You may have a gifted student with a neurological disability. Such students are called twice exceptional or 2e. The mind of a 2e student is, to say the least, downright baffling. How can the student who always has the answers forget their homework so often? Doesn't it take more brainpower to (insert demanding, creative task here) than sit still? If you think your 2e student doesn't try hard enough, I'll tell that you have no idea how hard we try.
I have ASD (Asperger's Syndrome), ADHD (inattentive type), and I am gifted in language (verbal IQ is 146). For me, it takes great effort to focus, sometimes to the point of suffering a headache and/or nausea. My language giftedness does not help me when I'm trying to crank out one more math problem. Instead, it reminds me that I should be anywhere but the current tedious situation, so, naturally, I will want to escape. I might be fidgety, restless, and frustrated at this point. My fight or flight instinct will take over. I will want to be able to reason rationally, but I cannot at this point. Since I do not have the option to fight due to non-violence policies at schools, and neither do I have the immediate option of flight, I will remain in this survival mode until (1) an option to fight or flee presents itself or (2) something else sends me over the edge. If I can escape, I won't feel as trapped.
Forgetting homework in every form is also a problem for me. Sometimes, I have no idea why I forget. I just do. Please have patience with me as this is as frustrating for me as it is for you. Calling me lazy will not help; it just makes me feel worse. These comments are why people like me lapse into depression, self-harm, and suicide. I don't want to spend my life cutting myself down. If you give me the chance, I assure you that we will both benefit. Even if we never see the benefit, it will be there. It will help me to be verbally reminded of homework so I can write it down in a planner. I am doing my best to manage a conflict of processing. My ADHD side moves at rapid-fire speed grasping every bit of interesting information while my Asperger's side is slow to receive this information or tries to sort what it gets. It would be like working at a factory for the first time when the conveyor belt is set to maximum speed. Please guess what this leads to. My forgetfulness is a result of these processing conflicts. An attempt to understand and care on your part means more hard work on my part.
The concept of being gifted and learning disabled at the same time is hard to wrap your mind around unless you have experienced it. Emphasis on the giftedness while addressing the disability will ensure success. If you are 2e yourself, use your experiences to help students. Having someone to relate to in a world of misunderstanding makes all the difference. If you have questions, comment below. I don't have credentials (yet), but I do have a brilliant mind and a desire to open doors.
Sincerely,
A 2e Student
This is really fascinating. Have you thought of giving a copy to your own teachers?
ReplyDeleteI think I will do that! I might be a real eye-opener to someone who has never dealt with resource students.
DeleteThat sounds like a good idea! I did something sort of like this last year and may do it agin.
DeleteYou can never be too informed.
DeleteAgreed.
DeleteThank you for this insight.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteAwesome insight for all of us to learn from! It's hard for many to understand how someone with a verbal IQ of 146 might also had difficulties in other areas. I agree with Kathryn above this is information that teachers need to know!
ReplyDeleteYou came!!!!!! I agree that it is hard to have a verbal IQ and a lot of difficulties. People seem to think giftedness makes everything okay when it doesn't.
DeleteI find 2e people fascinating. There was a boy in my son's preschool classroom who emotionally was very young and intellectually he was doing work of students twice his age. I appreciate you explaining how it feels further and agree with the other commenters that your teachers would probably really appreciate reading this! Thanks, too, for linking up with Finish the Sentence Friday!
ReplyDeleteGifted people tend to be asynchronous. Thank you for hosting.
DeleteHow absolutely beautiful! I think every child should be allowed to learn and thrive at the pace that suits them. I suppose this is partly why I choose to homeschool, and it works for us. I think it definitely should be shared! Have an amazing week!
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming!
DeleteI have a 2e boy at home. ADHD, but was reading at a 16 year old level when he was 6. He is a force of nature that was getting to know the Assistant Principal at his school on a first name basis (because he was getting sent to the office every day at school). We've laughed and we've cried, and we keep working at it every day. Sending hugs to your son!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a son (yet), but thank you for thinking of him if I ever have kids ten or twenty years in the future. I am a 2e student and the brain behind the blog. Tell your boy "Hi" for me.
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