​
WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION FOR TALENTED & GIFTED

Wisconsin Association For Talented & Gifted

  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • News
    • Partnerships
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Meet The Board
    • Gifted Listserv
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Advanced and Accelerated Learning in WI
    • WATG Blogs >
      • News from the Board
      • Noticias de las Mesa Directiva
      • Gifted in Perspective
      • Dotados en Perspectiva
      • Ask the Doctor
      • Gifted @ Home
      • Student Voices
      • Guest Blogs
      • Tools to Use Today
      • From the Bookshelf
      • GT Meanderings
      • Advocacy Blog
      • Justice for All
    • Podcasts
    • Parenting
    • History + Pioneer Profiles
    • Awards & Scholarships
    • Past Newsletters
  • Equity
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Advocacy Blog
  • Annual Conference
    • 2023 Annual Conference
    • 2023 Keynote Speakers
    • Exhibitors/Sponsors
    • Parent Conference
    • Teen Conference
    • Logo Contest
    • Past Conferences
  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • News
    • Partnerships
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Meet The Board
    • Gifted Listserv
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Advanced and Accelerated Learning in WI
    • WATG Blogs >
      • News from the Board
      • Noticias de las Mesa Directiva
      • Gifted in Perspective
      • Dotados en Perspectiva
      • Ask the Doctor
      • Gifted @ Home
      • Student Voices
      • Guest Blogs
      • Tools to Use Today
      • From the Bookshelf
      • GT Meanderings
      • Advocacy Blog
      • Justice for All
    • Podcasts
    • Parenting
    • History + Pioneer Profiles
    • Awards & Scholarships
    • Past Newsletters
  • Equity
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Advocacy Blog
  • Annual Conference
    • 2023 Annual Conference
    • 2023 Keynote Speakers
    • Exhibitors/Sponsors
    • Parent Conference
    • Teen Conference
    • Logo Contest
    • Past Conferences
  • Contact Us

Enchanted with Encanto

3/1/2022

0 Comments

 
In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about the benefits of bibliotherapy and videotherapy when working with gifted children and adolescents; this month I had a chance to put my insights into practice, as I viewed and thoroughly enjoyed Disney’s movie Encanto with members of my family. As I viewed the movie, I thought about the messages for all of us, from the youngest to the oldest. Encanto is a prime example of a movie with deep themes and rich topics, perfect for discussion. Though I won’t retell the movie (you definitely should pop some popcorn and enjoy it with your loved ones), I will offer up some questions for discussion when viewing it. 

Set in the magical casita of the Madrigal family in Colombia, Encanto transports us to a world that is both imaginative and thought-provoking. I believe that it is especially relevant for the gifted population because so much of the movie centers around gifts and talents. Some themes that emerge include perfectionism, stress, honesty, jealousy, envy, fear, disappointment, loss, high expectations, illusions, loneliness, self-belief and self-doubt, responsibility for “gifts,” and the mysteries of possibilities, among others. Some questions for discussion before and after viewing the movie could include these:

  • What are gifts and talents? How are they alike and/or different in various characters? How are they alike and different in people? Is this good or bad?
  • Does everyone have gifts and talents? Why or why not?
  • What happens when we use our talents effectively? What happens when we don’t use our talents, or use them inappropriately? 
  • Can we lose our talents over time? Can you develop a talent over time? If so, how, or when, or why?
  • Is it always good to have talents? Can talents ever be a burden? Are talents worth having?
  • What is good or bad about the expectations that come with gifts and talents? Whose expectations are they? Are those expectations fair?
  • What if (even with all of my gifts and talents) I am never good enough?
  • How does having a vision (and someone who believes in you) help you actualize your talent/s?
  • What if speaking your truth/using your talents makes things worse?
  • Are we truly more than our gifts and talents? How is this possible? If this is true, why is it important?
  • Are we all someone’s miracle? Can you think of an example in your life or in the life of someone else?
  • Is “burning brightly” a gift or a burden? Why or why not?

Clearly, the possibilities for exploring Encanto are both limitless and enchanting. In viewing it with my family, I was interested in the takeaways from everyone - from a three -year-old to a septuagenarian. The three year old summed it up perfectly…”we all have dreams in our brain; we just need to let them out.” This was truly perceptive, in my estimation.

In the near future, I hope that you will find time to view Encanto. The animation is fabulous, the music ultimately memorable, and the themes timeless and provocative. Above all, allow yourself time to ponder the meanings in your life, the lives of your family members, and the lives of your students. Allow videotherapy to expand your thinking.

As always, I welcome your thoughts. Together we grow.

Jackie Drummer, Past President and current Board Advisor
WI Association for Talented and Gifted 

(WATG would like to extend a huge thank you to Dr. Martha Aracely Lopez of Milwaukee Public Schools for translating this article into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families and educators. The translation can also be found in our website blogs.)



0 Comments

    Gifted in Perspective

    A column designed to link the gifted perspective to other perspectives, and to make you think.
    Picture
    Jackie Drummer Past WATG President, SENG Certified Trainer

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
WATG Privacy Statement

Get Involved

Advocacy
News
The Board

Resources

​Blogs
Awards & Scholarships
Pioneer Profiles
G/T Groups

Equity

Conference

Contact Us
Keynote Speakers
Logo Contest
Teen Conference
Past Conferences
Photo used under Creative Commons from Melody_Ann_Crespo