Identify and explain each of the five categories of giftedness and talent.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Student responses should include the following:
• Children who are intellectually gifted and talented often perform childhood tasks on an advanced schedule. They may talk in sentences early, read before entering school, or think abstractly before agemates. These children display exceptional memories and learn at a rapid pace. They are knowledgeable about things about which their age peers are not aware. They show a propensity for learning and, if allowed to learn about areas of interest at a challenging pace, may not distinguish work from play.
• A second characteristic is exceptional talent in one or more specific academic areas. One child may be exceptional in mathematics but perform on grade level in language arts; another may be a gifted writer but not evidence the same level of talent in science. Children who are gifted in a specific academic area read widely and intently about that subject area, require little or no drill to grasp concepts, and have large vocabularies in that specific subject area. This intense interest may be viewed as being “single-minded” or may be seen as an opportunity to develop the interest and talent to an exceptional level. Such focus is an advantage when choosing a college major or, later, a career.
• A third category of giftedness is creativity. All children are creative; however, some are exceptionally creative. These children have many unusual ideas and vivid imaginations. They have a high level of energy that may get them in trouble. They may daydream and become easily bored with routine tasks. They have a high level of tolerance for ambiguity and are risk takers. Creative children view the world from their own vantage points. With appropriate experiences, they may be future innovators and entrepreneurs.
• Leadership is another category of giftedness. Others look to leaders when a decision needs to be made, and children who are gifted in leadership are sought after to lead activities, projects, and play. Leaders initiate activities and make plans to reach goals. They get others to work toward goals, which may be desirable or undesirable. Children who are leaders may be seen as bossy. Children who display early leadership abilities likely have personal qualities that make them charismatic.
• A final category of giftedness and talent focuses on the visual and performing arts. Some children may display exceptional talent in art, music, dance, and/or drama. They exhibit an intense interest in one or more of the visual and performing arts. They quickly grasp concepts in the talent area, demonstrate original work in that area, and perform at exceptional levels when compared with their agemates.