Giftedness is often defined as an intellectual ability linked to an IQ score of 130 or over. However, not all gifted children excel in an academic area. Some may display high creative, artistic, musical and/or leadership abilities relative to their peers. Show
Giftedness can be focused in one skill, or it may be more general. It's also important for parents and educators to understand that it can sometimes come with specific learning differences that impact on performance at school. In these situations it's important to help a child develop their talents while also overcoming any challenges posed by the SpLDs. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the child to attend a special program or a school specifically for gifted children, so they have ample opportunities for advancement in a classroom environment that is sensitive to their needs and provides adequate stimulation. With access to the right resources and emotional and academic support, every gifted child can achieve their full potential at school. There are a number of ways to determine giftedness and often a combination of ability and achievement tests are used, including observation and/or a review of the student’s portfolio of work. A child’s activities both in and outside of school may be considered, along with cognitive abilities, creativity, and affective and behavioural habits. It’s important that any tests that are used to assess giftedness be exams that don’t limit the amount of knowledge a student can demonstrate. In some areas, such as Math, specific tests have been developed to look for giftedness. IQ tests can be a first step, including the Woodcock Johnson, Wescher Intelligence Scale for Children or Stanford Binet (L-M). While an average intelligence score is 90-110, gifted kids will typically score well above this. Giftedness may also be somewhat hereditary and a child may score within 10 points of a sibling or parent. The earlier giftedness is identified, the sooner exceptional talents can be nurtured. Nonetheless, it is often recommended that parents wait until kids are 5/6 before they undergo formal assessment and enter into a gifted education program. That’s because outside of providing continual stimulation and opportunities for learning, there aren’t many nursery or pre-school programs especially for gifted babies and toddlers. Also keep in mind that when giftedness has been recognized, not all schools have the resources to provide stretching challenges to extremely bright children, which can lead to boredom and underperformance. It might thus be appropriate to look into hiring a private tutor who can help your child excel. Recognizing a gifted childGiftedness follows a child into adulthood and every individual with giftedness is unique. While no two students will excel in exactly the same way, there are some traits and behaviours parents and teachers commonly observe when a child is gifted:
What is gifted education?The need for gifted and talented education was first recognized in the late nineteenth century shortly after the development of intelligence testing. The first gifted school was opened in Worcester, Massachusetts in the early 1900s and today gifted classes, programs and schools exist across the United States. While most schools require students to be in the top 97% percentile of their same age peers to be considered for gifted and talented services, the definition of gifted varies by state and district. Students are typically nominated for screening, tested to determine the extent and areas of their giftedness and then placed in an appropriate program. It’s crucial to note that not all children’s giftedness will show up on an IQ test and the National Association of Gifted Children reports that EAL/ESL kids who are studying in their second language may be an underrepresented group among gifted children programs, along with minorities and kids from low-income families. Gifted children and learning difficultiesThere are also cases in which gifted children stand out because of poor academic achievement. This is often surprising for parents to learn as many people assume that giftedness is always associated with high performance. Yet it is possible for a learning disability to overshadow giftedness. This is especially true when a child has ADD/ADHD or dyslexia. There can be giftedness in one subject, such as Math, but a learning disability that affects performance in other areas of the curriculum. Lastly, it can be the case that kids who are gifted become easily bored when they don’t find schoolwork challenging and are misdiagnosed as having ADD/ADHD because they stop paying attention in class. Learn more about ADD and ADHD in these posts. Helping the “twice exceptional” childChildren with learning difficulties and giftedness may benefit from programs that help them focus and stay on task, while developing vocabulary and literacy skills at the same time. Touch-type Read and Spell is a touch-typing program that uses a phonics based approach to reinforce reading and spelling skills and teach typing and English vocabulary to children and adults, including those with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, ADD and ADHD. As an illustrative example, extremely bright dyslexic children may be articulate, but struggle to write in a way that reflects the extent of their knowledge or vocabulary. They may choose the simplest and shortest way to express themselves in writing because they are overwhelmed with the number of directions their composition can take. They may also struggle with handwriting, which involves a range of skills such as being confident with the directionality of letters, and having the muscle coordination and skills needed to hold the pen and produce work which is legible to themselves and others. Learning to type can make it much easier for these kids to get words onto a page. For gifted children who struggle with dyslexia, it also facilitates spelling which is stored as muscle memory in the hands. Learn more about keyboarding and dyslexia and improving writing skills. Motivation and encouragementThe TTRS program helps to build a learner’s confidence through step-by-step learning and can facilitate computer skills which are important for gifted children who can use the Internet as a tool for exploring ideas in greater depth. Learn more It’s key to remember that giftedness is often first noticed when children enter school. A child may easily progress a grade or two beyond their level, particularly in a specific subject area, but still remain at the same social and emotional developmental level as their peers. While a child may be confident and independently motivated, he or she still requires plenty of encouragement and understanding from teachers and peers who “get them.” If you don’t send your child to a school for gifted children, it is still possible to find online support groups, including forums that allow both children and parents to develop friendships and exchange ideas. Learn more about motivating children to learn and encouraging exceptional students. Which constitutional amendment is at the heart of the controversies?Despite its exalted status, the First Amendment has always been the subject of controversy in practice.
Which of the following are the largest textbook adoption states?A recent White House report states that the textbook market is valued at about $7-8 billion, with California, Florida, and Texas being the key adoption states.
Which of the following is a characteristic of charter schools?However, charter schools generally share three characteristics: They are public schools - free to attend, publicly funded, part of the state school system, and accountable to public bodies for their results. They are schools of choice, so they do not enroll students solely based on where they live.
Which of the following is a characteristic most often associated with gifted students?Early and rapid learning - One of the most common characteristics of gifted students is their ability to learn things early and rapidly.
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