Living With Live Wires

Another important aspect regarding the motivation of gifted children is to help them understand the path of Mastery. Mastery is usually a term used in reference to mastering a task or a standard. It is usually seen as the completion of a task. You have mastered it, so it is now time to go on.

The path of mastery involves relatively brief spurts of progress, each of which is followed by a slight decline to a plateau somewhat higher in most cases than that which preceded it.

A reflection on mastery gives a deeper awareness of the learning process, a longer-term view. We all need to develop areas of  life where we want mastery.

In our story, the teacher knew she had standards that needed to be met. There were limitations of time and several competing needs in the classroom.

But now she also understands that mastery is a path, it is a decision to commit to a practice, such as being a creative teacher in limiting circumstances. It is a practice with intrinsic motivations, you want to practice and you will keep trying even when it seems you are not making any progress, because you understand the experience of the plateau on the path of mastery.

Committing to a path of mastery in your personal life makes it easier to integrate these concepts into the classroom. It becomes part of you and the way that you talk to the children and teach the class. When you develop a longer-term perspective on the learning process it is easier to have more patience with the students who feel frustrated.

And you begin to see new ways to infuse what you already do with more wisdom.