State Definition
Do you know your state's definition of giftedness? As of 1998, North Carolina defines giftedness as "...students who perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience , or environment" (Stephens and Karnes 232).
Characteristics
The state definition is great, but you are wondering what it looks like in a third, fourth, or fifth grade student...
A gifted student will exhibit many characteristics as a learner and express each characteristic in his/her own way. The above Wordle represents a compilation of four lists of gifted characteristics with the most frequent descriptors appearing as larger text. As these descriptors are pulled from select lists consider the fact that gifted students are unique and may display many, none, or all of these characteristics.
Be mindful that many of these characteristics can be expressed as both positive and negative behaviors. For example, an avid reader may read voraciously at appropriate times (positive behavior) or refuse to do anything other than read (negative behavior). As an upper grades elementary teacher, you spend all day with your students and know them and their misbehaviors well. Reflect on your personal biases towards misbehavior and be sure that the negativity does not cloud your ability to view the negative expression of a gifted characteristic as a sign of giftedness. Here are a few more examples:
Trait Positive Expression Negative Expression
Do you know your state's definition of giftedness? As of 1998, North Carolina defines giftedness as "...students who perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience , or environment" (Stephens and Karnes 232).
Characteristics
The state definition is great, but you are wondering what it looks like in a third, fourth, or fifth grade student...
A gifted student will exhibit many characteristics as a learner and express each characteristic in his/her own way. The above Wordle represents a compilation of four lists of gifted characteristics with the most frequent descriptors appearing as larger text. As these descriptors are pulled from select lists consider the fact that gifted students are unique and may display many, none, or all of these characteristics.
Be mindful that many of these characteristics can be expressed as both positive and negative behaviors. For example, an avid reader may read voraciously at appropriate times (positive behavior) or refuse to do anything other than read (negative behavior). As an upper grades elementary teacher, you spend all day with your students and know them and their misbehaviors well. Reflect on your personal biases towards misbehavior and be sure that the negativity does not cloud your ability to view the negative expression of a gifted characteristic as a sign of giftedness. Here are a few more examples:
Trait Positive Expression Negative Expression
- Quick-learner -Has fast recall of new information/memorization of new facts -Bores quickly, distracts others
- Creative -Has new ideas, thinks "outside of the box" -Invents ways to avoid work/distract peers
- Intense -Leads by emotion, accurate self expression of emotions -Intimidating/overwhelming to others
- Independent -Long attention span, can work alone for sustained time periods -Refuses to work cooperatively with others
- Perfectionist -Shows and checks work -Cannot accept mistakes by self and/or others
- Observant -Connects ideas and draws content-related inferences - Uses observations to manipulate others
- Sensitive -Increased empathy towards others -Easily upset
- Mature -Responsible, sophisticated thinking -Avoids peer interactions, seeks adult attention