Gifted And Talented Students
By: Ashley Stinson
Definition and Description
- "Gifted and talented" is a term used to describe children with outstanding abilities that surpasses those of their regular peers. Because of these outstanding abilities, these gifted and talented children are capable of high performance and achievement . Some of these outstanding abilities can be, but not limited to , academic, intellectual , artistic, linguistic, or musical related.
- Five areas to consider when identifying giftedness and talents:
- Intellectual ability
- Academic aptitude
- Creativity/ Productive Thinking
- Leadership Ability
- Visual and Performing Arts Talents
Prevalence
- In the United States, 3.2 million students currently identify as gifted or talented in American elementary and secondary schools
- National average : 6.7%
- Maryland : 16.1 %
Common Characteristics include, but are not limited to:
Intellectual /Academic Characteristics- abstract reasoning
- learning quickly
- showing intellectual curiosity
- having exceptional memory
- generalizing learning
- strong verbal skills
- exhibiting individualism
- being highly sensitive to others and self
- having strength of character
- having different modes of expression
- being able to empathize
- experiencing great stress from failure
- criticizes self
Challenges Gifted and Talented Students Face in the Classroom
- perfectionism
- peer relationship issues
- emotional sensitivity
- various social/emotional issues
- learning disabilities that have not been diagnosed
- curriculum not challenging or engaging
Instructional Practices
1. Independent projects - to help foster creativity in the classroom
2. Academic competition- to help challenge the students academically
3. Find a mentor - the mentor will work with the student and help the student reach his/her highest potential
4. Vertical enrichment-assignments meant to further challenges gifted and talented students by helping them further develop their thinking and problem solving skills.
5. Differentiated Learning- incorporate new methods of teaching to help students stat engaged
6. Acceleration- reduce time spend on lecturing, allow for more time for independent study/projects
Data-Based Instructional Strategies and Accomodations
Challenging Gifted Students in the Regular Classroom
Differentiating Learning for Gifted Students
Home - Based Strategies
2. Avoid activity "overload" - gifted children may excel at many things, but if they are involved in too many activities, they can become overwhelmed and may start to perform poorly
3. Address issues gifted and talented child may be facing- gifted and talented students are highly sensitive to self and often feel inadequate. It is important that parents pay attention to and are in tune with their child's feelings. It is essential that parents let their children know that they should proudly embrace their abilities .
Considerations and Strategies for Parenting the Gifted Child
Planning for Summer
National Association for Gifted Children
National Society for the Gifted and Talented
References
Definitions of Giftedness. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/definitions-giftedness
Gifted-friendly parenting strategies. (2006). Retrieved May 4, 2015, from http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10284.aspx
Smith, D., & Tyler, N. (2014). Gifted and Talented. In Introduction to contemporary special education: New horizons (pp. 398-399, 403, 406, 412). Boston: Pearson Education.
Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://www.teachersfirst.com/gifted_strategies.cfm
Underachievement. (2015). Retrieved May 3, 2015, from http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/achievement-keeping-your-child-challenged/underachievement
Email: astins2@students.towson.edu
Website: towson.edu
Location: 8000 York Road, Towson, MD, United States
Phone: (202)230-1999