Who are our Gifted and Talented? Robyn Boswell GATE Facilitator

Think*Pair*Share - what you know or want to know about gifted and talented students.

Fact or Fiction?

Names I’m glad my parents never gave me Soul Tana Weir Haus Loff Aut Laud Fu de Pois Ning Burg Gir Tim Buck II Po Sarm Ting Stenks Wai Yu Karm Hia Nao Suwain Flu Ugl Yee Ella Phant

Definitions: Conservative Exclusive Definition usually based on IQ score. Top 5% Liberal Inclusive Based on a broad range of criteria. 10% - 15%

A Multi-Category Concept The gifted and talented represent a wide range of students with many different abilities. For example, some students may have exceptional abilities in science or technology, some in art or poetry, and others in social leadership. It is now accepted that the gifted and talented are not simply those with high intelligence.

The range of special abilities that relate to the concept of giftedness and talent has become quite broad over the years. It now includes: general intellectual abilities academic aptitude creative abilities leadership ability physical abilities abilities in the visual and performing arts cultural giftedness

Multi-Cultural Perspectives New Zealand is a multicultural society with a wide range of ethnic groups. The concept of giftedness and talent that belongs to a particular cultural group is shaped by its beliefs, values, attitudes, and customs. The concept varies from culture to culture. It also varies over time.

Bi-Cultural Perspectives Maori giftedness might include such attributes as: Manaakitanga Whanaungatanga Wairuatanga Kaitiakitanga Rangatiratanga Matauranga Te Mahi Rehia Tikanga Maori also tend to expect these abilities and qualities to be used in the service of others.

Degree of support for students with special needs Average Mildly Moderately Highly Exceptionally Profoundly Mainstream with teacher aide Full time teacher aide Requires support beyond the regular classroom Mainstream with Remedial Programme Mainstream

So what’s the difference? Mildly Moderately Highly Exceptionally Profoundly Average It needs to be emphasized that there are some gifted people with severe physical disabilities – Steven Hawking for instance. Thanks to Robyn Boswell

Degree of support for students with special abilities Average Mildly Moderately Highly Exceptionally Profoundly Mainstream Mainstream with Remedial Programme Mainstream with teacher aide Full time teacher aide Requires support beyond the regular classroom Personalising learning programme CWSA/GKP Accelerated learning/ Individualised programme Requires support beyond the regular classroom Bell curve

Books that would never sell: How to do Your Hair Like Prince William How to Make a Cup Out of Wool How to Make Your Cat Bark Plant a Real Giraffe in Your Garden Places in New Zealand That Don't Exist How to Teach Your Baby to Rollerskate Photographs of the Wedding of Two Ants 765 Things to do with a Blade of Grass How to Make Clothes for your Goldfish How to Have a Picnic in the Middle of the Ocean without a Boat 320 Ways to Boil an Egg

Gifted Learners and High Achievers High Achievers tend to be the type of students that many teachers find pleasurable to teach. Gifted Learners may share some of these characteristics but they may also be the students who……

Gifted Learners and High Achievers High Achievers: Know the answers and are prepared to share them with their classmates Show interest and learn with ease Have sensible ideas Listen with interest Absorb information and complete set work Gifted learners: Ask the difficult or obscure questions Daydream or appear to be inattentive and yet score well on teacher tests Need little repetition for mastery Give elaborate and detailed answers to simple questions are highly inquisitive Display strong opinions

Gifted Learners and High Achievers Generally, high achievers enjoy school while gifted learners enjoy learning. - ‘Understanding Giftedness - A Guide to Policy Implementation - DECS 1996

Gifted and Talented Have another look at your true and false. What do you think now? Questions?

benefit from enrichment; benefit from a classroom climate that is accepting and nurturing; should be given opportunities for creativity and challenge; have strengths and personal learning needs but not all students are gifted and talented. Elaine le Sueur TEAM Solutions 2007