Post article about gifted/enrichment programs

[Anonymous]

I am very pleased with what I am hearing about this program (SEM) in DCPS. My only gripe would be that it should be expanded to a LOT more schools than just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be interesting to see if this works in that it is deliberately challenging the model of giftedness that most of us were raised with ie a test indicates you are advanced and theirfore gifted. For way to long this essentially fixed who had opportunity based on where they lived and their parents income.

What I like about the DC method is that it does not presume intelligence is fixed but instead adopts the growth model that all kids that express curiousity and interest can benefit from a program that teaches them how to explore an idea more deeply allowing them to apply that to other programs.

I do worry as other have noted though that this really takes more adults and money that DC is willing to give it.

+1 The idea that "gifted" = "did well on a test given in early childhood" has not served all kids well. Better to offer enrichment and challenges to kids based on interest and motivation without determining whether or not the kid is "gifted." I like the idea that you offer challenges and opportunities to go deeper in a subject or skill and let kids rise to the occasion.

+1. I am not that concerned about tests and labels, but am happy to see greater challenge and problem solving. I am not convinced that IQ measures important charascteristics. I am also concerned about what happens to kids when you label them gifted. Carol Dweck at Stanford has done quite a bit of work on this. She summarizes her research here.

https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve/transcript?language=en

[Anonymous]

Go, DCPS! This looks awesome. Some people will always complain, some of them may not be so "gifted," like the genius who misunderstood the 7th grader's quote. Do we have to explain everything to you people? Geez...

[Anonymous]

Many people just generally misunderstand the whole concept of giftedness and view it through a very rigid lens. But the approach DCPS is taking is about gifted behaviors and how to promote them through a "talent development" approach. It isn't what everyone wants but it is what DCPS is investing in.