Needs & Characteristics of Gifted Children

Needs of Gifted Students

• Activities that enable them to operate at complex levels of thought and feeling
• Opportunities for divergent production
• Challenging group and individual work that demonstrates process/product outcomes
• A variety of experiences that promote understanding of ethics
• Discussions with intellectual peers
• Opportunities to see interrelationships in all bodies of knowledge
• Special courses in areas of strength and interest which accelerate the pace and depth of the content
• Greater exposure to new areas of learning within and outside the school structure
• Opportunities to apply abilities to real problems
• Development of skills in critical thinking, creative thinking, research, problem solving, coping with exceptionality, decision making, and leadership

Characteristics of Gifted Students

Although much has been written about the characteristics of gifted children’s “telltale” signs, there is no stereotypical gifted child. These characteristics are simply signposts, which serve as indicators of gifted behavior. While the following characteristics may seem to describe gifted children in general, they will not be present in every gifted child:

• Learns rapidly
• Retains and applies what is heard or read without appearing to need much drill
• Has an advanced vocabulary
• Appreciates the subtleties of humor beyond his/her age
• Thinks clearly, recognizes relationships, comprehends meaning, draws accurate generalizations, and thinks abstractly
• Asks penetrating questions
• Is intellectually curious
• Is independent and self-sufficient
• Produces original ideas or products
• Becomes passionate about specific areas
• Prefers complex ideas
• Demonstrates proficiency in basic skills beyond his/her grade level
• Has varied interests
• Is more aware of national and world problems and events than his/her peers
• Sees the relationship of self to the world
• Reads earlier than most children, often before entering school