Sunday 21 June 2009

Gifted but stupid


The school's wall clock

Years ago I had a serious talk with a girl of my tutor group. Testing had set her I.Q. at 153. But she couldn't perform routine school tasks, say learning thirty French words for next day. I was probing into her past to find the reason for her revulsion and distrust. We got as far back as to early childhood and her first school experiences.

Early at primary school she had been told to come to the front of the class to say the multiplication table of two. She didn't get beyond twelve and was told off for it. When the class was exercising the table she hadn't paid attention at all because she had discovered that the answers were in front of her eyes, in the hour numbers of the school clock, she only had to skip the uneven numbers. However, the clock did not reach beyond twelve.

Talent

To me this anecdote epitomizes the conundrum school faces with gifted children. The educator who administered the rollicking might have inquired into the problem better and by doing so she could have detected a budding mathematician. That's what parents of gifted children ask the school to do. The precocious child should have been motivated to develop her inchoate understanding of numbers by building clocks with all kind of number systems in cardboard.

On the other hand, the teacher was right in lambasting the pupil. If her young student had practised the table of two in the way all the other kids complied with she certainly would have succeeded in mastering it.

A school career

The little girl felt aggrieved. This and other experiences ushered in a troublesome school career. When I met her at the age of thirteen she was disobedient, petulant, a nuisance in the class room. Though her parents managed to get her in the top level of the Dutch school system she was completely unable to cope with the school system. Her parents blamed the school. She left our school for a very expensive private school where group size was limited to twelve students per class, quite different from our usually crowded class rooms. She managed to pass the national examinations and got entrance to a university where she fell by the wayside.

How to deal with underachievers

I have been grappling with the problem of underachieving prodigies in the school system all over my career as an educator. I've always been trying to solve the problem by offering these students tasks that appealed to them and challenged their aptitude. I asked my fellow teachers to do so. We implemented special projects for the gifted. Despite our efforts results were mostly meagre.

Especially learning foreign languages, which is very important in Dutch education, proves to be an almost impossible task for students who rely solely on their innate intelligence. Learning to read, write, and speak English, French and German within a couple of hours per week in a full classroom in just a few years even on a basic level is impossible without rote learning. Pupils must practise grammar in the class room. Students have to cram vocabulary at home.

Arguably gifted students may learn a foreign language easily while being immersed in it, but we cannot immerse students in three foreign languages, can we? We lack the environment with native speakers, we lack the time. My school is exemplary in the region with offering gifted students a bilingual education in which they are taught in English for half of the subjects, half of the school week. But even in this situation of immersion students who memorize their personal idiom files by rote learning fare better than students who just wait and see.

Learning is not just fun

I see things differently now. Gifted children have a wonderful brain, an excellent working memory. That brain has to be challenged by intriguing tasks. This makes kids happy, it motivates them to work, to go to school for that matter. But before all we must train them to store knowledge in their long-term memory. They must learn to memorize. (cf. D.T. Willingham) When we fail to discipline them in doing the tedious work of rote learning they will founder at some stage in their career when deep knowledge is required.

Returning to the story I started with, this girl should have been given the task to build various clocks in all kind of number systems in cardboard. Next to that she would have benefited a lot from learning the multiplication tables by heart just like the other kids.

23 comments:

Mister Teacher said...

Interesting post. I like the clock idea! I teach 3rd grade, so in my district, this is where kids first (ideally) master their multiplication tables. I'll have to give that one a try.

Joep said...

Dear Mr. Teacher,
I'm glad you like it. Keep me informed about the results
Joep

Patti said...

I think this also applies to regular kids, not just gifted ones. Schools are designed to teach the maximum number of children in the shortest amount of time. That requires memorizing. We can't all be "discovering" the answers all the time. Long ago, when very few were educated, tutors worked with a small group of children or a single child at a time. Education was individualized. That just isn't possible in schools today, for the most part.

I now have a child who refuses to memorize in my house. I understand that he knows the speedy way and doesn't feel like he has to practice, but sometimes you just have to do it. We'll learn it his way at home, but I'm struggling with getting him to put in the more traditional work to succeed at school. I had a chemistry teacher who taught us that we should never memorize what we can look up. That may get you through life very well, but it doesn't help you get through school. I'm not sure if that means school doesn't prepare us for life or not, but that's the way it is.

I wish education could be changed so memorizing was not as critical, but that's the world we live in right now. Enrichment activities for those who learn better differently should be utilized whenever possible. Parents should also be told WHY their kids aren't doing well (that is, tell them their kid isn't dumb or lazy, just thinks differently and has different learning priorities) so they can become partners in the process.

Just a ramble, but I live with this problem everyday so I completely understand the girl in your post. Thanks for sharing it.

Eowyn said...

The problem with not memorizing what you can look up is that you need to be aware that something exists before you can look it up. Even sites like google, which are amazingly good at ferreting information, still need a list of keywords to start.

And the facts being taught at the k-12 level are so basic, that a person who looks these up, every time they need them, will never get any work done.

Plus, me, I've always found that the more facts I already know, the easier it is to add new facts; I have a framework to add them in, and since I like spotting patterns, I start looking for all the nifty ways facts (or theorems, or ideas) are related.

I used to memorize word lists by compiling the same list in four languages (English, Dutch, French, and German) and then playing Spot the Difference and Spot the Pattern.

Aus_Andrew said...

Obviously the solution is to put better clocks on classroom walls.

I suggest:
http://www.ruinsofmorning.net/flash/binclock.php

If they learn that, they'll do well.

Anonymous said...

This is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined your feed
and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
My web site: www.teenpornsexpussy.com

Anonymous said...

Yes! Finally someone writes about quotes.
my web page - click the next document

Anonymous said...

Hi there, for all time i used to check weblog posts here early in the break of day, since i enjoy to find out
more and more.
Here is my web page ; Fish Food

Anonymous said...

That is a very good tip particularly to those
new to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate info… Thanks for sharing
this one. A must read post!
Also see my web page - lanautica.com

Anonymous said...

Nice blog right here! Additionally your site lots up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate hyperlink on your host?

I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
My web site > vietnam dong

Anonymous said...

Malaysia & Singapore & brunei ultimate on-line blogshop for wholesale
& quantity korean accessories, accessories, earstuds,
necklace, rings, bracelet, bracelet & hair accessories.

Deal 35 % wholesale markdown. Ship Worldwide
Check out my webpage ... unemployment.ohio.gov

Anonymous said...

Its such as you read my thoughts! You appear to understand a lot approximately this,
such as you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you just can do with a few % to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
Feel free to surf my web page ; Oregon mortgage aid

Anonymous said...

I'm amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog that's equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit
the nail on the head. The problem is something which too
few folks are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I
stumbled across this during my hunt for something concerning this.
Also visit my webpage :: seo on site

Anonymous said...

You could definitely see your skills in the article you write.

The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren't afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart.
my web site > website marketing

Anonymous said...

Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well
written article. I'll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.

Here is my website ... Shabby Chic Moebel Karlsruhe

Anonymous said...

My name's Faye from Campo Di Carne, Italia and I just wanted to tell you your article is quite informative. The readability of your writing is rather good and I can presume you are an authority on this subject. With your permission, would you let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up-to-date with new content? Thanks a million and please keep up the fantastic work.

Take a look at my website riemurasia

Anonymous said...

Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the
pictures on this blog loading? I'm trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it's the
blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.



Also visit my web site; http://www.asiansexyteens.org

Anonymous said...

Hi there i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this article i thought i could also create comment due to this
good post.

Feel free to visit my blog ... amateur

Anonymous said...

bookmarked!!, I really like your blog!

my blog http://www.analteenexam.org

Anonymous said...

I do not even know the way I stopped up here, but I thought this put up was once great.

I do not recognise who you are however certainly you're going to a famous blogger in case you aren't already.
Cheers!

Feel free to surf to my site; xxx fuck

Anonymous said...

Please let me know if you're looking for a writer for your site. You have some really good articles and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'd really like to write
some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.

Please shoot me an email if interested. Cheers!


Take a look at my homepage - Amateur Teens

yanmaneee said...

westbrook shoes
lebron 15
michael kors handbags
fila shoes
jordan shoes
balenciaga shoes
adidas nmd r1
balenciaga shoes
bape hoodie
kanye west yeezy

feashason said...

Full Article dolabuy fake More Help dolabuy gucci like this replica designer backpacks