Selina P.

Extreme intellectual, curiosity, and creative enthusiasm I can personally relate to on some levels. I wouldn't classify myself as gifted though, but as one who can relate to having those times of being so mentally driven to grasp things quickly--and when you do, you are bored--again, and need another mental stimulant. Gifted children will benefit from a teacher's ability to organize systematically intellectual pursuits, creative endeavors, physical activities, games, and opportunities for gifted students to be challenged, as well as leading their peers in challenging activities as well.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: I have monitored and managed children especially in group activities and outdoor recess. I've discovered it's important to pay attention to how they are reacting to situations that excite them, and continually monitor their behavior in those circumstances. I feel to better serve these students a teacher or tutor will have to be alert to their potential sudden mood changes. Being pro-active and haviing a plan of action ready I believe will produce best outcomes for their learning needs.

In a kindergarten classroom I have had some experience assisting with instructing a student with autism. Here's what I noticed: social interaction can be minimum, avoided, or excessive; this is reflected in lack of eye contact too. The child's delayed responses doesn't always equate to they didn't understand you the first time. It requires patience and strategies to encourage responses. It's important to be prepared for the student's repetitive speech when they do respond. As an educator once you become aware of their behavior patterns of responses such as withholding interaction, or when their interaction can become excessive, you are developing methods for teaching them. I feel you create for yourself Behavioral Momentum strategies to more effectively guide student learnng.

I have not been specifically assigned to this population in my experience in education, however, since my expertise and passion is buidling up students' reading and writing skills, additionally supporting literacy development, I do believe I can spot and demonstrate the patience to work with dyslexia students. I now think that some of the students that are deemed to have weaker literacy skills, perhaps it's really dyslexia.