Linguistically Diverse
Students who are linguistically diverse and are learning English as their second language often demonstrate higher level thinking skills but cannot express themselves in writing or perform well on verbal assessments. These students can be identified as gifted through non-traditional means and need to be provided a specialized curriculum. Communication between the family and school is vital to the success of this underserved gifted population.
General Resources
Identifying, Assessing, and Serving English Language Learners This PowerPoint presentation was created by Jaime Castellano, a researcher and practioner in the field of gifted education. This PowerPoint presentation is a wonderful resource that provides an overview of characteristics, myths, misconceptions, programming options, and identification procedures concerning English language learners who are gifted. (When dialog box appears, select "open" to view the presentation) Identifying Gifted and Talented English Language Learners This manual was designed by the Iowa Department of Education and is a comprehensive resource for teachers. The manual gives clear and consise information pertaining to identifying and providing programming for gifted and talented children who are English language learners. Tempo Magazine - Winter 2005: Our Diversity, Our Treasure The entire issue of Tempo magazine is dedicated to the unique needs of English language learners. Articles
Insights into Gifted and Talented English Language Learners This article by Andrea Bermudez and Judith Marquez (1998) gives suggestions on how to create a identification process that is appropriate for students who are linguistically diverse. Identifying Academically Gifted English Language Learners Using Non-Verbal Tests This article by David Lohman, Katrina Korb, and Joni Lakin (2008) reviews common non-verbal assessments that can be used to identify linguistically diverse gifted students including the CogAT, Ravens, and Naglieri. |
Books for Parents & Educators
Working with Gifted English Language Learners By: Michael S. Matthews Special Populations in Gifted Education: Understanding our Most Able Students from Diverse Backgrounds By: Jaime Castellano & Andrea Dawn Frazier Diverse Populations of Gifted Children By: Diane Schwartz Strategies for Gifted Students who are Linguistically Diverse
▪ Environment that welcomes their culture and family unit ▪ Curriculum and teacher who focuses on their strengths, not their deficiencies ▪ Eclectic programming that is a mix of English language development and lessons for the gifted and talented ▪ Utilization of personal learning styles in lessons ▪ Activities that strengthen academic vocabulary ▪ Lessons that are differentiated in order to promote creative and complex thinking ▪ Multifaceted identification strategies that combine nonverbal ability tests, portfolios, rates of language acquisition, and observations. |