When Intensity Goes to School: Overexcitabilities, Creativity, and the Gifted Child

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511781629.016

15 - When Intensity Goes to School: Overexcitabilities, Creativity, and the Gifted Child

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012

Susan Daniels and

Michael M. Piechowski

Edited by

Ronald A. Beghetto and

James C. Kaufman

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Susan Daniels: Affiliation:
California State University at San Bernardino, USA
Michael M. Piechowski: Affiliation:
Institute for Educational Advancement, USA
Ronald A. Beghetto: Affiliation:
University of Oregon
James C. Kaufman: Affiliation:
California State University, San Bernardino

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Summary

A teacher called the child's mother to show her a large sheet with a drawing of large squares on it. The mother was puzzled, so the teacher explained: “Like all other children, your daughter was asked to draw chickens in the barnyard. She drew the wire mesh. This is very disturbing.” A creative child will see things in a new way – instead of following the rules, a creative child will change them, will shift perspective. This child took the chicken's perspective. She grew up to be a world famous pianist. From an early age, she asserted with great intensity her way of approaching things and has the following remembrance (Grimaud, 2006, pp. 1–2):

“She is never satisfied!”

As a small child, I heard these words a thousand times.…Long before I understood what these words meant, I made them into a family, much like my stuffed animals. Their family name was “Un.” They were the “Uns,” and each of them had the same ability to put a surprised or worried look on my mother's face.…I created a family tree for them. The great-grandfather of the words was Uncontrollable.

After Uncontrollable, there came quite often Unsatisfied. Then Unmanageable. Or Impossible, Undisciplined. Insatiable. Insubordinate…Unadaptable. Unpredictable.

Hélène Grimaud's memoir of her growing-up years, Wild Harmonies: A Life of Music and Wolves, offers profound insight into the rocky path of a highly gifted, creative, and passionate person growing up in a world that does not always understand or appreciate such energy, intensity, and passion.

Type: Chapter
Information: Nurturing Creativity in the Classroom , pp. 313 - 328

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511781629.016 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2010

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