STUDENTS WHO ARE GIFTED AND TALENTED
Definitions of Gifted and Talented:
Gifted and talented children are those “possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that
give evidence of high performance capability in such areas as intellectual, creative,
specific, academic or leadership ability, or in the performing or visual arts, and who, by
reason thereof require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school.”
(Gifted and Talented Children’s Act of 1978).
Federal or American Government’s Definition: gifted and talented children are
capable of high performance and demonstrate potential ability in any of the following
areas:
a. General intellectual ability
b. Specific academic aptitude
c. Creative or productive thinking
d. Leadership ability
e. Ability in the visual or performing arts
f. Psychomotor ability
Renzulli’s Three-Trait Definition: giftedness results from the interaction of: 1) above
average general abilities; 2) a high level of task commitment; and 3) creativity. Gifted
and talented children are those possessing or capable of developing this composite set of
traits and applying them to any potentially valuable area of human performance.
Piirto’s (1999) Definition: gifted are “those individuals who, by way of having certain
learning characteristics such as superior memory, observational powers, curiosity,
creativity, and the ability to lean school-related subject matters rapidly and accurately
with a minimum of drill and repetition, have a right to an education that is differentiated
according to those characteristics.
Maker (1996): incorporates high intelligence, high creativity, and excellent problem
solving skills.
Old Concepts Emerging Paradigm
Giftedness is high IQ Many types of giftedness
Trait-based Qualities- based
Subgroup elitism Individual excellence
Innate, “in there” Based on context
Test- driven Achievement- driven, “what you do is
gifted”
Authoritarian, “you are not gifted” Collaborative, determined by consultation
School- oriented Field-and-domain oriented
Ethnocentric Diverse
Characteristics of Gifted and Talented Children and Youth
Highly gifted students have high IQ scores 3 standard deviations or greater above the
mean (Silverman, 1995). The IQ score is greater than 145, or 35 to 55 points more or
even higher than the average IQ scores of 90 to 110.
Has the other following characteristics according to Silverman:
Intense intellectual curiosity
Definitions of Gifted and Talented:
Gifted and talented children are those “possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that
give evidence of high performance capability in such areas as intellectual, creative,
specific, academic or leadership ability, or in the performing or visual arts, and who, by
reason thereof require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school.”
(Gifted and Talented Children’s Act of 1978).
Federal or American Government’s Definition: gifted and talented children are
capable of high performance and demonstrate potential ability in any of the following
areas:
a. General intellectual ability
b. Specific academic aptitude
c. Creative or productive thinking
d. Leadership ability
e. Ability in the visual or performing arts
f. Psychomotor ability
Renzulli’s Three-Trait Definition: giftedness results from the interaction of: 1) above
average general abilities; 2) a high level of task commitment; and 3) creativity. Gifted
and talented children are those possessing or capable of developing this composite set of
traits and applying them to any potentially valuable area of human performance.
Piirto’s (1999) Definition: gifted are “those individuals who, by way of having certain
learning characteristics such as superior memory, observational powers, curiosity,
creativity, and the ability to lean school-related subject matters rapidly and accurately
with a minimum of drill and repetition, have a right to an education that is differentiated
according to those characteristics.
Maker (1996): incorporates high intelligence, high creativity, and excellent problem
solving skills.
Old Concepts Emerging Paradigm
Giftedness is high IQ Many types of giftedness
Trait-based Qualities- based
Subgroup elitism Individual excellence
Innate, “in there” Based on context
Test- driven Achievement- driven, “what you do is
gifted”
Authoritarian, “you are not gifted” Collaborative, determined by consultation
School- oriented Field-and-domain oriented
Ethnocentric Diverse
Characteristics of Gifted and Talented Children and Youth
Highly gifted students have high IQ scores 3 standard deviations or greater above the
mean (Silverman, 1995). The IQ score is greater than 145, or 35 to 55 points more or
even higher than the average IQ scores of 90 to 110.
Has the other following characteristics according to Silverman:
Intense intellectual curiosity
