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Giftedness Defined
Westmount Charter School defines Giftedness in this way: "Students are gifted when they perform, or show potential for performing, remarkably high levels of accomplishment in learning rate, depth of knowledge, and reasoning and problem-solving abilities when compared to others of their age, experience, and environment."
Another helpful description of giftedness comes from the Columbus Group: "Giftedness is 'asynchronous development' in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching and counseling in order for them to develop optimally." (The Columbus Group, 1991, in Morelock, 1992)
Giftedness is indeed a very complex phenomenon. To see some of the more common profiles of gifted learners, click here. To engage some common myths about giftedness, click here for an excellent article by the National Association for Gifted Children.
One of the most common questions asked is, "is my child gifted?" This question is addressed in our parent information nights in January/February each year, but for those who would like a quick checklist of gifted traits, click here to download "signposts along the way: signs of giftedness". This checklist is an excerpt from Alberta Educations's gifted resource, "The Journey".
18 November 2012