Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Those who excel at math and those who don't

Here is data from New York City:

http://edfundersresearch.albatrossdemos.com/sites/edfundersresearch.com/files/EdFunders%20Paper%20%232.pdf
THE EXPERIENCES OF ONE NEW YORK CITY HIGH SCHOOL COHORT:
OPPORTUNITIES, SUCCESSES, AND CHALLENGES
Douglas Ready, Thomas Hatch, Miya Warner & Elizabeth Chu
Teachers College, Columbia University
October 8th, 2013

I was a "untalented" math student required to take a lot of math because of my degree. Honestly, there are two sides- I gave up very easily and didn't put the kind of effort that *I* needed to be successful (which seemed like too much at the time).
On the other hand, I would sit in a stats or calculus class and could tell that a few of the students just "got it." I found it highly discouraging to know I would need to put in three times the amount of work as the "getting it" students.

I think it is cultural- I think in the US, students are not trained for the "grit" that it takes to get through difficult subjects. We admire talent, not extreme effort- but talent can be a double edged sword if students aren't challenged during their formative years. Challenge (the real kind that involves struggle) builds character.

I was thinking more about Asian students who are actually in Asia, but that is very interesting.