Giftedness 101

Posted by Douglas Parker Aug 16, 2007

Gifted education. Gifted students. Gifted and talented.

We hear these words a lot in schools and in general conversations. But, what exactly does it mean to be ‘gifted?’ How do schools and learning specialists define what it means to be gifted? How do parents know if they have a gifted child? What is it like to be gifted? How do people who are not gifted react to those who are, and how should gifted people respond to them?

These are not easy questions to answer. Many different people have different feelings about gifted education. Some feel that gifted kids should just be a part of a traditional classroom since they are smart enough to fend for themselves. Some feel that gifted kids should be in separate schools and classes. So, who is right?

No matter what you may feel about gifted education, you have to recognize that there are children and adults in this world who have this ‘gift,’ a word that cognitive psychologist Lewis Terman coined in the early half of the 1900s.

Some people embrace and cherish this gift. Some do not.

My plans for this series of articles

In these Suite101 articles and blogs, we will explore many of the issues surrounding gifted education. Some issues will seem pretty benign; some may cause concern. I will be publishing lesson plans for teachers of the gifted along with research in the field of giftedness. It is my intent and hope to make what could seem to some like a foreign concept, a living and comprehensible topic.

As an educator who has seen hundreds of bright and gifted children grow into thriving and enthusiastic adults, just so you know, I will be advocating for gifted education, teachers, students and adults in these articles.

Check back to this topic in Suite101 often, and be sure to bookmark the homepage – there is a lot to talk about, and I hope you enjoy the conversation!