The talent model of Sint-Truiden.

The purpose of this project is to translate the appreciative approach into the educational practice. Most of the time however, teachers are detecting the deficits within children (in an early stage) and try to eliminate them by providing extra support (deficit approach). The effectiveness of this practice on an long term is however not positive for the target children, eg. unqualitfied school drop (Van Landeghem & Van Damme, 2009). With the talent model, we want to offer an alternative approach in which we start by looking at the strengths and potencies of children (positive oriented) and focus at the motivation and the development of a growth mindset (Dweck, C.). This project focuses on the schools in the center of Sint-Truiden, and in the district Nieuw Sint-Truiden, schools who are confronted with problems of segregation. We want to stimulate teachers to see better the talents of children, to look at a more broad and positive way to all children, especially the target children. This first phase, concerns intakes in all the schools of these areas and civic organisations. The methods and purposes of the project are explained and explored regarded to their current practice. This information helps to decide which schools are qualified to be engaged in the second phase, the intense coaching and cooperation in the year 2011-2012.

Keywords:Selfconcept, Extended schools, Talents, Primary education, Equal opportunities in education, Motivation

Disciplines:Education curriculum, Education systems, General pedagogical and educational sciences, Specialist studies in education, Other pedagogical and educational sciences