Definition
- Numerous definitions exist, but most the comprehensive is that of Reis and McCoach (2000): “Underachievers are students who exhibit a severe discrepancy between expected achievement (as measured by standardized tests, assessments, etc.) and actual achievement (as measured by grades and teacher evaluations).”
- A discrepancy between the child’s school performance and some index of his or her actual ability, such as intelligence, achievement, or creativity scores or observational data (Davis & Rimm, 2004, p. 306).
- "The discrepancy between ability and performance" (Ford & Thomas, 1997).
- Gifted underachievers may deliberately hide their ability in order to seek peer acceptance or avoid appearing different.
- It is NOT caused by laziness, low self-esteem, a mismatched curriculum, an abusive relative, high absenteeism, depression, peer group issues, or mixed parental messages alone (Pagnani, n.d.).
- What does seem to cause gifted underachievement is a combination of school, family, and personal challenge factors – the exact combination appears different for each individual student (Pagnani, n.d.).
rationale
why is it important we identify these students?
OUR SCHOOL: 224 females and 256 males; 36 language backgrounds; generally low-SES. Classes for ESL and Learning Difficulties at each stage level.
Research shows that when gifted students are required to work at the same pace as their non-gifted classmates, their achievement levels drop dramatically, leading to boredom and behavior problems; this is particularly relevant in schools that have large percentages of low-income and/or English learners (Birdsall & Correa, 2007).
Underachievement is often seen as a male issue, not because boys perform so much worse, but because many non-identified gifted girls remain quiet, hidden, and academically average; blending into the background and keeping their underachievement a secret (Pagnani, n.d.).
IF WE DON'T IDENTIFY THESE STUDENTS, WHO WILL?
When was the last time you thought one of your ESL students or students with learning disabilities could be gifted? When was the last time you challenged ALL of your students?
- Gifted underachievement crosses all socio-economic and cultural boundaries. These students face unique barriers to achievement and are frequently underrepresented in gifted and talented programs (Reis & McCoach, 2000).
- Possibly the gifted underachievers most commonly overlooked are minority students from low socio-economic backgrounds" (Roach & Bell, 1989)...many gifted students (especially of minority status) still manage to slip quietly through the system (Pagnani, n.d.).
Research shows that when gifted students are required to work at the same pace as their non-gifted classmates, their achievement levels drop dramatically, leading to boredom and behavior problems; this is particularly relevant in schools that have large percentages of low-income and/or English learners (Birdsall & Correa, 2007).
- Their problem solving abilities, positive explanatory style, and heightened senses of humor are often able to keep them focused and emotionally healthy. When multiple setbacks and challenges accumulate however, the resulting pressures seem to bear down on gifted students and generate underachieving behavior patterns. This highlights the need for teachers of the gifted to remember that underachievement is usually not the cause of the problem; it is instead a symptom of many other problems in the child’s life (Pagnani, n.d.).
Underachievement is often seen as a male issue, not because boys perform so much worse, but because many non-identified gifted girls remain quiet, hidden, and academically average; blending into the background and keeping their underachievement a secret (Pagnani, n.d.).
IF WE DON'T IDENTIFY THESE STUDENTS, WHO WILL?
When was the last time you thought one of your ESL students or students with learning disabilities could be gifted? When was the last time you challenged ALL of your students?