I can't count the number of times I've heard people say things like "Gifted kids will do fine on their own" or "Gifted kids always do well in school." The first comment implies that gifted kids don't need any special instruction. They can just sit in a regular classroom with no special accommodations and they'll excel. The second comment implies that there is no reason that a gifted kid wouldn't do well in school.
Both comments imply that it's the gifted kids who do well and stand out in the classroom. After all, if gifted kids need no special accommodations and always excel, then by definition, gifted kids are the ones who do well!
That logic has always seemed like circular reasoning to me, but plenty of people believe it. If you suggest that your child is underachieving because his needs are being met in school (aka, your child is bored), you'll be told that your child isn't *really* gifted. You'll get "the look" that tells you you're one of "those" moms - you know, the ones who push their kids and think their kid is the next Einstein.
But gifted kids most definitely can become underachievers if their academic needs are met, if they aren't being challenged. One of my favorite discussions of gifted children who underachieve comes from Stephanie Tolan's article "Is It a Cheetah?" Cheetahs can run very fast, up to 70 miles an hour. It's one of the defining characteristics of cheetahs. However, a cheetah in a cage can't come close to running that fast.
Does that mean it's not a cheetah?
Both comments imply that it's the gifted kids who do well and stand out in the classroom. After all, if gifted kids need no special accommodations and always excel, then by definition, gifted kids are the ones who do well!
That logic has always seemed like circular reasoning to me, but plenty of people believe it. If you suggest that your child is underachieving because his needs are being met in school (aka, your child is bored), you'll be told that your child isn't *really* gifted. You'll get "the look" that tells you you're one of "those" moms - you know, the ones who push their kids and think their kid is the next Einstein.
But gifted kids most definitely can become underachievers if their academic needs are met, if they aren't being challenged. One of my favorite discussions of gifted children who underachieve comes from Stephanie Tolan's article "Is It a Cheetah?" Cheetahs can run very fast, up to 70 miles an hour. It's one of the defining characteristics of cheetahs. However, a cheetah in a cage can't come close to running that fast.
Does that mean it's not a cheetah?