When I first began teaching, I asked myself several questions over and over. Two of those questions were “Are these students really gifted or are they just pleasing me?” and “Why do I want to distinguish between these two types of students?”

One reason I wanted to know was that these two types of students have very different needs to be satisfied. Each student is in school to learn how best to use his or her abilities, to adequately prepare for his or her vocation, to achieve his or her greatest emotional satisfaction, and to be an asset to the world community. Helping them meet these needs was, and still is, the broad basic goal of a teacher. If I was to attain that goal, I had to find ways to learn which student was which. ?”

Another reason I wanted to know was that I wanted to be satisfied with myself. I did not want to be just a good teacher, but a good teacher by my standards. I felt, and still do, that each student is entitled to the very best each of us can be. ?”

For these reasons, a process of learning began that has brought to light for me several interesting observations. These observations and some techniques are the basis for this work. This handbook will assist you in determining an answer to the question “Is this student potentially gifted or a teacher pleaser?” I do not presume to reveal anything unknown. Instead I will show how to use knowledge you possess to help you answer the question. ?”

The need is not to identify really bright or gifted students; it is to distinguish between the potentially gifted student and the teacher pleaser. I truly believe that many potentially gifted students are never approached at their level of instruction; hence, they do not receive the best we have to offer. The same is true for the teacher pleaser. Therefore, this guide should be a beginning, not an end. ?”

Please…
      • Be patient. …
      • Don’t expect immediate “perfect” results. …
      • Realize that this is the author’s technique, developed over a long period of time. …
      • Practice the suggested techniques as you would with any other lesson. …
      • Practice with the students. They will benefit from the experience as much as you.

Download the Table of Contents page here.

All grades.