Thinking Outside the Box Understanding Your Gifted Child

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Thinking Outside the BoxUnderstanding Your
Gifted Child
Developed by Charlene Mutter, Coordinator
Curriculum, Assessment
Staff Development
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Myths About Giftedness

• Fact
• Gifted children as a group tend to be healthy and
  well adjusted.
• Some are gifted in many areas, others in only one.

• Myth
• Gifted children are physically weak and socially
  inept.
• Gifted children do everything well.

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Myths About Giftedness

• Myth
• Giftedness is a stable trait, evident in all
  periods of life.
• Gifted children are born that way and will
  succeed because of their innate giftedness.

• Fact
• Some last the lifespan, others can fade in
  adulthood.
• Gifted children are born with a potential to
  excel, but if their potential is not nurtured at
  home and in school, it can fail to develop.

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Definition of Giftedness
From the United States Office of Education
(1972) Giftedness is potential or demonstrated
achievement in any one of six specific areas or a
combination of two or more
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Areas of Giftedness

• General intellectual ability
• Specific academic aptitude
• Creative or productive thinking
• Leadership ability
• Visual or performing arts
• Psychomotor ability

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Definitions of Giftedness (Part 2)

• The National Association for Gifted Children
  (NAGC) provides the following definition of
  giftedness
• Someone who shows or has the potential for
  showing an exceptional level of performance in
  one or more areas of expression
• Some abilities are general such as leadership
  and the ability to think creatively
• Some abilities are specific and evident only in
  particular circumstances, such as a special
  aptitude in mathematics, science or music

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NAGC Definition (continued)

• The term giftedness provides a general reference
  to a spectrum of abilities without being specific
  or dependent on a single measure or index.
• Generally about five percent of the student
  population (about three million children) are
  considered gifted.

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Expanded Definition of Giftedness

• Gifted children are those who often

• Think outside the box
• Explore the complexity of a problem
• Are accelerated in their subject of strength
• Enjoy the novelty of a problem
• Dig deep below the surface to find answers

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Gifted students also often

• Achieve mastery in 1-2 repetitions
• Have intense curiosity
• Have high motivation
• Naturally use higher level thinking skills
• Have acute sensitivity

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Howard Gardners Seven Intelligences

• Intelligence
• Logical-
• mathematical
• Linguistic
• Musical

• Career Choice
• Scientist, mathematician
• Poet, journalist
• Composer, violinist

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Howard Gardners Seven Intelligences

• Career Choice
• Navigator, sculptor
• Dancer, athlete
• Therapist, salesman
• Motivational speaker

• Intelligence
• Spatial
• Bodily-kinesthetic
• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal

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Portrait of a High Achiever

• Knows the answer
• Is interested
• Has good ideas
• Understands ideas
• Completes assignments
• Grasps meaning
• Listens with interest
• Absorbs information
• Is receptive

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Portrait of a Gifted Student

• Asks the question
• Is curious
• May have unexpected ideas
• Constructs abstractions
• Initiates projects
• Draws inferences
• Demonstrates strong opinions
• Manipulates information
• Is critical

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In the classroom the high achiever will

• Complete all homework on time
• Be organized
• Work neatly
• Be concerned about format and project
  requirements
• Control group projects
• Maintain perfect attendance
• Strive for an A
• Follow all the rules

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The gifted student often will

• Forget to complete assignments
• Focus on a unique aspect of an assignment or
  project
• Be disorganized
• Ask deep questions about a topic
• Spend hours on research and minutes on
  presentation
• Not care about the grade
• Challenge the rules

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How do I know if my child is gifted?

• Remember, only about 3-5 of the population are
  identified as gifted in any particular area.
• Keep in mind that children can be gifted in a
  variety of ways.
• Recognize that intellectually gifted children are
  not always high achievers.

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Consider the evidence

• How does your child seem to stand out or excel
  compared to others of their age?
• Look at a variety of data including standardized
  tests, district assessments and grades
• Examine your childs projects, essays and class
  work over time
• Consider special gifts and talents in the arts
• Observe your childs choices books they read,
  projects they select, activities
• Listen to the childs questions, ideas, requests,
  etc.

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Other thoughts

• Most importantly, keep in mind that whether
  technically gifted or not, ALL children have
  talents and abilities help your child to find
  their special gifts and nurture their talents and
  interests.

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How can I help my child?

• Check on class work and projects
• Ask probing questions and listen to answers
• Take trips to the library, museums and local
  festivals
• Attend concerts, plays and special events

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How can I learn more?

• Attend parent meetings and seminars
• Join the National Association for Gifted Children
  (www.nagc.org/)
• Join the California Associaton for the Gifted
  (www.CAGifted.org/)
• Read journals
• Attend conferences

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Even More Resources

• Gifted Child Quarterly (www.NAGC.org)
• Gifted Child Today (www.Prufrock.com)
• EPGY Educational Program for Gifted Youth
  (http//www-epgy.stanford.edu/)
• Center for Talented Youth
  at the Johns Hopkins
  University (http//www.jhu.edu/gifted/)
• The Gifted Child Society
• (http//www.Gifted.org/)

Resources for Parents