Do Now! SEL Questions

What is intelligence? Is it fixed? Can it be developed?

What does being gifted mean?

What does being talented mean? Are they the same?

Do you have to be gifted in all areas?

What are some characteristics of gifted people? vs. “normal” people?

7 Definitions of Giftedness

Mr. Havner’s DefinitionAcademically or intellectually gifted (AIG) individuals have a genetic

predisposition for more complex thought processes. The accelerated neural

activity of the academically gifted needs to be fostered by its environment. The

intellectually gifted have a measured potential for performing at levels well

above what one would expect for an individual of the same age. The

academically or intellectually gifted person expresses their ability in areas of

creativity, intellectual pursuit, and in socioaffective and sensorimotor domains.

Mr. Golba’s Definition

• A gifted learner is one who has an inherent ability to perform academically above his or her peers in a classroom setting and may need guidance to fulfill this ability.

Barbara Clark “The term gifted serves as a label for a high level of intelligence

and indicates an advanced, highly integrated, and accelerated

development of functions within the brain. Such development may

be expressed in high levels of abilities such as academic aptitude,

insight and innovation, creative behavior, leadership, personal and

interpersonal skills, visual and performing arts, or other generative

areas” (Clark, 2013, p. 30).

Federal Government “The term gifted and talented student means children and

youths who give evidence of higher performance capability

in such areas as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership

capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who require

services or activities not ordinarily provided by the schools in

order to develop such capabilities fully.”

North Carolina’s Academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) students perform or show the

potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when

compared with others of their age, experiences or environment. Academically or

intellectually gifted students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual

areas, specific academic fields, or in both the intellectual areas and specific

academic fields. Academically or intellectually gifted students require

differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the

regular educational program. Outstanding abilities are present in students from

all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.

Miraca U.M. Gross “A student can be gifted - that is possess aptitude or potential

significantly beyond what we would expect for his or her age -

in any one of several domains of human ability or, for that

matter, in all of them. Gagné suggests four major domains:

intellectual, creative, socioaffective and sensorimotor

ability” (Gross, 2004, p. 26).

David Sousa “I use the term gifted to be an inclusive one in that it comprises

high intellectual ability in academic areas as well as high levels of

ability in areas of performance, such as music, theater, and dance.

My simple definition is that a gifted person demonstrates (or has the

potential for demonstrating) and exceptionally high level of

performance in one or more areas of human endeavor” (Sousa, 2009,

p. 2).

Calvin, from Calvin & Hobbes

intelligent, determined, unique, humble, asynchronous, quick learners, EQ, IQ, knowledgeable, talkative, curious, quirky, talented, creative, distracted, procrastinators, not lazy, dorky, selective workers,lazy, self-absorbed, hard to concentrate, prepared, artistic, ingenuious, energetic, smart, hyper, improvement, picky,

Do you ever use your high intelligence, but for negative behaviors?

Maybe you have a wealth of interests but science isn’t one of them?

Do you excel in many things but sometimes find it hard to do some other things?

Calvin’s poor physical ability - hates physical education, loves the sports he comes up with and

can’t ride a bike

You know justice when you see it but others don’t recognize your mind

How mature, Calvin!

Calvin has imaginational over-excitability. He doesn’t just like learning about insects or aliens, he becomes them.

And here he his showcasing his emotional sensitivity

Characteristics of Giftedness

• Unusual alertness, even in infancy

• Rapid learner; puts thoughts together quickly

• Excellent memory

• Unusually large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for age

• Advanced comprehension of word nuances, metaphors and abstract ideas

• Enjoys solving problems, especially with numbers and puzzles

• Often self-taught reading and writing skills as preschooler

• Deep, intense feelings and reactions

• Highly sensitive

• Thinking is abstract, complex, logical, and insightful

• Idealism and sense of justice at early age

• Concern with social and political issues and injustices

• Longer attention span and intense concentration

• Preoccupied with own thoughts—daydreamer

• Learn basic skills quickly and with little practice

• Asks probing questions

• Wide range of interests (or extreme focus in one area)

• Highly developed curiosity

• Interest in experimenting and doing things differently

• Puts idea or things together that are not typical

• Keen and/or unusual sense of humor

• Desire to organize people/things through games or complex schemas

• Vivid imaginations (and imaginary playmates when in preschool)

Student QuestionnaireThe purpose: By completing this questionnaire about you thoughtfully, I will better be able to make your experience in school better. As much as you learn from teachers, I also learn from you and this is where it starts.

You will have 15-20 minutes to work on this questionnaire. Feel free to remain anonymous if you wish but take your time and give me as much detail as you see fit.

Self-Guided - Questionnaire: Student Needs Analysis Questionnaire

A great site - basically a questionnaire that will help inform you about your giftedness as well as assess your social needs.

Rank each question from Not Really to Yes!

Follow the links, read, ask lots of questions.

http://gifted.tki.org.nz/For-students/Student-Needs-Analysis-Questionnaire-SNAQ

Gifted Gripes Activity From: When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers

Rank these in order of how strongly each affects your life

1. We feel overwhelmed by the # of things we can do in life

2. We feel different and alienated

3. We worry about world problems and feel helpless to do anything about them

4. Kids often tease us about being smart

5. Friends who really understand us are few and far between

6. Parents, teachers, and friends expect us to be perfect all the time

7. School is too easy and too boring

8. No one explains what being gifted is all about - like it’s a big secret