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| Gifted with Special Learning Needs |
FAQs
(Apologies, but the page navigation doesn't currently work.)
______________________________________________________________
Who are gifted students with special learning needs?
Some gifted children cannot learn the same way other children can and have
problems in school. The research refers to these students as twice exceptional, or
dually diagnosed. In PG County, we refer to them as Gifted Students with Special
Learning Needs (GSLN).
Many gifted children with special learning are visual-spatial learners who have
trouble learning in our classrooms where linear, left-brained thinking reigns.
However, these same children may write computer software in their spare time or
help you do your taxes. Some children have trouble reading and writing yet can tell
intricate stories with complex characters and storylines that Steven Spielberg would
envy (by the way, some believe Spielberg had ADHD). Some cannot perform
simple calculations yet can complete complex calculus problems quickly and easily.
These children are at risk and a strong gifted program with appropriate support
services is the single best thing we can do for these children.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
My child seems to have some minor learning problems, but is doing well in
school. Should I be concerned?
Your child may be just fine, but many gifted students with special learning needs
seem just fine. The learning problems may hide the talent and the talent may hide
the learning problems. The gifts of these children may never be fully realized until
these children learn strategies to mitigate the learning problems.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
What services do Prince Georges County schools provide to help these
children?
Your school principal, counselor or special education coordinator can brief you on
the programs for your particular school. If your child is in a gifted and talented
CLE (full-day) school, chances are very good that the school has lots of experience
with this population and may provide a special resource class or pull-out program
where they focus on their gifts and strengths while addressing their special learning
needs. Your child may also be eligible for accommodations and modifications under
Section 504, which ensures that a child with a disability has equal access to an
education. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, your child may be
eligible for specialized services through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which
will be tailored to your child's unique profile.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
My child has been diagnosed with a learning disability, but I suspect that she
may also have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Is this unusual?
Learning problems seldom occur in isolation, so if a learning problem is found,
parents would be wise to watch for other difficulties. This is particularly true for
dyslexia and ADHD which often occur together. Also, children with attention
difficulties may have a subtle underlying learning disability.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
My child has a learning problem and other children tell her she is stupid.
What can we do?
First of all, you should reassure your child that she is in good company. Einstein,
whose name is synonymous with genius, had learning problems such that his
mother had to take him out of school. Thomas Edison's father called him a
"dunce." One of our most beloved presidents, John F. Kennedy had dyslexia. The
list of brilliant inventors, artists, political figures is so riddled with the names of
people with learning problems that many researchers believe the learning problems
are actually side effects of the gift. In fact, people like your child drive innovation.
What would the world be like without the creativity and unconventional problem
solving skills of Benjamin Franklin (believed to have had ADD/ADHD) or
Leonardo da Vinci (believed to have both ADHD and dyslexia)?
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
How did my child get these learning problems?
The tendency to exhibit learning problems and associated gifts can be inherited, but
some researchers believe that our environment may be a factor. For example, some
researchers believe that television, video games, computer usage and other visual
stimuli are training our children to be visual learners. Also, the fast pace of today's
lifestyle, doing multiple tasks at once may contribute to attention problems in the
traditional classroom. However, if you suspect that your child may have a learning
disability or attentional problem, you should seek the advice of professionals in the
field.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
How can I help my GLSN child?
Learn as much as you can about your child's special needs and nurture their gifts.
Also, you may be able to help them develop compensatory strategies. Your child
may also need lots of support in completing assignments and projects, so you will
need to develop a partnership with the school. Learn when you can call teachers
and get email addresses if you prefer to communicate that way. Eighty percent of
homes have internet access. Ask for teachers to provide homework web sites.
Parents report that homework web sites are extremely helpful if they are kept up to
date. Advocate for gifted education. You may consider seeking the assistance of an
academic coach to help with strategy development vs. traditional tutoring. Your
child probably does not need direct tutorial instruction, but may in fact need
assistance in developing compensatory strategies to access accelerated learning
tasks. They may need help breaking a long range into do-able bits, develop time
management skills. An academic coach can assist with this.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
How can I learn more?
Our PGTAG website has lots of information on gifted education. To network with
others interested in the education of Gifted Students with Special Learning Needs
(GSLN) in Prince George's County, please join our GSLN Yahoo! Group.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
"In short, gifted learning-disabled students seem to have intellectual strengths in
integrative intelligence that enable them to see underlying patterns and
connections in broad concepts and abstract ideas. In contrast, they often show
weakness in tasks involving dispersive intelligence, such as remembering
isolated facts and associations for which they see no wider connection.... this
discrepancy helps explain why GLD students can have so much difficulty with
seemingly simple tasks, while cruising through more creative and complex
assignments."
For more information about Gifted Students with Special Learning Needs in
Prince George's County Maryland, visit our GSLN Yahoo! Group, or PGCPS's
Program for Gifted Students with Special Learning Needs.
- Who are gifted students with special learning needs?
- My child seems to have some minor learning problems, but is doing
well in school. Should I be concerned? - My child has been diagnosed with a learning disability, but I suspect
that she may also have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Is this
unusual? - My child has a learning problem and other children tell her she is
stupid. What can we do? - How did my child get these learning problems?
- How can I help my GLSN child?
- How can I learn more?
(Apologies, but the page navigation doesn't currently work.)
______________________________________________________________
Who are gifted students with special learning needs?
Some gifted children cannot learn the same way other children can and have
problems in school. The research refers to these students as twice exceptional, or
dually diagnosed. In PG County, we refer to them as Gifted Students with Special
Learning Needs (GSLN).
Many gifted children with special learning are visual-spatial learners who have
trouble learning in our classrooms where linear, left-brained thinking reigns.
However, these same children may write computer software in their spare time or
help you do your taxes. Some children have trouble reading and writing yet can tell
intricate stories with complex characters and storylines that Steven Spielberg would
envy (by the way, some believe Spielberg had ADHD). Some cannot perform
simple calculations yet can complete complex calculus problems quickly and easily.
These children are at risk and a strong gifted program with appropriate support
services is the single best thing we can do for these children.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
My child seems to have some minor learning problems, but is doing well in
school. Should I be concerned?
Your child may be just fine, but many gifted students with special learning needs
seem just fine. The learning problems may hide the talent and the talent may hide
the learning problems. The gifts of these children may never be fully realized until
these children learn strategies to mitigate the learning problems.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
What services do Prince Georges County schools provide to help these
children?
Your school principal, counselor or special education coordinator can brief you on
the programs for your particular school. If your child is in a gifted and talented
CLE (full-day) school, chances are very good that the school has lots of experience
with this population and may provide a special resource class or pull-out program
where they focus on their gifts and strengths while addressing their special learning
needs. Your child may also be eligible for accommodations and modifications under
Section 504, which ensures that a child with a disability has equal access to an
education. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, your child may be
eligible for specialized services through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which
will be tailored to your child's unique profile.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
My child has been diagnosed with a learning disability, but I suspect that she
may also have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD). Is this unusual?
Learning problems seldom occur in isolation, so if a learning problem is found,
parents would be wise to watch for other difficulties. This is particularly true for
dyslexia and ADHD which often occur together. Also, children with attention
difficulties may have a subtle underlying learning disability.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
My child has a learning problem and other children tell her she is stupid.
What can we do?
First of all, you should reassure your child that she is in good company. Einstein,
whose name is synonymous with genius, had learning problems such that his
mother had to take him out of school. Thomas Edison's father called him a
"dunce." One of our most beloved presidents, John F. Kennedy had dyslexia. The
list of brilliant inventors, artists, political figures is so riddled with the names of
people with learning problems that many researchers believe the learning problems
are actually side effects of the gift. In fact, people like your child drive innovation.
What would the world be like without the creativity and unconventional problem
solving skills of Benjamin Franklin (believed to have had ADD/ADHD) or
Leonardo da Vinci (believed to have both ADHD and dyslexia)?
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
How did my child get these learning problems?
The tendency to exhibit learning problems and associated gifts can be inherited, but
some researchers believe that our environment may be a factor. For example, some
researchers believe that television, video games, computer usage and other visual
stimuli are training our children to be visual learners. Also, the fast pace of today's
lifestyle, doing multiple tasks at once may contribute to attention problems in the
traditional classroom. However, if you suspect that your child may have a learning
disability or attentional problem, you should seek the advice of professionals in the
field.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
How can I help my GLSN child?
Learn as much as you can about your child's special needs and nurture their gifts.
Also, you may be able to help them develop compensatory strategies. Your child
may also need lots of support in completing assignments and projects, so you will
need to develop a partnership with the school. Learn when you can call teachers
and get email addresses if you prefer to communicate that way. Eighty percent of
homes have internet access. Ask for teachers to provide homework web sites.
Parents report that homework web sites are extremely helpful if they are kept up to
date. Advocate for gifted education. You may consider seeking the assistance of an
academic coach to help with strategy development vs. traditional tutoring. Your
child probably does not need direct tutorial instruction, but may in fact need
assistance in developing compensatory strategies to access accelerated learning
tasks. They may need help breaking a long range into do-able bits, develop time
management skills. An academic coach can assist with this.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
How can I learn more?
Our PGTAG website has lots of information on gifted education. To network with
others interested in the education of Gifted Students with Special Learning Needs
(GSLN) in Prince George's County, please join our GSLN Yahoo! Group.
<< Back
___________________________________________________________________
"In short, gifted learning-disabled students seem to have intellectual strengths in
integrative intelligence that enable them to see underlying patterns and
connections in broad concepts and abstract ideas. In contrast, they often show
weakness in tasks involving dispersive intelligence, such as remembering
isolated facts and associations for which they see no wider connection.... this
discrepancy helps explain why GLD students can have so much difficulty with
seemingly simple tasks, while cruising through more creative and complex
assignments."
Susan M. Baum, Ph.D., and
Steven V. Owen, Ph.D.
To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled
For more information about Gifted Students with Special Learning Needs in
Prince George's County Maryland, visit our GSLN Yahoo! Group, or PGCPS's
Program for Gifted Students with Special Learning Needs.
| PGTAG Advocacy, outreach and support for gifted education since 1975 |