Highly GiftedRee Aguirre, Amy Roark, Lynda Rowe and Melissa Sanford

Levels of Giftedness● Gifted/moderately gifted (G or MG)

○ Score between 130 and 145 (132-148 SB-4) on Full Scale IQ score WISC-III, WPPSI-R, SB-4, SB L-M

○ Tend to well in regular classroom with differentiation, gifted pull out program or mild acceleration in areas of strength.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

● Highly gifted (HG)○ Score between 145 and 160

(148-160 SB-4) on Full Scale IQ score WISC-III, WPPSI-R, SB-4, SB L-M

○ Tend to do well in congregated gifted classes which are offered in a few large districts in the U.S.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

● Exceptionally gifted (EG)○ Score between 160 and 180 (SB

L-M only) on Full Scale IQ score WISC-III, WPPSI-R, SB-4, SB L-M

○ May do well in schools using a combination of congregated gifted classrooms and accelerated curriculum.

○ Commonly homeschooled for part of their education.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

● Profoundly gifted (PG)○ Score of 180 and above (SB L-M

only) on Full Scale IQ score WISC-III, WPPSI-R, SB-4, SB L-M

○ May do well in schools using a combination of congregated gifted classrooms and accelerated curriculum.

○ Commonly homeschooled for part of their education.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

Research study group findings from the Gifted Development Center indicate common threads and trends among the highly gifted.

• Mothers tended to be older than the norm. Mean age at time of birth = 30.8

• 94% were very alert as infants• 91% showed early language

development• 99.4% have an extensive vocabulary

http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/whatisgifted/pg.htm

Infancy and Toddlerhood

• The mean age at which the children spoke their first word was 9 months.

• The mean age the children can sight read an easy reader was before the age of four.

• 99.3% have excellent memory• 95.9% have an excellent sense of humor• 99.3% reason well• 96.1% are mature for their age at times

http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/whatisgifted/pg.htm

Infancy and Toddlerhood

• 93.8% have a keen sense of observation• 93.4% have a vivid imagination• 89.4% have facility with puzzles and

legos• 88.3% are perfectionisticAnd socially…• 93.5% have compassion for others• 90.3% are concerned with justice and

fairness• 84.1% question authority• 90% were described by parents as

“sensitive”

http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/whatisgifted/pg.htm

Infancy and Toddlerhood

• Frequently placed at risk in early years.• Sometimes try to conceal ability to be

accepted by peers.• Teachers are not usually trained and

therefore not aware of giftedness.• Parents are more successful than

teachers in identifying giftedness in the early years.

• One of the most powerful indicators of giftedness in the early years is reading before the age of 5.

http://giftedkids.about.com/od/extremelygifted/Extremely_or_Profoundly_Gifted_Children.htm

The Early Years of Highly Gifted Students

• Gifted students should be with students their own age.

• Gifted students are better off if they spend their entire school day with same age , heterogeneous classmates.

• Being perfectly well rounded should be the primary goal for gifted student development.

• Being gifted is something with which you are just born with.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

Myths of Highly Gifted Students

• Almost everyone involved with gifted education is an expert on the social and emotional development of gifted students.

• Adults know what gifted students experience.

• Being too smart in school is a problem, especially for girls.

• All kids are gifted, and no kids are gifted.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

Myths of Highly Gifted Students

• Being gifted can make a child feel different. It is important to get them together with other gifted children who understand them.

• Can deal with abstract concepts intellectually, but not emotionally. This can lead to concerns about issues such as death and the future.

• Perfectionism may lead to frustration when trying to complete a physical task.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

Social Issues of Highly Gifted Students

• Can be argumentative and/or manipulative.

• Advanced vocabulary and sense of humor can cause gifted children to be misunderstood.

• Perfectionism can lead to fear of failure which can cause them to refuse to try certain tasks.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htm

Social Issues of Highly Gifted Students

● Acceleration in one or more subject areas

● A mentor in an interest area● Homeschooling● Individualized, self paced program in

one or more subjects.● Exploring topics of individual interest● Early admission to gifted program● Cluster grouping with other gifted

children in a regular classroomhttp://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10162.aspx#challanges in education needs

Educating the profoundly gifted student

• An extreme need for constant mental stimulation

• An ability to rapidly learn and process complex information

• A need to study topics in depth• Insatiable curiosity; endless

questions and inquirieshttp://www.davidsongifted.org/Article/About_Us_318.aspx

Characteristics of Highly Gifted

• Ability to focus on a subject of interest for long periods of time

• Inability to focus on a subject not intellectually challenging even if presented in small chunks

• A need for precise thinking and expression-answer questions with “that depends…”

http://www.davidsongifted.org/Article/About_Us_318.aspx

Characteristics of Highly Gifted

• Early development to think abstractly to a high degree

• Ability to visualize models and systems

• Unusual capacity for memory• Ability from an early age, and prefer,

to think in metaphors and symbols• Emotionally Sensitive• Unusual intensity and depth of

feelinghttp://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10299.aspx

Characteristics of Highly Gifted

• Highly developed morals and ethics and unusual and early insight into social and moral issues

• An extraordinarily high energy level• A need for the world to be logical

and fair• Conviction of correctness of personal

ideas and beliefs• have extensive vocabulary

http://www.gifteddevelopment.com/What_is_Gifted/pg.htmhttp://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10299.aspx

Characteristics of Highly Gifted

• provide positive emotional support• provide a nutritious diet with

adequate vitamins, minerals, calories and protein

• provide a stimulating environment that encourage learning in a fun way by exploring and peeking curiosity

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10299.aspx

Parents Providing an Enriched Environment

• provide a stimulating environment without undue stress and pressure

• include activities that are cognitive, physical, affective, and intuitive to ensure well balanced brain growth

• allow the child to be an active participant rather than passive

http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10299.aspx

Parents Providing an Enriched Environment

• Founded by Bob and Jan Davidson• Founded to help gifted and talented

students who might be underserved• Davidson Young Scholars was

developed to recognize profoundly intelligent students and provide services based on particular needs.

http://www.davidsongifted.org/default.aspx

Davidson Institute