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Gifted and Talented Defined

“Gifted and Talented” means any child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who excels in a specific academic field.

Characteristics of Gifted Children 

The following characteristics are common but not universal:

  • Shows superior abilities to reason, generalize or problem solve.
  • Shows persistent intellectual curiosity.
  • Has a wide range of interests; develops one or more interests to considerable depth.
  • Produces superior written work or has a large vocabulary.
  • Reads avidly.
  • Learns quickly and retains what is learned.
  • Grasps mathematical or scientific concepts readily.
  • Shows creative ability or imaginative expression in the arts.
  • Sustains concentration for lengthy periods on topics or activities of interest.
  • Sets high standards for self.
  • Shows initiative, originality, or flexibility in thinking; considers problems from a number of viewpoints.
  • Observes keenly and is responsive to new ideas.
  • Shows social poise or an ability to communicate with adults in a mature way.
  • Enjoys intellectual challenge; shows an alert and subtle sense of humor.

These characteristics can lead to conflicts in the regular classroom, as the gifted child may:

  • Get bored with routine tasks.
  • Resist changing away from interesting topics or activities.
  • Be overly critical of self and others, impatient with failure, perfectionistic.
  • Disagree vocally with others, argue with teachers.
  • Make jokes or puns at times adults consider inappropriate.
  • Be so emotionally sensitive and empathetic that adults consider it over-reaction, may get angry, or cry when things go wrong or seem unfair.
  • Ignore details, turn in messy work.
  • Reject authority, be non-conforming, stubborn.
  • Dominate or withdraw in cooperative learning situations.
  • Be highly sensitive to environmental stimuli such as lights or noises.