Characteristics and Traits of Gifted ChildrenGifted children often stand out. Whether you are a parent, an educator, or a student, you are likely here because you have noticed something different about a student or about yourself if you are that student in question. Those without a background in gifted education may feel that gifted children stand out because of their good grades or high achievements. However, many of us who work with gifted children know that they are different for other reasons like their quirky sense of humor, their intense questioning, or their refusal to sit still in the classroom and repeat math facts when they would much rather be discussing the nature of infinity. Looking for gifted traits in children can provide information for parents, educators, and students themselves to decide whether they want to pursue intelligence testing, acceleration, or simply have a better understanding of who these children are. Show
What is Giftedness?At its core, giftedness is a brain-based difference that contributes to our vibrant and neurodiverse world. This neurological difference means that profoundly gifted students experience a different intellectual, academic, and social-emotional development trajectory than neurotypical individuals. These differences are detailed in “The Neuroscience of Giftedness,” a series of articles from GRO, the Gifted Research and Outreach organization. To quote a beloved leader in gifted education, Dr. Jim Delisle, “Giftedness is an innate ability to both detect and comprehend the world in complex ways that differ significantly from age-expected norms.” (Understanding Your Gifted Child from the Inside Out, p8). Importantly, Delisle makes the distinction that giftedness is not always apparent just from looking at a student’s achievements. This is often a source of tension when advocating for the highly gifted child who may appear average, or even below average, in school. Parents and educational professionals often hear the same myths about gifted students and must take the extra step to educate themselves on giftedness in order to better serve the needs of this population. Like most people, highly capable students are unique individuals with varied and multifaceted talents and interests. Some demonstrate mastery in multiple areas while others excel in a single subject. Gifted identification often relies on a mix of gifted testing and more qualitative observations of gifted characteristics and behaviors. Common Characteristics of Gifted Children:
The National Association for Gifted Children lists additional traits of giftedness that parents may find useful. Of course, each gifted student is unique, and they may present with a mix of these traits or only two very intensely or perhaps you find that none of them at all fit. What are Traits of Profoundly Gifted Children?Profoundly gifted individuals score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ and achievement tests and have an exceptionally high level of intellectual prowess. Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:
Oftentimes profoundly intelligent young people are not properly identified and, thus, do not receive an appropriately challenging education. Research shows this can lead to underachievement or even dropping out of school – studies indicate that 40 percent of all gifted students may be underachievers (Handbook of Gifted Education, p. 424). The Davidson Institute exists to help these young, bright children gain recognition in the national conversation around giftedness and works directly with families to help them reach their potential. Learn More about Giftedness:
Which of the following descriptions best fits that of an intellectually gifted student?Which of the following best describes a cognitive characteristic of intellectually gifted students? They have the ability to generate original ideas. Gifted students often possess an intense desire to learn about their own interests.
Which of the following best describes Piaget's cognitive stage in which children are able to debate social matters and other abstract ideas?Which of the following best describes Piaget's cognitive stage in which children are able to debate social matters and other abstract ideas? - the ability to think about abstract concepts and debate social matters emerges during the formal operational stage of cognitive development.
Which of the following is most appropriate for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a student who is new to the school district?Which of the following is most appropriate for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a student who is new to the school district? Option (A) is correct. A diagnostic test is used by a teacher to assess a student's skills and knowledge levels to determine areas of strength and weakness.
Which of the following best identifies an observable and measurable instructional objective for a unit of study on poetry?Which of the following best identifies an observable and measurable instructional objective for a unit of study on poetry? Students will compare and contrast haikus and cinquain poems using a Venn diagram.
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