Hannah Thomas, Director of Professional Learning

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Did you know that many gifted students are overlooked because they don’t display the ‘positive traits’ that teachers often consider associated with giftedness? 

Thank you so much to Rhys Briscoe-Hough for his informative and thought-provoking presentation to Cranbrook School teachers on Debunking the Myth of the Gifted Child, which reinforced the importance of recognising every learner as unique.

The session emphasised that gifted students who exhibit traits such as underachievement in areas of disinterest, extreme perfectionism and variable frustration may not be identified as gifted, because many teachers expect giftedness to manifest in stereotypical characteristics such as an eagerness to learn, attentiveness and intrinsic motivation. This means that some gifted students are not offered the support required to help them reach their potential. 

Rhys’ presentation also offered tips and tools for engaging the diverse range of gifted students, highlighting the importance of offering constructive feedback and the opportunity to develop skills at a deeper level.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning