enjoyable activities with them.

NVC thoughts applied

dominiklipovsky — 2023-09-27 07:32:25 UTC

NVC (Non-violent communication) is a therapeutic/communicational method that is built (among many other things) on 2 pillars: Honest expression & Active Listening.

I believe that gifted students may have problem with both. For their peculiar interests, they may struggle with connecting to the problems of their peers and this may inhibit them from paying "human" attention to them (long story short, because their peers may bore them to death).

At the same time, they may struggle with the other pillar, in fact they will most likely struggle with expressing them honestly, because they will most of the times not feel they are understood and that may alienate them to their peers.

What is the remedy then?
As for active listening, that is a practice of silencing one's associative and genious mind and trying to "down-to-earth" with other who may have more mundane thoughts. Finding closeness in contact despite misunderstanding, basing on shared humanity.

As for the honest expression, I believe gifted students can express themselves in a safe enviroments where diversity and quirkiness is supported and even healthily praised, in small groups of people they already know a little bit.

I think it applies even more if we think of gifted students, that communication is actually a science that must be taught. Although we perceive it as something intuitive (and for most of us it is), for them it may present a conundrum.

Dr.Njoud.Jordan

ajloun_rose — 2023-09-27 07:36:34 UTC

Iam A teacher for gifted students soall gifted in my class. we have many richment programme for them. . The students choose the activity they want to do according to their interests and abilities. So they study with the ones who have the same interests and abilities.

Jorge, Portugal

2023-09-27 18:18:15 UTC

To aid in creating social interactivity, schools could develop clubs for gifted students and also integrate them as mentors in other clubs or activities.

Stevi,Greece

stevigati123 — 2023-09-27 18:34:50 UTC

In Greece first of all it is difficult to identify gifted students.
If we do that we can provide some more interesting activities, such us treasure hunt, where the gifted student could contribute to solve a "difficult" puzzle - quiz in order the team continue and find the "treasure". In this way he/she will feel important among his/her peers. Gifted students should have motivation at school.
Also, more activities in groups and team work in order to develop their social skills.

Gina M. Greece

5gymkalam — 2023-09-27 19:44:43 UTC

Group Projects and Collaboration:
- Design group projects that encourage collaboration and teamwork. Mix gifted students with their peers, creating opportunities for them to interact and learn from one another.
Interest-Based Clubs and Activities:
- Establish or promote extracurricular clubs or activities that cater to the specific interests and talents of gifted students. This can provide a natural environment for them to connect with like-minded peers.
Peer Mentoring Programs:
- Pair gifted students with older students or mentors who share similar interests. This mentorship can provide emotional support and guidance in navigating social situations.
Flexible Seating Arrangements:
- Arrange classroom seating to encourage interaction and socialization.
Regular Check-Ins:
- Schedule one-on-one or small-group check-ins with gifted students to discuss their social experiences and any challenges they may be facing. Offer guidance and strategies for improving social skills.
Role Modeling:
- Share stories of successful individuals who were once gifted students and emphasize their ability to find and connect with peers who shared their interests.
Encourage Open Communication:
- Create a safe and inclusive classroom environment where students feel comfortable discussing their social experiences, concerns, and successes.
Parent Involvement:
- Encourage parents to support their gifted children in finding and maintaining friendships outside of school. They can help arrange playdates, join parent groups, and seek extracurricular opportunities.

9. Community Involvement:Connect gifted students with community organizations or programs that align with their interests. This can provide opportunities to meet peers beyond the school environment.
10. Counseling Support:Collaborate with school counselors to provide additional support to gifted students who are struggling with peer relationships. Individual or group counseling sessions can be beneficial.
11.Anti-Bullying Initiatives:Implement and promote anti-bullying programs to create a safe and inclusive school environment for all students, including the gifted population.

Anna P., Greece (Athens)

2023-09-27 20:43:13 UTC

I believe that the following can contribute to strengthening the social interaction of gifted children:
-Group cooperative teaching, where gifted children may sometimes undertake the mentoring-support of some other pupils.
-Motivating for interaction outside school, by assigning group homework
-Organising sports and cultural activities (e.g. theatre, choir, chess, etc.)
-Implementation of social and emotional education programmes, which generally enhance social skills
-Encouraging acquaintance and cooperation with children from other schools (e.g. correspondence, participation in European projects), so that gifted children have a better chance of coming into contact with children of similar intellectual potential and/or common interests

IRENE, GREECE

milirene4 — 2023-09-28 20:21:18 UTC

Gifted students have difficulties in their social interactions which can cause problems in their social life especially with the peers, as well as stress management problems. So I think it is important that the teacher try to strengthen their participation in all social activities of school as celebrations, sport events, excursions theatrical shows , competitions etc.giving them an enhansed or coordinating role in a team.

Ana, Spain.

anarociolucas — 2023-09-28 21:10:34 UTC

This year I have the opportunity to teach some talented students. They are in the same class and thanks to this, they work in a very comfortable way because they know that there is a "similar" student in the class and they try to do their best.

Bettina, Germany

2023-09-29 06:27:40 UTC

Extra-Curricular Clubs and field excursions that nourish their specific interests are always a good idea and standard at our school. Also, they could get involved in the organisation of these projects or school events. In class, one option is a peer mentoring program

Sofia, Greece

spoulioti — 2023-09-29 06:44:37 UTC

This video was very inspiring... It is true that we encourage a child with an obvious talent in sports but what we do in other talents???As a child I was very keen on Maths and I was a very fast learner....I didn't have any talents and I am thinking that maybe that was my talent...I want to support mys tudents and my daughter if they expess something like that...I think first of all we should observe them and listen carefully what they say to us so as to understand them...In Greece when you live in a big city it is easier to find a club to subscribe your child but when you live in small towns there is not enough opportunities.

Agnieszka, Poland

amuc — 2023-09-29 06:47:29 UTC

I think the difficulties that gifted students experience are sometimes a result of the fact they are in some way 'different'. Teenagers sometimes do not accept people who 'stand out'. I think that of the strategies that may help is appreciating the fact that everyone is gifted in a different way and it should be something celebrated.

Ana, Portugal

2023-09-29 10:47:45 UTC

As highlighted in the video, supporting gifted students to find and connect with a group of friends is essential to their social and emotional development. Some strategies that can be used in the classroom are:
- Conduct interest surveys at the beginning of the school year to identify common interests among students. This information will be used to create small groups or project teams based on common interests, pairing gifted students with peers who may not be identified as gifted, but who share the same interests. This strategy allows gifted students to share their knowledge and skills while form meaningful friendships.
- Create clubs or extracurricular activities that meet the interests of gifted students to provide a natural platform for them to connect with peers who share their passions.
- Promote a classroom environment where differences in abilities and interests are celebrated rather than stigmatized.

Lidija, Croatia

2023-09-29 16:36:14 UTC

I noticed that this is true.. gifted students stand out, and that can be a problem when they are teenagers. So, we as teachers should definitely try and make activities that are inclusive for everyone.
I like the ideas others wrote here - thank you! Those will help me to be a better teacher for all.

Bela, Georgia

2023-09-29 19:42:20 UTC

Gifted students have problems in communicating with their peers, because gifted people are also distinguished by their own characteristics. The teacher should involve gifted students in school events, group work in the lesson. They should be given the opportunity to show their talents so that they can earn the respect of their peers, which will improve their social relations.

Ruth, Ireland

2023-09-29 21:15:51 UTC

One thing I hope to do is create spaces where students can meet others with shared interests -- book clubs, games clubs, debate clubs, etc. -- where students can connect with students from different classes and years and create that enthusiastic peer group they may be missing.

Araceli, Spain

alopezma — 2023-09-30 06:47:59 UTC

When organizing groups at school, there is a tendency to pair gifted students with students who need help and I understand that this can make things worse.
The school I am working now organizes different projects for gifted students and they work together once a week, but maybe this is not enough.

Ekaterina Ashikyan, Bulgaria

eashikian — 2023-09-30 12:33:56 UTC

Regarding the social relationships of gifted children, I don't think they are lacking. My observations in the kindergarten are that such children are simply looking for the company of their own kind. They themselves find that they have no common interests with children who still struggle with speech or prefer to manipulate only toys. They are a kind of leader in the group and easily find peers to play and share with. Often, gifted children enjoy being around older children or adults.

Renata, Slovenia

renata_jakic — 2023-09-30 18:12:53 UTC

I can incorporate additional lessons and interest-based activities to help gifted students find and connect with like-minded peers.

Marina, Croatia

marinamarkovicvukmirovic — 2023-09-30 19:30:39 UTC

In order to help a gifted child socialize with other children, the teacher should encourage him to help during class, make him sit with a student with whom it can be assumed that he will get along well

Alfonsina, Italy

2023-09-30 19:48:03 UTC

I think that the best things to do to support gifted students in forming peer relationships are:

Peer to Peer Programs;
Interest-Based Activities;
Cooperative Learning.

In this way, gifted students will be able to share their knowledge with their peers, to support each other during school activities and to form good relationships.
Other good strategies may be:

Role Playing, to share their feelings but also to understand ohter students' feelings.
Family involvement, to get more informations about gifted students (needs, interests, incompatibility, difficulties, family history, childhood episodes) in order to be able to better meet their needs.

Corina Mitrulescu

2023-10-01 13:44:28 UTC

Gifted students can face socio-emotional challenges as sometimes their peers tease them for their grades and intelligence. Although I believe that clustering gifted children in one class might be an answer to this problem, education stakeholders in Romania do not take this into consideration as it is considered discriminatory. The personality of gifted children is not defined by their intelligence or a particular talent that they have, hence the necessity to help them develop friendships with children their age.

Visnja, Croatia

visnjakovacvezmarovic — 2023-10-01 18:31:19 UTC

I think that gifted students develop differently and most of them have hard time finding friends in their peers as they don't function at their age. So a gifted 7-year-old will have no problem interacting with a child of 11 or 12 years intellectually but a 7-year-old is not as emotionally mature as an 11-12-year-old. So he/she should find different peers to accommodate for his different needs and this is really hard.

Elpida Semertzidou, Greece

2023-10-02 09:20:39 UTC

They can participate in team activities, or to organise their own game, quizz

Iva, Croatia

2023-10-02 20:16:16 UTC

Maybe introduce different kinds of projects in which students can join based on their interests.

Angeliki, Greece

2023-10-03 19:17:59 UTC

I agree with most of your ideas. I also think that a good way to engage gifted students and connect them with their peers is to organise extracuricular activities in specific subjects like science, literature, robotics or art . This way they will socialize and cooperate with other colleagues with similar interests, thrive and gain more confidence on their self.

Vassiliki, Greece

2023-10-03 19:37:26 UTC

I really can't say what I would do. I hope I will be able to say at the end of the course!
I do want to learn!

Iolanda, Italy

2023-10-05 10:18:55 UTC

I assume that supporting gifted students involves using different strategies that can help, such as organizing group work on a topic chosen by the group with shared interests

Emiliana, Italy

emiliana_rufo — 2023-10-05 15:09:33 UTC

I would use as first attempts Collaborative Learning activities and peer-to-peer activities.

Brana , NMacedonia

bibrana — 2023-10-06 06:42:59 UTC

According to my opinion, learning social and coping skills such as reciprocation and negotiation, tolerance, teaching through role-play, and analysis of interactions from an early age may help gifted students overcome social deficits later with the peer groups, and the interaction in progressing the person in the society. Being aware of triggers that may cause anxiety and avoiding them, communicating with parents and professionals regularly. Volunteering in activities of their choice has proved a very successful strategy as well.

Valentina, Croatia

2023-10-06 09:29:05 UTC

Gifted students need compilation of different ICT tools, education methods and developing social strategies like peer relationships in lessons.

Crissa,Greece

2023-10-06 10:42:48 UTC

Teamwork is a practice that allows all students to take their own role in the group and interact to contribute.The flipped classroom is a way to engage gifted students in the learning process.

Marija, Croatia

marcagrh — 2023-10-06 20:00:30 UTC

Perhaps the best way is through different forms of cooperation, where they could take the role that suits them best. Also, using interest based topics and developing them through projects.

Ioanna, Greece

technoway23 — 2023-10-07 20:34:52 UTC

As already mentioned by most teachers here, gifted students, apart from showing certain abilities and talents, tend to have problems with socializing. You often see such kids during the breaks playing with younger children instead of being with their classmates or keeping company to the teachers who are supervising the school yard. Maybe schools should provide afternoon activites focusing on interests like robotics, music, drama, etc so that each gifted child could choose a club according to his strengths. Being with other children with the same interests would help them create strong bonds with their peers.

Lucica, România

lucy87ot — 2023-10-09 19:58:12 UTC

Gifted students are the ones who finish the task first, then they get bored waiting, so they must have an alternative, an extra task or be helpful to others.

Aleksandra, Serbia

2023-10-09 20:30:05 UTC

We could form the groups based on common interests, which would serve as binding elements, even in the groups consisting of students with different abilities. In this way, all the students would be more motivated, and the gifted ones would probably take the leading role or accomplish some problem-solving tasks as a part of the team. The teacher’s role is to offer a positive feedback to each member’s role, thus diminishing envy and jealousy among the students.

Milena

2023-10-11 07:13:35 UTC

I do not think that having a classroom with only gifted students is the solution, because school-life is supposed to be like real life, and all of us has to interact with different people and that's marvelous and enriching. In my opinion having learning stations from time to time and regular extracurricular groups would help all of the students.

Silvana, N.Macedonia

sk437179 — 2023-10-11 20:15:34 UTC

I think that participating in school clubs according to the student's interest and getting involved in project activities where they have the opportunity to show and improve their talent will greatly support gifted students and allow them to interact with students with similar interests.

Cecilia - Italy

ceciliamancini — 2023-10-11 20:52:58 UTC

Probably the possibility of organizing work groups, with differentiated tasks, based on the students' zone of proximal development, could be the best solution to ensure that gifted students feel part of a group.
At the same time, another strategy could be to have the gifted student tutor his classmates in an activity in which she or he feels particularly comfortable.
However, a lot depends on the age of the students and the context of the class, in my opinion.

Dijana, Croatia

2023-10-12 10:57:03 UTC

Working in teams with peers of similar interests, involving in high challenging projects, participating in different extracurricular activities of their interest that request teamwork and collaboration.
Encourage diversity in the classroom.

Amaya A., Spain

2023-10-15 16:45:22 UTC

At the classroom level, as some colleagues have already commented, looking for classmates with similar abilities and hobbies can help the integration and inclusion of this type of student. In addition to improving social relationships, they can help with peer-to-peer learning, which has been proven to be one of the most effective for all types of students.

Rocío González, Spain

magnus179s — 2023-10-15 16:59:36 UTC

Some activities that help gifted students is group work, collaborative tasks, using ICT tools , projects that are challenging for them...

Georgiana,Romania

mariusgeorgianaantonia — 2023-10-16 18:28:11 UTC

Taking into account the children's interests and preferences, I would do many group projects so that everyone would get involved and socialize more.

Tanja, Slovenia

2023-10-16 19:08:41 UTC

gifted children can be in severe emotional and social difficulties, as they cannot find the right way to connect with their peers. they much prefer to hang out with older children. in kindergarten, they could be allowed to accelerate into older groups a few times a week, or at least in certain activities that they like. in schools, it would make sense to introduce subject acceleration in subjects where the talented get bored. it might be easier for him to fit in socially too, if he got the feeling that we offer him appropriate challenges

Anica, Romania

tanaseanicamaria2015 — 2023-10-16 19:25:13 UTC

I believe that gifted students need support to be able to relate to those around them and to control their emotions.

Eleni, Greece

korakaki_elen — 2023-10-18 19:12:39 UTC

The gifted students is better to collaborate with ohter students with common interests

M

2023-10-26 21:56:49 UTC

Anica, Romania

tanaseanicamaria2015 — 2024-09-22 15:46:12 UTC

I believe that gifted students need support to be able to relate to those around them and to control their emotions.