Transcript Document
GIFTEDNESS VS. LEARNING DISABILITY By: Kendra Yeager DEFINE GIFTEDNESS Children who give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields. “Children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment.” - US Department of Education, 1993 WHAT ARE GIFTED CHILDREN… Socially Diverse Emotionally Diverse Intellectually Diverse Culturally Diverse AREAS OF GIFTEDNESS Intellectual Ability Creative or Productive Thinking Ability Individuals who often give unique ideas, responses, or solutions to problems Leadership Ability Very bright individual throughout all subjects/areas Individual that shows the ability to direct and organize activities within groups of students Visual/Performing Arts Ability Individual that stands out within visual art forms, drama, dance, music, and/or creative writing MYTHS OF GIFTED STUDENTS Everything comes easier Need very little attention High achievers Teacher’s pet Comes from middle or upper class families Well-organized Know all the answers DEFINE LEARNING DISABILITY LD is a persistent condition of presumed neurological dysfunction in which an individual exhibits a significant discrepancy between intellectual ability and academic achievement despite regular instruction and educational opportunity. If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES Dysgraphia Writing • Dyscalculia Math • Reading • Difficulty spelling words, navigation, and mixing up letters within words and words within sentences while reading. Dyspraxia Language • Difficulty understanding and using math concepts and symbols. Dyslexia Difficulty with the physical task of forming letters and words with a pen and paper. Difficulty with language comprehension; mix up words and sentences while talking. Non-Verbal Learning Disorder Motor, Visual, and Social Skills • Difficulty in skills by demonstrating below-average motor coordination, visual spatial organization, and social skills. CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING DISABILITIES Reading Skills: Spelling Skills: Poor decoding skills Slow reading rate Difficulty controlling eye movements across the page No understanding of common spelling rules Frequent spelling errors of high frequency words Written Expression Skills: Poor writing fluency Extremely weak proofreading skills Inability to take notes or copy information from a book or a board CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING DISABILITIES CONTINUED Oral Language Skills: Mathematical Skills: Poor mathematical fluency Inability to use basic facts within more complex calculations Memory Skills: Inability to blend sounds together to form words Difficulty pronouncing sounds Disorganized recall of facts or details Weak ability to store and retrieve information efficiently Weak ability to hold information for immediate use Reasoning Skills: Difficulty recognizing, transforming, or using specific information to reach general conclusions. COMPARING GIFTEDNESS VS. LEARNING DISABILITY Giftedness Learning Disability (LD) Excellent Long-Term Memory Performs Better with Challenging Work Thrives on Complexity Advanced Verbal Skills Extensive Verbal Skills Struggles with Easy, Sequential Material Struggles with Rote Memorization Poor Short-Term Memory Weak in Language Mechanics Difficulty with Spelling and Phonics OVERLAPS All Students Gifted Students Students with Disabilities Students who are Twice-Exceptional (2e) REFERENCE National Association for Gifted Children http://www.nagc.org/ MSJC http://www.msjc.edu/learningskillsprogram/pages/learningdisabilities-characteristics.aspx Washington-Types of LD http://www.washington.edu/doit/Careers/articles?70 NCLD- Giftedness and Learning Disabilities http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/adhd-relatedissues/giftedness/giftedness-learning-disabilities Gifted Kids http://www.giftedkids.ie/myths.html