By: Robbie McKerr and Adam Hall

Split into pairs with some one from another content area.Explain to each other what you believe gifted and talented means. Once you have each made a definition, explain to your partner what a gifted and talented student may look like /behave in your specific content area.

Gifted- having great special talent or ability

Talented-having talent or special ability; gifted

Three-trait definition, including above –average ability, task commitment, and creativity (Renzulli, 1978)Especially high aptitude, potential, or ability (Feldhusen & Moon, 1995)Synthetic, analytic, and practical intelligence (Sternberg, 2005)Multiple intelligences (Gardner 2006)Many states define gifted and talented differentlyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU9dQt_SSNI&feature=related

Due to the multiple definitions of gifted and talented, there is little consensus on the actual number of gifted and talented youth.◦ Some reports indicate that 3-5% of the population

is gifted and talented.◦ Others believe that there are many more gifted and

talented◦ Some states identify 3% of students, and others

identify more than 10% of their students as gifted and talented

Students that are intellectually gifted have scored very high on standardized tests and usually excel in school◦ Typically very skilled with language

and have outstanding memories◦ Tend to have exceptional critical

thinking and problem-solving abilities and insatiable curiosities

Creatively gifted and talented youth often excel in the visual or performing arts.◦ Typically excel in a certain area12 Categories of creative individuals are:◦ Original, Independent, Risk taking, Aware of

creativeness, Energetic, Curious, Sense of humor, Attracted to complexity, Artistic, Open-minded, Need for time alone, Intuitive

Many students who are gifted and talented remain unidentified.This is due to a number of factors◦ They might be underachievers and their scores

drop.◦ Intelligence tests and standardized tests may under

identify some students due to cultural or linguistic diversity◦ Girls who may be gifted and talented may be under

identified, although precise reasons for this are unknown.◦ If a student has a disability in another area.

Nomination Methods◦ Distributing nominations forms to teachers and parents◦ Some schools include peers and students in the

nomination process as wellStandardized Test Scores◦ This approach includes the use of intelligence and

achievement test scores◦ Test scores are seldom the only criteria consideredMultiple Measures/Multiple Criteria◦ Include aspects of nomination methods and

standardized tests◦ May also include family histories, student work samples,

and discussions of all evidence by a gifted and talented screening committee

Acceleration refers to moving students through the curriculum at a faster pace than general education students.Can be in a variety of forms◦ Admitting a child to school early◦ Skipping grades◦ Providing level-appropriate curriculum◦ Testing out of classesAcceleration is controversial◦ Some argue students need acceleration programs to

maintain interest in school and to be challenged◦ Others claim that acceleration harms the social-

emotional development of gifted students.

Enrichment occurs when there is an expansion upon the existing curriculum.◦ Students are allowed and encouraged to study

topics in depth, beyond the general education class.Goals for enrichment programs are…◦ To allow opportunities for critical thinking◦ Allow students to use problem solving skills

through in depth analysis◦ Be more specific with content area

Students who are gifted and talented may require less intensive or explicit instruction on new content◦ This allows more time for either acceleration or

enrichment activities◦ The gifted and talented may also be able to help

their peers better understand new content

The state of Indiana has changed terminology from “gifted and talented” to “high ability”◦ Does not give an explanation for why it was

changedLocal school corporations are required to establish a program for high ability students.◦ Currently, about 243 of the 323 schools

corporations reported expenditures on gifted and talented programs.

Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year each school is required to designate a coordinator for high ability services a teacher who either holds a license with a gifted and talented endorsement or has completed at least three hours of work on the endorsement.◦ Teachers must be endorsed by the 2013-2014

school year.

In your own opinion, do you think it would be better to have a classroom full of students who are gifted and talented? Why or why not? How could you tell a student was gifted or talented in your classroom, what would it look like?What adaptations could you make for gifted and talented students in your content area? Indiana has changed the title of gifted and talented to “high ability.” Why do you think they have changed the title and do you think it is a good change or a bad change?

Mastropieri, Margo A., and Thomas E. Scruggs. The Inclusive Classroom. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. Print.This textbook provides a variety of information on gifted and talented students. It begins with information about the different definitions and characteristics of gifted, creative, and talented students. It explains how there is a wide range and not a uniform way of defining students that are gifted and talented. It helps define three different kinds of giftedness; intellectually gifted, creative and talented, and hidden gifted, creative, and talented. It explains issues with identifying gifted and talented students and how that can be difficult. It explains how to implement strategies for making adaptations for the gifted and talented students as well.

OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS. "FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT." Http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/PDF/FISCAL/SB0408.001.pdf. State of Indiana, 7 Jan. 2008. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. This is a government website that goes into detail about Indiana and how it has new standards for state schools regarding their high ability programs. Every school district must have a department for the gifted and talented students to participate in. The website also gives dates and expectations of teachers who will be heading the gifted and talented departments at the school and how they should be endorsed.

"YouTube - Dr. Linda Karges-Bone about gifted children." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 20 Oct. 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU9dQt_SSNI&feature=related>.This Youtube video is about a doctor who has come up with a way for people to remember characteristics of a person who is gifted. She creates an acronym using the word GIFTED.