Gifted Introverts: The Quiet Contradiction
Inviting the Wallflower to Bloom
If I had a nickel for every time a grown-up told young me to smile more, or asked me why I was so quiet, or if I was sad, well, I would have had enough money to wall them all out and be pleasantly alone with my thoughts!
Gifted introverts are a misunderstood breed, especially in the school years. Adults are much more comfortable watching a group of students run and shout at recess than seeing one student sit quiet and alone beside a tree.
In her 1-hour course, “Introverts: The Quiet Gifted,” Theresa Biggs, M.Ed., reveals the inner workings and needs of gifted introverts.
Ms. Biggs is the Coordinator of Advanced Academics for Plano ISD. She has a passion for learning and serving the gifted community with a special interest in the English classroom.
It’s Always the Quiet Ones…
Not sure if your wallflower is apathetic or a bonafide gifted introvert?
“Introverts: The Quiet Gifted” makes the distinction simple. This fascinating, brisk course will enable you to:
- Understand common characteristics of the introverted gifted student
- Examine the place of the introverted student in an extroverted world
- Determine how to meet the needs of the gifted introvert in the classroom
One area where we tend to alienate gifted introverts is group discussions. This socially driven method currently reigns in teaching, but there is always that one perplexing student who is so full of ideas, and yet so content to keep them tucked away in silent thought.
Ms. Biggs offers practical suggestions, including having all students take a minute or two of “think time” to jot down their responses to a presentation before discussion time. This gives gifted introverts a refreshing minute to collect their thoughts and prepare to share them.
Not Antisocial, Just Overstimulated
There is a common misconception that the defining characteristic of an extrovert is a desire to be social and that of the introvert is a dislike of social interaction.
There is some truth here, but the distinction is actually found in the way a person handles stimulation and the way they recharge.
Extroverts have a low sensitivity to dopamine, and therefore need more constant stimulation, be it social interaction, sound, sight, or other sensual input. Stimulation gives them energy.
Introverts process dopamine slowly, and are highly sensitive to it. They tend to reach their limit of stimulation sooner. Overstimulation leads the gifted introvert to crave solitude and silence to recharge their emotional and mental batteries.
A Safe Place For All ‘Verts
Do you want to create a classroom environment where both extroverts and introverts thrive?
Click below to get started!
Delivering Quality Training – No Matter Where You Are
Did you know that this course is mobile ready? That means you can complete the course on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer, or any other mobile device!
Images courtesy of Flickr via Nguyen Hung Vu, Post Memes, and rosalembcke.
