By Beth Smith, M. Ed. |#smithingifted
One of the biggest misconceptions about gifted students is that because they are academically advanced, they naturally know how to manage their emotions, frustrations, and intense thinking. In reality, many gifted learners experience the world more deeply than their peers. Their emotions, curiosity, creativity, and sensitivity can sometimes become overwhelming.
That’s why every gifted classroom needs more than rigorous curriculum—it needs intentional spaces that support students as they learn to regulate their minds while continuing to grow as innovators.
In my classroom, that space is called the Innovation Hub.
What is Over-excitability?
Gifted psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski identified five areas of overexcitability that are commonly found in gifted individuals. These are not behaviors to “fix.” Instead, they are strengths that simply require guidance and support.
🧠Intellectual Overexcitability
Students constantly ask questions, seek deeper understanding, debate ideas, and become frustrated when they can’t immediately solve a problem.
❤️ Emotional Overexcitability
Gifted students often experience emotions intensely. A small disappointment can feel enormous because they genuinely care deeply.
🎨Imaginational Overexcitability
These students have vivid imaginations and incredible creativity. Their minds are constantly generating ideas, stories, inventions, and possibilities.
✋ Psychomotor Overexcitability
Some gifted learners need movement to think. Sitting still for extended periods can actually make concentrating more difficult.
👂 Sensual Overexcitability
Bright lights, loud noises, uncomfortable clothing, or crowded classrooms may overwhelm these students more quickly than others.
Why I Created the Innovation Hub
Instead of viewing these moments as behavior problems, I view them as opportunities for students to develop one of the most important life skills:
Self-regulation.
Innovation doesn’t happen when we’re frustrated.
Innovation happens when we can pause, reflect, and return ready to solve problems.
The Innovation Hub teaches students that taking a moment to reset isn’t giving up—it’s what successful innovators, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders do every day.
What is the Innovation Hub?
The Innovation Hub is not a timeout.
It is not a punishment.
It is not a place students are sent because they are “bad.”
Instead, it is a workspace where students intentionally reset their thinking while continuing to learn.
Our classroom sign says:
🚀 Innovation Hub
Great innovators know when to pause, think, and return stronger.
Come here to:
🧠 Refocus your thinking
💡 Organize your ideas
🌱 Reset your mindset
✍️ Continue your work independently
🚀 Return ready to create, collaborate, and innovate
“Every inventor, engineer, scientist, and entrepreneur has needed a moment to think.”
Who Should Use the Innovation Hub?
Any student can use it.
Some students visit because they feel overwhelmed.
Others need quiet to concentrate.
Some need to calm strong emotions.
Others simply need a few uninterrupted minutes to think deeply.
The goal is independence—not dependence.
Eventually students begin recognizing when they need a reset before their emotions take over.
That is executive functioning in action.
When Should Students Use It?
Students may choose the Innovation Hub when they are:
- Feeling frustrated with a difficult problem
- Becoming emotionally overwhelmed
- Distracted by classroom activity
- Needing quiet to think
- Struggling with perfectionism
- Ready to calm themselves before conflict begins
- Working on an independent project requiring deep concentration
The Innovation Hub is most effective before behaviors escalate.
Where Should It Be?
Place it somewhere that feels inviting—not isolated.
Ideas include:
- A single desk in a quiet corner
- A standing workstation
- A small table with privacy panels
- A comfortable chair beside a bookshelf
The space should still allow students to remain part of the classroom community.
The Innovation Hub should communicate:
“You’re still one of us—we’re simply giving your brain room to think.”
What Should Be at the Innovation Hub?
I like to keep it simple.
Consider including:
- Noise-reducing headphones
- Reflection journal
- Blank sketch paper
- Thinking notebook
- Timer
- Pencil supplies
- Positive affirmation cards
- Breathing strategy cards
- Fidgets
- Current independent work
The purpose isn’t entertainment.
The purpose is helping students return ready to learn.
How Do Students Use It?
One of the best parts of the Innovation Hub is that students don’t need permission every time.
After modeling expectations, students learn to recognize their own needs.
A typical visit might look like this:
- Student recognizes they need a reset.
- They quietly move to the Innovation Hub.
- They continue working independently or spend a few minutes calming their mind.
- When ready, they return to their group without drawing attention to themselves.
No embarrassment.
No power struggle.
No public correction.
Just learning.
Teaching Students to Self-Regulate
One of our goals as gifted educators isn’t simply teaching advanced content.
It’s developing future innovators.
Real innovators don’t always think clearly under stress.
They pause.
Reflect.
Adjust.
Then they continue creating.
The Innovation Hub teaches exactly that.
Final Thoughts
Gifted students don’t need classrooms that expect perfection.
They need classrooms that understand intensity.
When we recognize overexcitabilities as strengths instead of problems, we empower students to better understand themselves and develop lifelong strategies for success.
The Innovation Hub is a simple change that communicates a powerful message:
“Your ideas matter. Your feelings matter. And taking time to reset is part of becoming an innovator.”
As educators, we have the opportunity to teach more than academics. We can help students build the habits of resilient thinkers who are ready to solve the challenges of tomorrow.
💙 About #smithingifted
At #smithingifted, I believe gifted education should challenge students to think deeply, create boldly, solve authentic problems, and develop the executive functioning skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom.
The Innovation Hub is just one example of how a supportive classroom environment can cultivate curiosity, creativity, resilience, and innovation—one thoughtful reset at a time. 🚀
