How is giftedness defined?
There is no universally accepted definition of giftedness and this concept can vary by culture and context. According to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), gifted children are “…those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports).” 1
Similarly, New Jersey State Department of Education defines “Gifted and talented students” as follows:
“…those students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability, in one or more content areas, when compared to their chronological peers in the local school district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities.” 2
What are some of the signs that my child might be gifted? 3
-Children who are gifted may demonstrate differences in language, learning, and emotionality. Some of the behaviors to look for include:
How do I find out if my child is gifted?
-According to the NAGC, “Best practices indicate that multiple measures and valid indicators from multiple sources must be used to assess and serve gifted students…Children should be screened using qualitative as well as quantitative measures. These include but are not limited to: student products/performance, teacher checklists, parent/student nomination, achievement/performance tests, and ability/intelligence tests.”
-Tests can provide detailed information about the child's learning needs to parents and teachers, including gifted identification for educational planning and gifted program participation. Tests can also offer information for early intervention of learning differences, and to facilitate an appropriate education.
- Identifying giftedness can be tricky, particularly regarding those who test right around that "magic" cutoff point of 130 or so. And IQ tests are certainly imperfect instruments and only one piece of the puzzle. Your insight and instincts, along with those of your child's teachers, in addition to a good psychological evaluation, can often be the most important pieces needed to truly understand your child's unique gifts and potential.
If my child is gifted what should I do with that information?
In my practice I conduct evaluations to assist in determining whether a child meets the criteria for giftedness. Also, consultation is available to discuss programs and options to help your child best meet his or her true potential.
References:
1 www.nagc.org
2 http://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/title6a/chap8.pdf
3 www.psychologytoday.com
There is no universally accepted definition of giftedness and this concept can vary by culture and context. According to the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), gifted children are “…those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports).” 1
Similarly, New Jersey State Department of Education defines “Gifted and talented students” as follows:
“…those students who possess or demonstrate high levels of ability, in one or more content areas, when compared to their chronological peers in the local school district and who require modifications of their educational program if they are to achieve in accordance with their capabilities.” 2
What are some of the signs that my child might be gifted? 3
-Children who are gifted may demonstrate differences in language, learning, and emotionality. Some of the behaviors to look for include:
- A highly developed vocabulary and the ability to learn new words easily.
- The tendency to speak quickly.
- The early use of longer, more complex sentences while using appropriate grammar.
- Early reading, if given some instruction and opportunity. Many gifted children have already learned how to read before entering school.
- The ability to learn quickly and efficiently - to pick up ideas and skills effortlessly.
- A tendency to become highly focused on certain areas of interest (e.g., bugs, space, animals) and independently seek out information on these topics.
- The ability to ask questions that show advanced insight or understanding.
- A deep fund of knowledge - they know more about the world around them than you would expect.
- Excellent memory and easy recall of what they previously heard, saw, or learned.
- A high activity level. Gifted children can appear to have an endless source of energy - constantly moving, talking, asking and exploring.
- The tendency to think and talk fast. Because they may be trying to speak as quickly as they think, gifted children are often asked to "slow down" so the listener can understand them. They can also become frustrated when they feel that others are talking too slowly, or taking too long to "get to the point."
- Ability to relate to older kids and adults. Because their cognitive skills and interests can be advanced for their years, gifted kids have an easier time connecting with and learning from those older than themselves
How do I find out if my child is gifted?
-According to the NAGC, “Best practices indicate that multiple measures and valid indicators from multiple sources must be used to assess and serve gifted students…Children should be screened using qualitative as well as quantitative measures. These include but are not limited to: student products/performance, teacher checklists, parent/student nomination, achievement/performance tests, and ability/intelligence tests.”
-Tests can provide detailed information about the child's learning needs to parents and teachers, including gifted identification for educational planning and gifted program participation. Tests can also offer information for early intervention of learning differences, and to facilitate an appropriate education.
- Identifying giftedness can be tricky, particularly regarding those who test right around that "magic" cutoff point of 130 or so. And IQ tests are certainly imperfect instruments and only one piece of the puzzle. Your insight and instincts, along with those of your child's teachers, in addition to a good psychological evaluation, can often be the most important pieces needed to truly understand your child's unique gifts and potential.
If my child is gifted what should I do with that information?
In my practice I conduct evaluations to assist in determining whether a child meets the criteria for giftedness. Also, consultation is available to discuss programs and options to help your child best meet his or her true potential.
References:
1 www.nagc.org
2 http://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/title6a/chap8.pdf
3 www.psychologytoday.com
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