THE IMPORTANCE OF PROGRAMMES FOR GIFTED PUPILS

Workshop

Planning and preparing a work programme for gifted pupils is also resulting from the principles of development of creativity and consideration for the personal development of individuals.
Difficulties that gifted pupils are facing can be of social, interpersonal and intrapersonal nature. Social difficulties are mainly connected with the lack of supportive learning curricula that would challenge gifted children, but instead, they cause feelings of boredom and indignation. Interpersonal difficulties are associated with the perception of gifted children as “different” and therefore under peer pressure they often give up or deny their potential. Intrapersonal difficulties are related with self-perceptions of their own value, low self-esteem and self-respect. Latter can cause development of healthy coping strategies or dysfunctional ones that would lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Considering the above we offered workshops for gifted pupils in the second triad that are intended primarily to better understanding of emotions and emotional response. The school psychologist and a social pedagogue preformed workshops for 5 and 6 graders. We mastered and trained the following knowledge and skills: communication and cooperation with one another, learning and recognition of emotions, understanding the body expression for the different emotions, control of emotions through different relaxation techniques. Pupils tested their knowledge of emotions in different creative ways through movement, words and pictures.
The evaluation showed that pupils liked interacting and being acquainted with each other. They felt safe. They were able to participate in different activities and express their opinion without feeling exposed in the group or being mocked by others. They especially liked the relaxation techniques and would like to try more of them.