I owe my career to a boy, a tree and a skunk

Getting to “A”

• Autonomy• Access• Advocacy• Alternatives• Aspirations• Approachable educators

Autonomy:Underachiever or selective consumer?

Selective Consumer vs. Underachiever

Selective consumer Underachiever

*independent, proactive *dependent, reactive*tends to rebel *tends to withdraw*teachers = adversaries *teachers = supporters*requires little structure *needs structure & limits*performance varies by *uniform low performanceteacher

*school resources are *family intervention oftenusually sufficient to necessaryresolve issues *improvement is long-term

*seldom perfectionistic *often perfectionistic*sees self as * sees self as “dumb”academically capable

Autonomy strategies* Locus of Control* Risk taking vs. risk making* Self-image vs. self-esteem

Access

Access strategies• Curriculum compacting• Remarkable options• The world outside the classroom

The pursuit of happiness

or

The happiness of pursuit

Advocacy

Advocacy strategies• Self-advocacy for gifted learners• Ten Tips for Talking To Teachers• Addressing perfectionism

• Promote self-advocacy.Self-advocacy is the process of recognizing and

meeting the needs specific to your learning ability without compromising the dignity of yourself or

others.-Loring Brinckerhoff, ETS

Deb Douglas, The power of self-advocacy for gifted learners, Free Spirit Publishers, 2018

www.gtcarpediem.com

What do gifted high school freshmen worry about?

1. I will fail, so why should I even be going here?2. I really am not gifted, it’s just a label people pin on me to get me

to work hard.3. I won’t find any friends here who really “get” me.4. I will be bored…as usual, in my classes.5. I’ll have to fake who I am if I want to fit in.6. I will feel even more pressure to perform because I’m in a “gifted

school.”7. I’ll be so busy with schoolwork that I won’t have time to do

anything fun.8. I’m probably going to be the dumbest of the smart kids.9. I’ve never had to study before to get good grades, so I don’t know

how to study.10. I’m going to be intimidated sitting next to college students in my

classes.

Alternatives

Alternative strategies• Thinking like Leonardo da Vinci• Invitational education• IB and AP options

Invitational EducationWilliam Watson Purkey and John Novak, 1984

• Intentional Inviters• Unintentional Inviters• Intentional Disinviters• Unintentional Disinviters

As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.—Haim Ginott

International Baccalaureate Learner Profile

How can you help your studentsto become more . . .*reflective *principled*inquisitive *communicative*caring *open-minded

*well-balanced*knowledgeable*thoughtful

International Baccalaureate Learner Attributes

In what ways can ourclassroom actions and lessonshelp our students to becomemore . . .

*confident *creative*curious *empathetic*respectful *tolerant*independent *enthusiastic*appreciative*committed

Aspirations

Aspirations strategies• Biblio- and film therapies• Psychosynthesis• Quotation station

Films to consider…• The Breakfast Club• The Incredibles• Perks of Being a Wallflower• August Rush• Moana• Freedom Writers• Queen of Katwe• Wonder

Wonder“Auggie can’t change the way he looks;

maybe we can change the way we see.”

Guided visualizationBreathing in, I calm my bodybreathing out, I smile.Dwelling in the present momentI know this is a wonderful moment.

Quotes from the sages…quotes for the ages

When I was growing up, I always wanted to be somebody, but now I see that I should have been more specific.--Lily Tomlin

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.--Wayne Gretzky

The forest is magnificent yet it contains no perfect trees. Gye Fram

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?--Frida Kahlo

No one is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow.--Alice Walker

It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.--Albus Dumbledore

Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.--Harriet Tubman

I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I

succeed.--Michael Jordan

Birds sing after a storm, why shouldn't we?--Rose Kennedy

The only thing worse than being denied opportunities is being forced to take them.--Eric Grevstad

Approachable Educators

Approachable educator strategies• Psychological small change• Move beyond the classroom• The last time you…• Listen to your students

How to connect with kidsCarol Ann Tomlinson

• Study your students: Take a minute every day to remember that those tennis shoes are attached to lives, filled with dreams and warts.

• Develop a taste for kids you find least attractive• Give each student the opportunity to be the center of your

universe: Greet students at the door, recognize a new haircut, laugh at their unintended jokes

• Watch your students and reflect aloud: “As I’ve watched you recently, you’ve taught me something that I hadn’t understood before.”

• Set scary goals: There is little more enobling than realizing that a person you respect believes you are better or more capable than you yourself believe

• Scaffold success: “What is the next step you’ll be taking in your work, and what do you need me to do in class to make sure you can do an outstanding job?”

When was the last time you…started a book you did not finish?…lost something?…felt out of place?…felt cheated?…felt truly happy?…felt loved?…felt envious of someone?…wanted to give up?…cried?…laughed?…were embarrassed?…bought a present for someone?

My First Year As A Teacher

Edited by Pearl Rock KaneTeachers College

Columbia University

Published by Signet

ECINAJ

JANICE

Approachable educators, a coda

Is it important to know math well in order to be a great math teacher, to know science deeply in order to be a great science teacher, to have a passion for music in order to be a great orchestra teacher? I absolutely think so!

But I have no evidence it’s enough. I think a great teacher constructs durable and trustworthy bridges between herself and her students (often using subject matter as part of the construction material) then issues the irresistible invitation:

“Come see this magic world I love. I care for you so much that I must share it

with you.”