Responding to a list of criteria describing potential ADHD in women. Article: https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-symp...
The Global Giftedness Myth
Book: Gifted Children by Ellen Winner
The Global Giftedness Myth may permeate the culture's misperceptions of gifted people as high-achievers and not needing support (services) in education or life because things came easily. For the population of gifted people where this does not apply, it creates a possible negative experience where they don't feel allowed to share their invisible struggles (sensory overload, processing differences, heightened emotional experiences, cognitive differences, etc.) and pressure to perform at a higher level to be "worthy" or receive approval. This may not be the case for all, yet it is a personal observation to share. There may be this misunderstanding that a gifted person's seeking of approval and knowledge is a personal attack or a way or being elitist. This video is to highlight differences as merely that, difference. Nothing good or bad, just different and needing space for understanding.
Thoughts on (Auditory) Processing Differences
Do you or someone you know pause often when speaking, or ask for clarification in conversations or when given directions? It might be a processing difference! Here are some thoughts and observations:
Some Ways to Promote Literacy at Home
- Have a library. Space can be limited, so a family can always"
- Visit the local library. This can be a family tradition or ritual that a child can look back on to have positive emotions paired with reading.
- Used bookstores or estate sales: readers with large collections can sometimes donate huge lots for a cheaper price.
- Many local libraries that get an overflow of book donations have a "Buck a Bag" deal where you pay $1 for an entire bag of books.
- Newspapers or magazines: model using these for reading, read out loud sometimes to expose your child to reading and new words.
- Sight words: Words that don't follow spelling rules, and need to be memorized by learners. It can be an option to print or write labels or sight words and place them around the house to prime the brain for seeing words as objects or concepts.
- Diverse Languages: music, math, different languages in the form of text can help increase a child's awareness of different types of symbols and differentiating them.
- Singing songs: YouTube playlists can promote language in a fun and rhythmic way. If a child likes a certain song, printing lyrics out can also help them learn a few words here and there.
- Different cultures: People who speak with different accents or languages can help a child learn how to pronounce or read by making educated guesses based on their life experience and words or sentences they've heard.
- Reading to Children: Reading the and hearing the word is very different. When children have a favorite book, they start memorizing certain parts, sometimes the entire book! This can increase confidence to read, and give children a sense of mastery.
- Prewriting: Allow children to develop fine-motor skills by scribbling with pencils, crayons, and color pencils. Let them try and focus more on the attempts, instead of being "correct." Children will need time and encouragement to get their letters right. Make it a positive experience.
- Allow children to curate their own library. This can give children a chance to practice being responsible, a sense of ownership, and an opportunity to choose their own things to read.
