Our chat was centered on the idea that we need to give our gifted children the opportunity to get out of the classroom and find passion in something they are interested in. The idea that a field trip is just a chance to get out of the classroom is just the beginning. As teachers we need to use the time wisely. We need to give our students the chance to explore deeper into a subject or idea you were covering. Having an expert in the area will always help add some complexity and deeper the learning experience.
The other major topic we looked at was career exploration. Some of our gifted students already have an idea of what they would like to do as an adult. So why not give them some real world experience. When considering the student for an internship you need to look at maturity, work ethic, passion, and communication skills. By starting small, and working towards a larger goal should be kept in mind. When looking for the right placement you need to look for mentors who have a successful internship program. Find out how much knowledge they have working with gifted children and adults. Making sure you have the right placement with the right people the first time will insure a more successful internship.
Our next chat will be Sunday Feb 5 at 9pm ET. We will be chatting about: Gifted Education and Minorities: In many gifted programs Minorities are under-represented. We will discuss the issues of why this is, and how as teachers and advocates we can help to rectify this important issue.