Los Penasquitos

Elementary
G.A.T.E.

Introductions
Coordinator - Anthony Bayro
School counselor - Fran
Hjalmarson

Agenda
Welcome new families
Update of G.A.T.E. Clubs
Social emotional needs of the gifted

Welcome

Los Pen G.A.T.E.

Differentiation integrated learning
experience within the regular school
day
Some assignments for gifted students are
modified to meet their needs.
Focus is encouragement of deeper and
more complex thought processes,
problem solving, critical thinking,
research and independent study

G.A.T.E. Clubs
Art
Math
Environmental Studies
Yearbook

Emotional Needs of the

Gifted Child

Challenges
Perfectionism
Feelings of isolation and loneliness
Unrealistic expectations and pressures
on oneself
Adult expectation of emotional
maturity
Inability to cope with perceived failures

Problems from Outside

Sources
Lack of Understanding & Support creates
significant problems.
Many people have unfair expectations of us. They
even say, If youre gifted you should know this, or
you should have gotten an A.
(11 year old girl)
How can parents help gifted students? By lowering
their expectations. That way they are always
surprised.
(12 year old boy)

Stress Management
When students can learn to manage
their stress, they actually perform at
a higher level academically

Stress Unique to Gifted

Children
Feeling out of place with family and
friends
Learning to tolerate frustration
Social consciousness
Emotional verses intellectual maturity
Negative Self talk
Others not identifying the childs need
for help

Calming Techniques
Count to 10
Exercise
Humor
Active Ignoring

Stress and the gifted child

Unique ways of relieving stress

Teach your child decision

making skills
Define the problem
List all possible solutions
Evaluate the solutions

Is it safe?
How will people feel?
Is it fair?
Will it work?

Make a decision

Perfectionism

Negative Affects of
Perfectionism
Failing grades
Depression
Anxiety

How to Help Your Child

Cope With Perfectionism
Appreciate their desire for
excellence
Make sure their desire for
excellence doesnt invade all
aspects of their life
Help them understand that failure
can be used to achieve success in
the future

Examples
John Grishams first novel, A Time To
Kill was rejected by 28 publishers.
Jack Canfieldss, Chicken Soup for the
Soul was rejected by 36 publishers.

Perfectionism
The ability to control
perfectionist tendencies is what
separates the person who enjoys
and cherishes their gifts from
the one who feels burdened or
cursed by them
Mark Vellucci author of The Emotional Needs of the Gifted Child

Friendship

Peer Acceptance Is Important

in Developing a Healthy Self
Image. Children Want to Feel
Included, Respected, and
Cared About by Friends

Friendship
The gifted childs interests,
intellectual maturity and
play activities are in some
ways more sophisticated
than those of other
children

Peer Difficulties
Lack of common interests
Highly focus in one area
Jump around from interest to
interest

Peer Relations
Gifted kids need several peer
groups.
Often thought of as loners.
The conflict between fitting
in and being an individual
may be quite stressful.

Allow Your Child to Have

a Variety of Friends

Anticipation Through
Fantasy
Teaching by asking questions
What do you think would happen if you?
And then what might happen?
What do you suppose he/she would do
(think, feel)etc.) then?
How could you respond to that?
What else might you try?

Using Praise
versus
Encouragement

GATE Club

Great Internet Resources for

Parents

Hoagies Gifted Education Page: great site which even

includes contests and resources: http://
www.hoagiesgifted.org

Gifted and Talented World Page: Links to hundreds of

helpful resources: http://www.gtworld.org/links.html

California Association for the Gifted: http://cagifted.org

Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted (SENG): http://

www.sengifted.org/ SENG is dedicated to fostering
environments in which gifted adults and children, in all
their diversity, understand and accept themselves and
are understood, valued, nurtured, and supported by their
families, schools, workplaces and communities.

Great Book/Periodical Resources

for Children and Parents
Adderholt-Elliot, M. (1989). Perfectionism: Whats
So Bad About Being Good? Minneapolis: Free Spirit
Cohen, L.M. (1996). Coping for Capable Kids. Waco,
TX: Prufrock Press.
Galbraith, J. (1984). The Gifted Kids Survival Guide:
For Ages 10 & Under. Minneapolis: Free Spirit
Galbraith, J. (1996). The Gifted Kids Survival Guide:
A Teen Handbook. Minneapolis: Free Spirit
Halsted, J.W. (1994). Some of My Best Friends are
Books: Guiding gifted readers. Dayton, OH: Gifted
Psychology Press

More Great Book/Periodical

Resources for Children and Parents
Smutny, J.F. (2001). Stand Up for Your Gifted Child.
Minneapolis: Free Spirit
Streznewski, M. (1999) Gifted GrownUps. New York:
John Wiley & Sons
Webb, J.T. (1994). Guiding the Gifted Child.
Scottsdale, AZ: Gifted Psychology Press
Walker, S.Y. (1991). The Survival Guide for Parents
of Gifted Kids. Minneapolis: Free Spirit
Parenting for High Potential (a publication of the
National Association for Gifted Children. For
information, contact them at http://www.nagc.org)

Thank you!
http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/PUSDLPES/GATE/gate.ht
ml
G.A.T.E. Coordinator- Anthony Bayro
abayro@powayusd.com