M E N TA L

GIFTEDNESS

“Every child is
unique.”
 Children who are gifted are
defined as those who
demonstrate an advanced ability
or potential in one or more
specific areas when compared to
others of the same age,
experience or environment.
These gifted individuals excel in
their ability to think, reason and
judge.
 BRIGHT CHILD GIFTED LEARNER

Knows the answer Asks the questions

Is interested Is highly curious

Works hard Plays around yet tests well

Answers the questions Discusses in detail, elaborates

Learns with ease Already knows

6-8 repetitions for mastery 1-2 repetitions for mastery

Understands Constructs abstractions

Enjoys peers Prefers adults

Enjoys school Enjoys learning

Absorbs information Manipulates information

Good memorizer Good guesser
Is alert Is keenly observant

Is pleased with own learning Is highly self-critical

What is the IQ of a Gifted Child?
The majority of the population will fall within an IQ of 85 – 115.
The mean, or average, IQ is 100. A gifted child’s IQ will fall within
these ranges:
Mildly gifted: 115 to 130
Moderately gifted: 130 to 145
Highly gifted: 145 to 160
Profoundly gifted: 160 or higher
Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:

An advanced ability to learn and process information

rapidly, combined with a need for constant mental
Rapid
stimulation; profoundly gifted students often work at
Comprehension
a different pace than neurotypical peers–going far
ahead or pausing to dive deeply in areas of interest.
Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:

Difficulty concentrating on tasks that are not

Intuitive intellectually challenging, including repetitious
Understanding materials or rote tasks; profoundly gifted children
of the Basics often need less practice to master an idea or
concept.
Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:

A need to understand the “big picture” of what they

Tendency are learning; they may ask endless “why” questions
toward
or prefer to learn whole-to-part rather than part-to-
Complexity
whole.
Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:

An appreciation for nuance and a need for precision

in thinking and expression; they may often respond
Need for to questions with “that depends…” and they may
Precision struggle with multiple choice assessments that ask
them to make definitive decisions without an
extensive contextual background to questions.
Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:

A tendency to hold themselves and others to high

standards, which can sometimes present as
High perfectionism or a very defined sense of justice; this
Expectations may lead to challenges when understanding rules
set by others or interacting with same-age peers
who don’t hold the same standards.
Characteristics of profoundly gifted individuals may include:

A vivid imagination and niche interests may make it

difficult to connect with same-age peers; profoundly
Divergent gifted students may seek out older children or adults
Interests who share their interests, or they may connect with
younger children who are flexible in their thinking
and engage in imaginational pursuits.
 Six Different Types of Giftedness
Successful
This is the traditional
understanding of gifted
children: they’re good at
school. “Successful” gifted
children are obedient in
class, do homework without
a lot of prompting, test well,
and may become
perfectionists.
Autonomous
They are willing to push
boundaries in ways that
“successful” gifted children
are not. Autonomously
gifted children are strong
leaders and creative
thinkers. They seek
opportunities to pursue their
interests.
Challenging and Creative
Challenging and creative
students are generally the
opposite of “successful”
gifted children. They may
harbor extraordinary
creative gifts as writers,
composers, artists,
photographers, graphic
artists, or fashion designers.
 Six Different Types of Giftedness

Underground Potential Dropout or At Risk Doubly Exceptional

Doubly exceptional (or 2E)

These students require the
children are those who are
Some gifted children most sensitivity and
gifted and who also exhibit
develop asynchronously (at patience. They may come
a learning or physical
a different pace from their from an unstable home
disorder. The disability may
peers); their gifts may be environment or a culture
hide the gift, or the gift may
hidden or masked until later which discourages
overwhelm the
in their traditional education. academic excellence or
learning/physical challenge,
gifted education (especially
leaving one or the other
for girls).
undetected.
D
O
M
ACADEMIC
A INTELLECTUAL
I Academically gifted students
N They are abstract thinkers who
show enthusiasm for specific
show enthusiasm and excitement
S interest areas and display
for new ideas, and learn quickly
advanced comprehension in
and use a large vocabulary.
O those areas.
F

G
I LEADERSHIP
CREATIVE
F
T These students display
Students in this domain of
E exceptional organizational skills
giftedness come up with several
D and can motivate others. They
unique solutions to problems and
are self-confident, like structure,
N often display a sense of humor.
and express themselves well.
E
S
S
Five Ways to Support Gifted Students in Your Classroom

Learn how gifted students think.

Create tiered assignments for students.

Include a variety of levels in your classroom library.

Utilize their talents and interests.

Explore real-word application.