Teaching Gifted Students NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

Definition Giftedness: Refers to children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others their age, experience or environment. Giftedness: Refers to children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with others their age, experience or environment.

Overview Gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual, creative, musical and/or artistic areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity or excel in specific academic fields. Gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual, creative, musical and/or artistic areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity or excel in specific academic fields. They require services not ordinarily provided by schools They require services not ordinarily provided by schools

Prevalence It has been assumed in Federal reports and legislation that approximately 3-5% of the school population can be considered gifted or talented. It has been assumed in Federal reports and legislation that approximately 3-5% of the school population can be considered gifted or talented.

Prevalence Since each state establishes its own definition of giftedness, percentages of children identified as gifted and talented vary from state to state. Since each state establishes its own definition of giftedness, percentages of children identified as gifted and talented vary from state to state. In general, children are not identified and placed into gifted programs until at least the 3rd grade In general, children are not identified and placed into gifted programs until at least the 3rd grade

Overview: Bright Versus Gifted Students If you ask the teacher who the gifted kids are, they are likely to point out the ones that are bright. If you ask the teacher who the gifted kids are, they are likely to point out the ones that are bright. Bright kids are a normally a joy to teach. In general, they listen well, rarely question the teacher, work hard, and answer questions. They don't challenge the teacher's competence or stray off the curriculum. Bright kids are a normally a joy to teach. In general, they listen well, rarely question the teacher, work hard, and answer questions. They don't challenge the teacher's competence or stray off the curriculum.

Bright Versus Gifted Students The gifted student on the other hand may be spending almost all of the school day thinking or doing something other than what the teacher wants. The gifted student on the other hand may be spending almost all of the school day thinking or doing something other than what the teacher wants. Gifted students find the constant repetition so boring that they often don't shine in the classroom. You might find the gifted student day dreaming, looking out of the window, reading a book instead of listening. Gifted students find the constant repetition so boring that they often don't shine in the classroom. You might find the gifted student day dreaming, looking out of the window, reading a book instead of listening.

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student.... Knows the answer Knows the answer A Gifted student.... Asks the questions - sometimes deep probing questions of an abstract nature. Asks the questions - sometimes deep probing questions of an abstract nature.

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student.... Enjoys group projects A Gifted student.... Has a preference for individualized work Has a preference for individualized work

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student.... Is interested A Gifted student.... Is very curious

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student.... A Bright student.... Carries out school assignments and follows procedures very well Carries out school assignments and follows procedures very well A Gifted student.... A Gifted student.... Is very creative- Likes to play her own way Creativeness and inventiveness- “highest form of giftedness” Creativeness and inventiveness- “highest form of giftedness” Creativity is the production of new and original ideas Creativity is the production of new and original ideas

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student.... Answers the questions Answers the questions A Gifted student.... Discusses in detail, elaborates Discusses in detail, elaborates

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student.... A Bright student.... Is in the Top academic Group(s) in school Is in the Top academic Group(s) in school A Gifted student.... Is beyond the group

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Listens with interest Listens with interest A Gifted student.... Shows strong feelings and opinions

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Learns with ease Learns with ease A Gifted student.... Already knows Already knows

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student repetitions for mastery 6-8 repetitions for mastery A Gifted student repetitions for mastery 1-2 repetitions for mastery

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Enjoys peers Enjoys peers A Gifted student.... Prefers adults, older children or seeks out other very bright or gifted peers. Prefers adults, older children or seeks out other very bright or gifted peers.

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Completes assignments Completes assignments A Gifted student.... Initiates projects Initiates projects

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Copies accurately Copies accurately A Gifted student.... Creates a new design Creates a new design

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Enjoys school Enjoys school A Gifted student.... Enjoys learning - but may hate school. Enjoys learning - but may hate school.

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Good Memorizer Good Memorizer A Gifted student.... Outstanding Memorizer, often doing so without even trying Outstanding Memorizer, often doing so without even trying

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Is alert Is alert A Gifted student.... Is keenly observant - seems to remember fine details.

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Is pleased with own learning Is pleased with own learning A Gifted student.... Is highly self- critical - can be perfectionistic to the point of tantrums when young. Is highly self- critical - can be perfectionistic to the point of tantrums when young.

Bright Versus Gifted Students A Bright student... A Bright student... Enjoys straight- forward and/or sequential presentation Enjoys straight- forward and/or sequential presentation A Gifted student.... Thrives on complexity - needs the whole picture. Thrives on complexity - needs the whole picture.

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Quicken the pace of learning. Gifted students need their academic curriculum to move at a more rapid pace to keep them interested and motivated in school.-After a while will not distinguish work from play Quicken the pace of learning. Gifted students need their academic curriculum to move at a more rapid pace to keep them interested and motivated in school.-After a while will not distinguish work from play

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Broaden the range of experiences. Give the student more opportunities to expand his horizons. Broaden the range of experiences. Give the student more opportunities to expand his horizons.

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Give them challenging problems. Gifted students enjoy complex and challenging situations. They take great pride in being able to figure out complex and detailed types of problems. Give them challenging problems. Gifted students enjoy complex and challenging situations. They take great pride in being able to figure out complex and detailed types of problems.

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Create projects that involve more creative thought. One of the qualities of gifted students is that they tend to be very creative. Create projects that involve more creative thought. One of the qualities of gifted students is that they tend to be very creative.

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Challenge them with questions where there is no correct answer. One of the beauties of working with gifted students is that they enjoy trying to solve problems for which there are no solutions i.e. If you were on a boat with your family and could only save one of them, whom would you save. Challenge them with questions where there is no correct answer. One of the beauties of working with gifted students is that they enjoy trying to solve problems for which there are no solutions i.e. If you were on a boat with your family and could only save one of them, whom would you save.

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Allow the student to pursue individual projects that require sophisticated levels of thinking. Gifted students enjoy working on their own and should be encouraged to do so. Do not make the assignments easy either-Challenge them and try to avoid giving away answers. Allow the student to pursue individual projects that require sophisticated levels of thinking. Gifted students enjoy working on their own and should be encouraged to do so. Do not make the assignments easy either-Challenge them and try to avoid giving away answers.

Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students Teach them how to play chess. Chess requires great skill, concentration, and strategic planning. This is an ideal game for gifted students to learn how to play. Teach them how to play chess. Chess requires great skill, concentration, and strategic planning. This is an ideal game for gifted students to learn how to play.