Transcript
Page 1: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

What is Gifted? 

Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Page 2: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Who Are The Gifted?

Page 3: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Pennsylvania Code Chapter 16Definition of “mentally gifted”

Outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.

This term includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher and when multiple criteria as set forth in Department Guidelines indicate gifted ability. Determination of gifted ability will not be based on IQ score alone. A person with an IQ score lower than 130 may be admitted to gifted programs when other education criteria strongly indicate gifted ability.

Page 4: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

To him…A touch is a blow,A sound is a noise,

A misfortune is a tragedy,A joy is an ecstasy,A friend is a lover,A lover is a god,

And failure is death.

“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this:

A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive.

Page 5: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create - so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, he must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating.” - Pearl Buck

Page 6: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Intense + Sensitive = Gifted Gifted individuals

exhibit greater intensity and increased levels of emotional, imaginational, intellectual, sensual, and psychomotor excitability, and this is a normal pattern of development.

Linda Silverman, founder and director of the Gifted Development Center in Denver, CO, and expert on the visual-spatial gifted learner.

Do you have a passion for justice?

Are you a perfectionist?

Are you highly sensitive?

Do you take on more responsibilities than anyone you know?

Do you have gifted friends and relatives?

Do you have a great sense of humor?

Are you perceptive - seeing through the image to the reality?

Are you intuitive?

Has your honesty gotten you into trouble?

Do people often seek your advice on their personal problems?

Page 7: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Intense level of inner turmoil =Positive disintegration

For the gifted, inner conflict is a developmental rather than a degenerative sign, because it drives the gifted person forward to replace current ways of thinking and being with those of higher level development.

This type of positive disintegration is characterized by an intensified inner tension between what one is and what one could be. This dynamic tension is what fuels the creative person’s complex inner life and provides the impetus for growth and development.

Page 8: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Intellectual and Personality Characteristics

Exceptional reasoning ability Intellectual curiosity Rapid learning rate Advanced cognitive

development in one or more academic areas

Complex thinking Divergent thinking Keen sense of justice Capacity for reflection Early language or reading

development

Insightfulness Intensity Nonconformity Highly sensitive Highly self-critical Questioning of authority,

system Perfectionist Tendency toward

introversion Need for precision/logic Developed sense of humor Asynchronous development

Page 9: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

May be frustrated by the apparent absence of logic in activities and daily events.

Page 10: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Positive and Negative Characteristics of Creativity

Positive Characteristics

Aware of their own creativeness

Independent

Energetic

Keen sense of humor

Stubbornness

Original

Willing to take risks

Curious

Attracted to complexity and novelty

Open-minded

Perceptive

Negative Characteristics

Questioning of rules and authority

Indifference to common conventions

Low interest in details

Forgetfulness

Carelessness and disorganization with important matters

Tendency to be emotional

Absentmindedness

Rebelliousness

Page 11: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Creatively Gifted Students (con’t)

In summary, some creatively gifted and talented children may exhibit different characteristics than some academically gifted and talented children. Those with high academic abilities have the potential to develop creative gifts and talents, yet many creatively gifted students do not necessarily display high academic performance in school.*The “negative” traits tend to upset the parents, the educators, and some of the peers, of creative children, since they may lead to behaviors considered inappropriate in some traditional classrooms.

Page 12: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Perfectionism Believes he is valued for

what he can do rather than who he is.

Has been praised consistently for his “greatness and exceptional ability.”

Fears he will lose the regard of others if he loses that exceptionality.

May cry easily that his work at school can never be perfect.

Discovers a mistake in his work; erases until there is a hole in the paper or crumples up paper and throws it away.

Asks for much help and reassurance from the teacher. (“Is this all right? Is this what you want? Please repeat the directions.”)

Cannot take any criticism or suggestions for improvement without being defensive.

Expects other people to be perfect, too.

Resists challenging work for fear his struggle will be seen by others. (“If they see me struggle, they will know I’m not so smart.”)

Procrastinates to the point that work never even gets started.

Page 13: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myers & Briggs Personality Type Indicator

Academically talented youth seem to be more introverted than the regular population.

While 75 percent of all people prefer the “E” extroversion dimension, more intellectual, creative youth prefer the “I” dimension.

The three preferences that appear to contribute most to scholastic success are I, N, and J.

The predominant type preference for academically talented students is NF (intuition, feeling).

Page 14: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Introversion The tendency to direct one’s

thoughts and interests inward. Only 25 percent of the general

population are Introverts, but most gifted individuals are Introverts.

Introverts get their energy from themselves and are drained by people.

Are happy to be alone. Need time alone to process

information and to recharge.

See reflection as very important.

Concentrate well and deeply.

Communicate best one-on-one.

Often, school is not a positive experience for introverts.

Where can these students find time alone or at least with only a few others sometime during the regular day?

Page 15: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Underachieving gifted students Some have not learned to work. Poor self-regulation skills, low self-confidence, or low self-

efficacy May suffer from either obvious or hidden disabilities Inappropriate educational conditions. Excessive absences from school, disruptive behavior, family

problems, and/or poverty Inappropriate curriculum and content - old and/or

unchallenging curriculum; assignment of routine tasks mastered long ago; low levels of classroom discussion; mismatch of content to students’ abilities

Creative; intense outside interests; demonstrate honesty and integrity when rejecting inappropriate schoolwork

Page 16: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

MythsMyths......

…About the Gifted and Talented Student

Page 17: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 1

Gifted Students Don’t Need Help; They’ll Do Fine On Their Own. They Have It Made.

Page 18: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 2

THAT teacher keeps the kids really busy.  Gifted students will do great in that classroom.

Page 19: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 3 Gifted students make everyone else in

the class smarter by providing a role model or a challenge.

Page 20: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 4

All children

are gifted.

Page 21: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 5 Their special abilities are always prized

by their families.

Page 22: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 6

Gifted students are happy, popular, and well-adjusted in school.

Page 23: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 7

That student can’t be gifted; he’s receiving poor grades.

Page 24: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 8 Acceleration options, such as early entrance,

grade skipping, or early exit can be socially harmful for gifted students.

Page 25: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 9

This child can’t be gifted, he is in Special Education.

Page 26: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 10

Gifted students should assume extra responsibility for others.

Page 27: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Myth 11

Gifted education programs are elitist, and if gifted students are grouped together, they will become snobs and elitists.

Page 28: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Giftedness and Achievement Giftedness is an internal reality – mental processing that is

out of norms. Achievement, as important as it is, is merely an expression of that mental processing.

Achievement may fluctuate depending on a student’s immediate situation, his relationship with a particular teacher, the availability of courses of sufficient challenge and interest, even physical health.

Giftedness does not depend on such variables; the internal difference remains. That internal difference is likely to include emotional intensity, unusual awareness of and tolerance of complexity and paradox, and a potential for extraordinary moral development.

Page 29: What is Gifted? Facts, Myths, and Misconceptions

Educators working with the gifted population should be aware of the following

intrapersonal issues:

The internal stress of being gifted

The emotional trauma of rapid development

The effects of introversion, perfectionism, and extraordinary sensitivity on self and others

The recognition of the symptoms of insufficient mental engagement

The importance of interacting with other gifted persons

Appropriate channeling and focusing of abundance of physical, sensory, intellectual, and emotional energy.


Recommended