This document discusses understanding giftedness and identifying gifted students. It begins by outlining the goals of understanding unique gifted behaviors, providing resources for talent development, and identifying students using a 6-step strategy. It then provides examples of matching personality descriptions with famous individuals. The rest of the document discusses defining giftedness, characteristics of gifted individuals such as asynchronous development and underachievement, looking for advanced abilities, and differentiating gifted learners from high achievers. It aims to help understand giftedness in context and identify gifted students.

1. Understanding the World of Academically & Intellectually GiftedAngela Housand, Ph.D.housanda@uncw.eduChicago Public Schools 2010

2. http://angelahousand.com

3. AND

4. Understand the unique behaviors that characterize giftednessSpecific resources and examples for your use and adaptationAn easy to follow 6-step strategy for identifying students for talent developmentWhy This Session?

5. Your Mission…Match the personality descriptions with the names posted on the wall around the room.Your Mission…

6. This person was told by an editor that she could never write anything that had popular appeal.

7. PLouisa May Alcottwas told by an editor that she would never write anything popular. Little Womenis considered one of the the best American children’s books of the past 200 years.

8. This person had a stormy and emotionally traumatic childhood. She was considered an odd-ball by many of her playmates. Even her family provided her with very little encouragement and support. For many years she lived in fantasy as the mistress of her alcoholic father’s household.

9. Eleanor Roosevelt

10. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.-Eleanor Roosevelt

11. This person was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read: He was considered dull by both his parents and his teachers.

12. Albert EinsteinAbove average intelligence(Cox, 1926; Reis, 1995; Walberg et. al., 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005)Image: http://streams.gandhiserve.org/images/einstein.jpg

13. PThis man was fired by a newspaper editor because he didn’t have enough good ideas.

14. PWalt DisneyThis man was fired by a newspaper editor because he didn’t have enough good ideas.

15. As a child this person was hyperactive, had a speech defect, was prone to constant colds, had poor peer relationships, and frequently failed in school. It took him three years to complete the first grade. His father soon decided the boy needed more discipline and suggested military school. Before being admitted, however, he failed the entrance examination three times. A teacher once called him the naughtiest small boy in England.

16. WinstonChurchill Superior capacity for communication Well-rounded Broad interests(Reis, 1995, 1998, 2005; Van-Tassel Baska 1989; Walberg et. al., 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005) Image: http://worldroots.com/brigitte/gifs/churchill.jpg

17. DefinitionThere is no universally accepted definition for gifted, talented, or giftedness

18. Article 14A. Sec 10.The General Assembly finds the following: (1) that gifted and talented children(i) exhibit high performance capabilities in intellectual, creative, and artistic areas, (ii) possess an exceptional leadership potential, (iii) excel in specific academic fields, and (iv) have the potential to be influential in business, government, health care, the arts, and other critical sectors of our economic and cultural environment;(2) that gifted and talented children require services and activities that are not ordinarily provided by schools; and (3) that outstanding talents are present in children and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

19. Article 14A. Sec 20. “Gifted and talented children” means children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with other children and youth of their age, experience, and environment. A child shall be considered gifted and talented in any area of aptitude, and, specifically, in language arts and mathematics, by scoring in the top 5% locally in that area of aptitude.(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

20. Giftedness in Context

21. Why discuss giftedness in context?No Universal Definition of GiftednessNC State Board of Education alignment of program delivery with student identificationStudent Success

24. What gifted program services does your school offer?

25. 3 Ring Conception of Giftedness

27. Characteristic of EminentAdults Ability to focus for long periods of time(Reis, 1995, 1998, 2005; Renzulli, 1978, 1986; Sternberg & Lubart 1993; Van-Tassel Baska 1989; Walberg et. al. 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005)Image: http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll160/contents/inventors/gordongould.htm

29. Characteristic of Eminent AdultsAboveAverageAbility(Cox, 1926; Reis, 1995; Walberg et. al., 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005)Image: http://streams.gandhiserve.org/images/einstein.jpg

30. Characteristic of Eminent AdultsMotivated(Reis, 1995; Walberg et. al. 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005)

31. Characteristics: SeeingUnusual alertnessJoy in learningKeen observationSees “Big Picture”Makes connectionsIntense focusCurious

32. Characteristics: SpeedEarly and rapid learningRapid language developmentMetacognitively efficient

33. Superior ≠

34. Superior =

35. Characteristics: DifferencesSuperior languageVerbal fluencyLarge vocabularySuperior analytical and reasoning abilityHigh-capacity memoryGoes beyond what is soughtAbstract, complex, and insightful thinking

36. Characteristics

37. CharacteristicsBehaviors

38. Gifted ArtistTalented MathematicianUse “defining” terms as adjectives:Talented MusicianGifted Writer

39. TICUCAPGifted Behaviors NOT Gifted People!

40. School House GiftednessCreative Giftedness

41. Teacher PleaserEvil Genius

42. Creatively GiftedIndependentHigh energyCuriousSense of humorOpen-mindedNeed for privacy and alone time

43. Characteristic ofEminent Adults Creative Imaginative Innovative A Sense of Destiny

44. Creatively GiftedAware of their own creativenessOriginality in thought and actionAttracted to complexity and noveltyArtistic tendenciesWilling to take risksPerceptive

45. And the not so good…ImpulsiveEgotisticalArgumentativeRebelliousUncooperativeStubbornChildishAbsentmindedNeuroticTemperamentalCapriciousCarelessDisorganizedDemandingIndifferent to Conventions

46. Characteristics: NegativeUneven mental developmentInterpersonal difficultiesUnderachievement

47. Asynchronous DevelopmentUneven intellectual, physical, and emotional development.

48. Asynchronous DevelopmentCognitively understand advanced concepts (like mortality) but lack emotional maturity to cope with knowledgePerceived as older due to cognitive ability, but lack behavioral maturity

49. Underachievers: PersonalityLow self-esteem or Low self-efficacyFeelings of PessimismAnxious, impulsive, or inattentiveAggressive, hostileDepressedSocially immature

50. Internal MediatorsFear of failureFear of successNegative attitude toward schoolAntisocial, rebelliousSelf-critical or perfectionistic

51. Maladaptive StrategiesLack goal-directed behaviorPoor coping skillsPoor self-regulationDefense mechanisms

52. Not all bad…Demonstrate honesty and integrity when rejecting inappropriate school work

53. Intense outside interests

54. CreativeWhat about these characteristics?Inability to master certain academic skillsLack of motivationDisruptive classroom behaviorFailure to complete assignmentsLack of organizational skillsPoor listening and concentration skillsUnrealistic self-expectations

55. Twice-ExceptionalGifted with Learning DisabilityMay also demonstrateLearned helplessnessPerfectionismSupersensitivityLow self-esteemBehaviors may hamper identification

56. Look For:Advanced vocabulary useExceptional analytic abilitiesHigh levels of creativityAdvanced problem-solving skillsDivergent thinkingSpecific aptitudeGood memorySpatial abilities

57. Under-Identified PopulationsAfrican-AmericanLatino / LatinaHispanicNative American

58. What differentiates gifted learners from high achievers?

59. BrightKnows the Answers Asks the QuestionsGifted

60. BrightIs Attentive Is Intellectually EngagedGifted

61. BrightHas Good Ideas Has Original IdeasGifted

62. BrightAbsorbs Information Manipulates InformationGifted

63. BrightTop Student Beyond Her Age PeersGifted

64. BrightRepeats 6-8 Times for Mastery Repeats 1-2 Times for MasteryGifted

65. BrightUnderstands Ideas Constructs AbstractionsGifted

66. BrightGrasps the Meaning Draws InferencesGifted

67. BrightIs a Technician Is an InventorGifted

68. Thank You!