Gifted and Talented Report
Underachievement
Sometimes teachers approach me about students who they feel are not meeting their potential. We know they have the ability but their engagement in class, completion of work or performance in class and assessments does not seem to match this ability.
The reasons for underachievement are complex. Is it just laziness as some parents might think? Usually no!
The reasons for underachievement are numerous- boredom, underlying learning or behavioural disorders, family or friendship issues, social/ emotional issues, health and wellbeing issues. There is no quick diagnosis or fix.
When I do hear about such students the Instructional Specialists and I meet with the student to interview them about how they are feeling in class, their interests and passions, how they like to learn or their learning dispositions and a general chat about anything that might be blocking the achievement.
We use the work of Ruth Phillips to start the conversation around underachievement with the students and their teachers and families.
Dr Ruth Phillips in her presentation for SCS states:
“Key internal factors associated with underachievement in gifted students include:
- low intrinsic motivation and self-regulation, whereby individuals lack the ability to focus and manage themselves in a way that is conducive to high achievement
- a low valuation of school-related goals
- low academic self-perception
- negative attitudes toward school and teachers
- lack of belief in their academic skills
- and low self-efficacy – Self-efficacy is related to achievement across all levels of ability
- underachievement, particularly amongst the intellectually gifted, is related to self-regulation
- Social connection and the need to ‘fit in’ are also reported influences on underachievement
Underachievement is indeed complex!
Please be assured any interviews with identified students are focussed on what we can do as a team to support your daughter.
If you require more information please contact me at the College or speak to your daughter’s teachers.
Mrs Colreavy’s Conundrum
Email: rachael.colreavy@syd.catholic.edu.au with your answer.
Correct answers will win a prize.
