Estimated reading time 4 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
“What are some signs of a twice exceptional (2E) child?” Children with both giftedness and learning disabilities are called twice exceptional. In other words, twice exceptional children will pick up some things really quickly – much more quickly than typical learners. However, with other things they will lag way behind their typical learner peers – sometime by a significant amount. Read more to learn the signs of a twice exceptional child.
This article uses technical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Some Signs of a Twice Exceptional Child #1: What Does It Mean to Be Gifted?
“What are some signs of a twice exceptional child?” First, let’s talk about the term gifted a little more.
If all the factors of education and preparation remain the same, the gifted child will pick things up more easily than typical learner students.
Ellen Winner says that visual-spatial skills can be linked to giftedness in music, art, and math. Gifted musicians excel:
… in visual-spatial skills, much like children gifted in drawing. Musicians (as well as painters) have been noted to have prodigious visual and aural memories. (Gifted Children 110 – 111)
According to Winner, gifted students will either be gifted in language or spatial skills, but not both.
- The idea of the globally gifted child is mostly a myth.
- They do exist, but they’re very rare.
- Mozart may have been globally gifted. However, he was a once in a generation talent.
Also, Winner talks about moderately versus extremely gifted children. For example:
- Moderately gifted children will learn a grade or two above age level.
- Conversely, extremely gifted children will be four to six grades above age level.
- These students will often be able to teach themselves and can make intuitive leaps.
Some Signs of a Twice Exceptional Child #2: How Do You Recognize Giftedness in a 2E Child?
“What are some signs of a twice exceptional child?” The first and most important sign of giftedness: the rage to learn.
- For example, gifted kids will beg to learn and spend all their free time pursuing their areas of interest.
- Also, giftedness in musicians usually will emerge before age six.
- However, if you’re a music teacher of a gifted child, you must be careful. Why? Because gifted kids can burn out if you don’t carefully manage their workloads.
In addition to teaching LD and special needs students, I’ve had several gifted students. These anecdotes show how gifted kids can learn with little or no guidance:
- One parent told me a story about how his four-year-old daughter became jealous because her older brother had started to learn to read books. So, she went upstairs and got an electronic spelling game and taught herself to read.
- I have another student who learned to read (as a toddler) by following along in the picture books his grandparents read to him.
- Yet another student (a preschooler) figured out what octaves and dynamics were with no prior instruction. Plus, the student started banging random intervals on the piano and serval months later, through trial and error, the banging turned into real improvisation.
In addition, I’ve had excellent sight-readers and impressive improvisors. Kids who come back after a week having read through half the lesson book, or who can solo on an instrument with no prior instruction.
Some Signs of a Twice Exceptional Child #3: The Little Time Bomb Inside Strong Spatial Ability
“What are some signs of a twice exceptional child?” Many gifted kids have strong spatial ability. However, there’s a little time bomb inside strong spatial ability.
- Visual-spatial skills can also be linked to learning disabilities.
- Spatial reasoning is the ability to manipulate objects in three dimensions in the mind.
- Ellen Winner, Thomas G. West, T.R. Miles, Ronald Davis, and Linda K. Silverman have all stated that high spatial reasoning can result in LD, giftedness, or both.
According to Kimberly McCord, twice exceptional music students are fairly common in all age groups.
If you’re a music teacher and you have a bright student who struggles with reading music, I suggest you color code the score:
Some Signs of a Twice Exceptional Child #4: Summary
Here’s some final thoughts on What Are Some Signs of a Twice Exceptional (2E) Child?
- Your gifted students may do just fine, or even excel, in music lessons.
- Nevertheless, with gifted students you must be prepared just in case they suddenly start having problems.
- However, multisensory teaching strategies will help.
Related Posts:
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes
- How to Color Code Guitar Tab for LD Achievement
- How to Color Code Musical Diagrams
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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