The+Eyes+of+a+Teacher

=The Eyes of a Teacher=

Who Can Spot the Potential of Giftedness in the Underrepresented Student?
The eyes of a teacher can make the possibilities of underrepresented students become realities. Teachers observation skills are key in discovering the sometimes underlying traits masked in gifted students. Teachers provide the nurturing support and advocacy needed to ensure that this potential grows. Potential is not a guarantee of success but a promise of hope. A teacher can lead these possibilities into becoming reality.
 * Recognizing, nurturing, and identifying giftedness is only a first step
 * It is only a means ---NOT an end.
 * It is a means to ensure the underrepresented receive the support needed to thrive in school whether they are culturally, linguistically, socioeconomically, or ethnically diverse.

Can Effective Teachers See What Others Missed?
Teachers insights or perceptions are critical in the identification process. The daily observation acts as a lens for us to observe and monitor patterns and to get to know what makes them tick. Teachers can watch for " hints and clues" that mirror hidden potential and are missed when we employ traditional testing.

What Should Teachers be on the Lookout for When Identifying Potential GATE Students From Diverse Backgrounds?
Some of the characteristics that teachers should look out for in these students include:
 * uneven performances Strength in specific areas and weak in others.
 * unusual and in depth questions
 * advanced problem solving with reasoning
 * high interest in visuals--gravitates towards visualization activities possibly with patterns

The identification process of gifted students should be dynamic and ongoing especially with students who are overlooked frequently to ensure they match with their potential. Teachers should always have an open mind, heat, and soul in spite of how difficult it might be to discover those hardest to recognize. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Davidson Institute for Talent Development Coleman, M National Association for Gifted Children Fall 2005