Twice-Exceptional Defined
“Twice-exceptional (or 2e) Learners exhibit talent and/or natural ability in some areas while also being challenged in other areas with learning differences.”
National Association for Gifted Children
Living With Labels
- gifted
- gifted and talented
- learning differences
- specific learning disorders
- learning disabilities
- special needs
- exceptional
- twice-exceptional
Overwhelmed and labeled out yet? No need to fear the labels. Labels, while not all-encompassing to our children, certainly have their place. When applied and used properly, they can be invaluable tools.
I have always held mixed feelings about labels. On principle, I dislike categorizing humans as objects to be separated neatly into tiny boxes. On the other hand, some form of a descriptor is necessary to facilitate communication.
Receiving a diagnosis (or even the absence of one) can help point you in the right direction for how best to proceed when seeking services for your child. Evaluations can help provide insight into your child’s needs, help provide proper supports to enhance learning, and guide the next care steps. (To learn more about our family’s homeschooling journey, feel free to read my blog post here.)
Homeschooling My 2(e) Student
No two twice-exceptional learners are alike. Each student has his or her own unique academic, emotional, social, physical, and behavioral needs. Like parenting, our family’s home education experience has been filled with trial and error, obstacles, insights, and change.
Flexibility, resilience, and adaptability are key.
Adopt A Different Attitude Towards Assessment
We have a sign posted in our classroom that reads, “You are more than a test score.” Testing, in general, is a hot topic in the homeschooling community, with many vehemently opposing any form of assessment.
My professional background is in applied psychology. In addition to providing therapy, I spent a large portion of my career administering various measures from academic achievement and ability tests to state-standardized measures to nationally normed benchmark assessments and even psychological appraisals. Personally, I do not believe testing is inherently bad. When valid and reliable measures are selected for the right reasons and administered under the proper conditions, the data gleaned can be quite helpful.
We do not keep report cards in our home. Instead, we utilize an adaptive achievement and growth test in the fall and spring semesters. (For a more in-depth discussion of our family’s experience with the homeschool testing process, please check out our blog.)
We also utilize authentic forms of assessment, which are more helpful than traditional grades and report cards. Authentic forms of assessment include allowing the student to demonstrate proficiency by applying knowledge to reality-based scenarios. This approach affords the student the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of skills by solving real-life problems. Furthermore, it allows for creativity and originality while promoting independence and healthy self-esteem.
Be an Advocate
As you grow in your knowledge, seize opportunities to educate others about teaching 2(e) learners. For tips on how to put on your advocate hat, check out this blog post.
Be Flexible
Every kiddo is unique and 2(e) kiddos are no exception. What works like a charm for one child may be a complete bomb for another. Also, kids change over time, what once worked for your child in the past may no longer work now. You may find yourself modifying a boxed curriculum or possibly combining programs (see our Mash-Ups page for more information) to best suit your individual learner’s needs. The beauty in homeschooling your 2(e student is that you can!
Be A Co-pilot
I often get caught up in catering to my son’s developmental delays and forget to challenge him in strength areas. I struggle with remembering to be more conscious of building upon his gifts and talents. Enter Interest-Led Learning.
While I cannot think of a student, homeschooled or otherwise, who delights in every single assignment, I can certainly attest to the power of Interest-Led Learning. Sometimes referred to as Self-Directed Learning, Child-Led Learning, or Delight-Directed Learning, it involves allowing the student to take the lead as to what areas to study while the parent/teacher assumes a more supportive rather than directive role. It harnesses the power of a child’s natural curiosity about the world around them. This approach not only increases the child’s awareness of personal strengths and limitations, as well as learning styles but also builds self-esteem and independence. In our home, we utilize Child-Led Learning for non-core and extracurricular subjects.
Teach Self-Advocacy
Learning how to speak up for oneself is an invaluable life skill. Learning how to ask for what you need and how to protect yourself is crucial. Self-awareness is key in learning to self-advocate. Talk with your child about his or her learning differences from a strengths-based approach. Cultivate an appreciation for diversity for we are all fearfully and wonderfully made!
