G/T Awareness Week Day 1: Empowering Gifted Learners through Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is such an important skill for all learners, but it is particularly important for gifted learners. Gifted learners often have unique abilities and talents, but they may also have areas where they struggle. By being self-aware, gifted learners can identify their strengths and weaknesses, set realistic goals, and develop strategies to manage their emotions and relationships with others. Here are some practical ways to make self-awareness a priority for gifted learners in the classroom.

1. Make reflection a priority: Encourage gifted learners to reflect on their learning experiences often.  Give them opportunities to not simply focus on what they've learned and why they've learned it.  Ask questions that will encourage them to identify their strengths and weaknesses, reflect on their learning process, and develop a plan to improve their academic and personal growth.

2. Encourage Goal-Setting: Provide learners with the opportunity to set goals and work through the action steps to move them toward that goal. This process can help them learn how to set realistic and achievable goals rather than unrealistic goals that will result in feelings of disappointment and self-doubt.

3. Cultivate Collaboration: Make the classroom a place that supports and cultivates collaboration. Encourage gifted learners to be self-aware enough to understand how to collaborate with others.  They need to know that collaboration involves their own ideas, the ideas of others, and the ideas that they create together.  

4. Utilize Self-Assessment: Self-assessment is a great way to help gifted learners become more self-aware. Teach them to know the difference between learning something and understanding something.  Give them an opportunity to share what they did well and where they can improve. Self-assessment gives them an opportunity to be honest about what they need as a learner and where they are in their learning journey.

In conclusion, self-awareness is a crucial skill for gifted learners. By prioritizing reflection, encouraging goal setting, cultivating collaboration, and utilizing self-assessment, teachers can help gifted learners become more self-aware as they experience learning.