Underachievement - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Underachievement

Brenda Bryant

Brittani Martin

Brittany Dykes

Nikita WilcoxSlide2

What is underachievement?

Disagreement between a child’s school performance and some type of ability score like ____________.

This is more of a technical definition. We have to dig deeper to truly understand underachievement in gifted children. Slide3

Definition of Underachievement continued……

A behavior that is a problem of __________ or ____________.

Content and situation specific

-Children often succeed in activities outside of school such as work, sports, etc.

-Children may do poorly in most subjects and very well in one.

- Their interest and talent may lie elsewhere.

Slide4

Signs of UnderachievmentThe discrepancy

between

______(

as seen from test scores, products, or observations of parents, relatives, or neighbors) and _____ in school is a significant identifier of underachievement.

A

significant number of underachievers respond to similar challenges in more or less

________

ways. Slide5

Signs of Underachievement Continued.

Common Characteristics:

Low

self-esteemConsistently

_______attitude

toward school and learning

Reluctance to take risks or apply one’s self

__________

with competition

Lack of perseverance

Lack of goal-directed behaviorSocial ____________Weaknesses in skill areas and organizationDisruptiveness in class and ________ to class activitiesSlide6

Factors Possible

Home Causes

_________ between parents Overprotectiveness by parents

Over empowerment

of children

Too

much or too little

attention

Health problems Sibling ________ Feelings of pressure An ________ attitude or overemphasis on workSlide7

FactorsPossible School Causes

Lack of challenge Too much or too little ________

Conflicts with teachers

_________

learning disabilities

A move to a more or less difficult school

Peer pressure Lack of opportunities to be _______ Lack of structure or too much structure in the classroom

Mismatch

between students'

_______preferences

and

______

strengths and the classroom strategies, expectation, and environment Slide8

Underachievement is Perceptive Some may think underachievement is an F while other may think underachievement is a B+.

___________ plays a huge role in underachievement. If a child sees themselves as a failure than they eventually see themselves as weak in academics. Slide9

LabelsDo not label the child as an _____________. Instead label their behaviors as ________________.

For example…

DO NOT say: Jane is an underachiever.

Rather say: Jane is currently underachieving in math and science. Slide10

Family RolesGifted children thrive in a mutually respectful, non authoritarian, flexible, questioning atmosphere. Gifted children need reasonable rules and guidelines, strong support and encouragement, and consistent positive feedback.Slide11

Supportive Strategies

Gifted children need adults who are willing to listen to their questions with out comment.

Show genuine

__________ about

students observations, interest, activities, and goals.

Be sensitive to problems, but avoid unrealistic or conflicting expectations and solving problems that gifted children are capable of managing.Slide12

Intrinsic Strategies

See intellectual development as a

____________ and not merely as an interest, a flair, or a phase that a child might outgrow.

Provide an early

and ________________________ that

stimulates an early love of learning.Slide13

Praise vs. Encouragement Overemphasis on achievement or outcomes rather than a child’s efforts, involvement, and desires to learn about topics of interest is a common parental pitfall.

Pressure to perform emphasizes outcomes such as winning awards and getting A’s , for which the student is highly praised.

__________________

_____,

the process used to achieve, steps taken toward accomplishing an goal and improvement. It leaves appraisal and valuation to the child.

The line between pressure and encouragement is subtle but important.Slide14

Remedial Strategies

Avoid discouraging children by domination, insensitivity, silence, or intimidation.

Avoid comparing children with others. Show children how to function in competition and how to recover from losses.Slide15

Classroom InterventionsSlide16

Strategies Supportive strategies - Classroom techniques and designs that allow students to feel they are part of a

“______,"

versus a

“_______".

Intrinsic Strategies - A classroom that invites positive

_________

is likely to encourage achievement.

Remedial Strategies - students are given chances to excel in their areas of

_______

and _________ while opportunities are provided in specific areas of learning deficiencies.Slide17

What can parents do about their child’s underachievement?

Arrange for regular

____________with

your child's teacher about the problem.Join a parent support group for gifted children.Arrange for an

__________

by

a school or private psychologist who specializes in helping gifted underachieving children.

Read literature about children and underachieving to get a better understanding of what your child is going through.

Avoid

_________

with your child's teacher that may lead the child to blame the school for his/her problems.Continue to ____________your child's interests, regardless of the level of school success. Do not use talent development as a reward for academic achievement.Encourage your child to participate in

_______________

that

involve other achieving gifted children.

Don't

____________

on your child.Slide18

What are the most promising solutions to underachievement? What are the most promising solutions to underachievement?

Examine the problem

______________

Create a Teacher-Parent ____________

Stay focused on the child’s

__________

Create an

___________

for

the childSlide19

Sourceshttp://www.hoagiesgifted.org/underachievement.htm

http://giftedkids.about.com/od/schoolissues/p/underachieve.htm

http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/underachieving_gifted.html

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/eric/e544.html

http://school.familyeducation.com/child-psychology/gifted-education/38653.html

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10094.aspx

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10442.aspx

http://www.appliedmotivation.com/gifted_and_talented_underachieve.htm

http://www.sengifted.org/articles_counseling/Grobman_Underachievement_in_Exceptionally_Gifted_Adolescents.pdf