What is Giftedness?

What is Giftedness?

Children are gifted when their ability is significantly above the norm for their age. Giftedness may manifest in one or more domains such as intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership, or in a specific academic field such as language arts, mathematics or science. NAGC, 2019

Bright Student Versus Gifted and Talented Student

A bright child

A gifted child

Knows the answer

Asks questions 

Is interested

Is highly curious

Is attentive

Is mentally and physically involved

Has good ideas

Has wild, silly ideas

Works hard

Plays around, tests well

Answers the questions

Discusses in detail; elaborates

Is in the top group

Beyond the group

Listens with interest

Shows strong feelings and opinions

Learns with ease

Already knows

6-8 repetitions for mastery

1-2 repetitions for mastery

Understands ideas

Constructs abstractions

Enjoys peers

Prefers adults

Grasps the meaning

Draws inferences

Complete assignments

Initiates projects

Is receptive

Is intense

Copies accurately

Creates new designs

Enjoys school

Enjoys learning

Is a technician

Is an inventor

Absorbs information

Manipulates information

Good memorizer

Good guesser

Enjoys straightforward, sequential presentation                   

Thrives on complexity

Is alert

Is keenly observant

Is pleased with own learning

Is highly self-critical

From “The Gifted and Talented Child” by Janice Szabos, Maryland Council for Gifted and Talented, Inc.