Something about the TAG program
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What does it mean to be gifted?
Giftedness, intelligence, and talent are fluid concepts and may look different in different contexts and cultures; as a result there is no universally accepted definition of "gifted". The National Association for Gifted Children defines a gifted person as someone who demonstrates outstanding levels of potential or performance in one or more domains. The state of Colorado defines a gifted student as a student whose "aptitude or competence in abilities, talents, and potential for accomplishment in one or more domains are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs".
Stress Management
The common aphorism "perfect is the enemy of the good" is especially relevant to the struggles gifted students often have with perfectionism. Gifted learners are often prone towards anxiety surrounding their performance. There is a fine line between striving to reach high standards of excellence and becoming repeatedly disappointed through the inability to reach unrealistic expectations. Gifted people are likely to develop a harmful dichotomous (all-or-nothing) perception of success - the "if I get anything less than an A+, I must be a failure" mindset. This damaging perspective can cause gifted students to become paralyzed by the fear of doing less than well.
Making Connections
Gifted people have unique needs and challenges that may be difficult for other to understand. Gifted children may develop asynchronously, might struggle with relating to peers, or may not always excel at school in the traditional sense. Because gifted students often develop at different rates than their peers both socially and intellectually, it is sometimes difficult for them to relate to others their age. Additionally, gifted people are inclined to be more intense, sensitive, and independent than others, which can cause them to struggle in forming relationships.
Taking the Leap
The hesitance of gifted students to take risks for fear of failure can lead to undue stress and underachievement. The dread gifted people often feel at the prospect of doing less than well at a new activity might cause them to refuse trying new things at all. Realizing that it is perfectly normal to not immediately excel at everything can help gifted students to become more comfortable with stepping outside of their comfort zones and pursuing unfamiliar ventures.
Planning Ahead
Although gifted people tend to be exceptionally ambitious, gifted students often question what their next steps are in furthering their various endeavors in school, sports, clubs, and other activities. The act of writing concrete goals can help students, both gifted and otherwise, to plan for the future and move forward in making accomplishments.
Effective Learning
Harvard's Center for the Developing Child defines executive functioning as "the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully". Many gifted people struggle with the ability to "get things done", which can lead to procrastination, underachievement, and anxiety. Success is partially dependent on a student's ability to plan, organize, access working memory, and self regulate.