Understanding the World of Academically & Intellectually Gifted

1. Understanding the World of Academically & Intellectually Gifted Watson School of Education AIG Mini-Conference Angela Housand, Ph.D. housanda@uncw.edu

2. Giftedness in Context

3. Why discuss giftedness in context? • No Universal Definition of Giftedness • NC State Board of Education • alignment of program delivery with student identification • Student Success

6. What gifted program services does your school offer? • Differentiation • AIG coordinator collaboration w/ teacher • Small group • Collaboration big • Nurturing in K-2 • AIG person w/ teachers for referral • Domain specific • Nurturing to provide access • Pull-out • Content • Extension • Homogeneous grouping • Flexible grouping • Think lab (visual/spatial) • Directing to approp. Teacher

7. 3 Ring Conception of Giftedness

9. Characteristic of EminentAdults Ability to focus for long periods of time (Reis, 1995, 1998, 2005; Renzulli, 1978, 1986; Sternberg & Lubart 1993; Van-Tassel Baska 1989; Walberg et. al. 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005) Image: http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll160/contents/inventors/gordongould.htm

11. Characteristic of Eminent Adults Above Average Ability (Cox, 1926; Reis, 1995; Walberg et. al., 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005) Image: http://streams.gandhiserve.org/images/einstein.jpg

12. Characteristic of Eminent Adults Motivated (Reis, 1995; Walberg et. al. 1981; Walberg & Paik, 2005)

13. Characteristics: Seeing Unusual alertness Joy in learning Keen observation Sees “Big Picture” Makes connections Intense focus Curious

14. Characteristics: Speed Early and rapid learning Rapid language development Metacognitively efficient

15. Superior ≠

16. Superior =

17. Characteristics: Differences • Superior language • Verbal fluency • Large vocabulary • Superior analytical and reasoning ability • High-capacity memory • Goes beyond what is sought • Abstract, complex, and insightful thinking

18. Characteristics

19. Characteristics Behaviors

20. T I U C C A P Gifted Behaviors NOT Gifted People!

21. School House Giftedness Creative Giftedness

22. Creatively Gifted • Independent • High energy • Curious • Sense of humor • Open-minded • Need for privacy and alone time

23. Creatively Gifted • Aware of their own creativeness • Originality in thought and action • Attracted to complexity and novelty • Artistic tendencies • Willing to take risks • Perceptive

24. Characteristic ofEminent Adults Creative Imaginative Innovative A Sense of Destiny

25. And the not so good… • Impulsive • Egotistical • Argumentative • Rebellious • Uncooperative • Stubborn • Childish • Absentminded • Neurotic • Temperamental • Capricious • Careless • Disorganized • Demanding • Indifferent to Conventions

26. Characteristics: Negative Uneven mental development Interpersonal difficulties Underachievement

27. Asynchronous Development Uneven intellectual, physical, and emotional development.

28. Asynchronous Development • Cognitively understand advanced concepts (like mortality) but lack emotional maturity to cope with knowledge • Perceived as older due to cognitive ability, but lack behavioral maturity

29. Underachievers: Personality • Low self-esteem or Low self-efficacy • Feelings of Pessimism • Anxious, impulsive, or inattentive • Aggressive, hostile • Depressed • Socially immature

30. Internal Mediators • Fear of failure • Fear of success • Negative attitude toward school • Antisocial, rebellious • Self-critical or perfectionistic

31. Maladaptive Strategies • Lack goal-directed behavior • Poor coping skills • Poor self-regulation • Defense mechanisms

32. Not all bad… • Demonstrate honesty and integrity when rejecting inappropriate school work • Intense outside interests • Creative

33. What about these characteristics? • Inability to master certain academic skills • Lack of motivation • Disruptive classroom behavior • Failure to complete assignments • Lack of organizational skills • Poor listening and concentration skills • Unrealistic self-expectations

34. Twice-Exceptional • Gifted with Learning Disability • May also demonstrate • Learned helplessness • Perfectionism • Supersensitivity • Low self-esteem • Behaviors may hamper identification

35. Look For: • Advanced vocabulary use • Exceptional analytic abilities • High levels of creativity • Advanced problem-solving skills • Divergent thinking • Specific aptitude • Good memory • Spatial abilities

36. What differentiates gifted learners from high achievers?

37. Bright Gifted Asks the Questions Knows the Answers

38. Bright Gifted Is Intellectually Engaged Is Attentive

39. Bright Gifted Has Original Ideas Has Good Ideas

40. Bright Gifted Manipulates Information Absorbs Information

41. Bright Gifted Beyond Her Age Peers Top Student

42. Bright Gifted Repeats 1-2 Times for Mastery Repeats 6-8 Times for Mastery

43. Bright Gifted Constructs Abstractions Understands Ideas

44. Bright Gifted Draws Inferences Grasps the Meaning

45. Bright Gifted Is an Inventor Is a Technician

46. Questions?

47. The Question of Equity Equity, the quality of being fair, is not about offering the exact same thing to every student, it is providing individuals with suitable challenges and experiences that will enable them to be successful and grow beyond where they are now or where they have been before.

48. Thank You.