Wiki-posting

GIFTED  CHILDREN AND TALENTED CHILDREN

Children gain opportunity for class placement on the basis of academic merit. The main criteria for determining academic merit are opportunity class placement. Test results combined with schools assessments. Comments made by parents and principles may be considered at the discretion of the selection committee. Canadian psychologist, Professor Francoys Gagne, is a world leader on this subject and created the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT).

He defines gifted children as those who have outstanding or high levels of innate ability, in any domain of human ability (intellectual, creative, social or physical) that would place them within the top 10% of their age-peers, even if their high potential has not yet been realised.

In contrast, talented children are those whose abilities have already been demonstrated by their achievements, and who are currently performing at a level that places them within the top 10% of their age-peers. In simple terms, gifts are natural abilities whereas talents are systematically developed skills.

Some general characteristics of gifted and talented children are listed below. it is important note that academically gifted and talented children will not necessarily  demonstrated all of these characteristics

Ø A gifted student,

Ø Learns rapidly and quickly grasps new concept

Ø Has an excellent memory

Ø Is creative or imaginative

Ø Is independent

Ø Has a sense of humour

Ø May be highly motivated particularly in self selected tasks.

Ø Has unusual or advanced interests.

Ø Demonstrates exceptional critical thinking skils or problem solving ability.

Ø May have superior leadership  and interpersonal skills

Ø Frequently asks in –depth, problem questions

Ø Has superior insight and the ability to draw inferences or intuitive.