Above Average Ability

1. Above Average Ability Gifted Behavior Task Commitment Creativity

2. Characteristics of Above Average Ability • Above Average Ability (General) • high levels of abstract thought • adaptation to novel situations • rapid and accurate retrieval of information

3. Characteristics of Above Average Ability • Above Average Ability (specific) • applications of general abilities to specific area of knowledge • capacity to sort out relevant from irrelevant information • capacity to acquire and use advanced knowledge and strategies while pursuing a problem

4. Characteristics of Creativity • fluency, flexibility, and originality of thought • open to new experiences and ideas • curious • willing to take risks • sensitive to aesthetic characteristics

5. Characteristics of Task Commitment • capacity for high levels of interest, enthusiasm • hard work and determination in a particular area • self-confidence and drive to achieve • ability to identify significant problems within an area of study • setting high standards for one’s work

6. Cognitive (Thinking) Characteristics Clark’s “Differentiating Characteristics of Gifted Students” • Retention of large quantities of information • Advanced comprehension • Varied interests and high curiosity • High level of language development and verbal ability • Unusual capacity for processing information • Flexible thought processes • Accelerated pace of thought processes • Comprehensive synthesis of ideas • Early ability to delay closure • Ability to see unusual relationships • Ability to generate original ideas and solutions • Capacity to integrate ideas and disciplines • Early differential patterns for thought processing • Early ability to use and form conceptual frameworks • Evaluative approach towards self and others • Unusual intensity • Persistent and goal-directed behavior

7. Affective (Feeling) Characteristics • Large accumulation of information about emotions • Unusual sensitivity to the feelings of others • Keen sense of humor • Heightened self awareness, feelings of being different • Idealism and sense of justice • Inner locus of control • Unusual emotional depth and intensity • High expectations of self/others • Perfectionism • Strong need for consistency between values/actions • Advanced levels of moral judgment Clark’s “Differentiating Characteristics of Gifted Students”

8. Physical (Sensation) Characteristics • Heightened sensory awareness • Unusual discrepancy between physical and intellectual development • Low tolerance for lag between their standards and their athletic skills Clark’s “Differentiating Characteristics of Gifted Students”

9. Intuitive Characteristics • Early involvement and concern for intuitive knowing • Open to intuitive experiences • Creativity apparent in all areas of endeavor • Ability to predict • Interest in future Clark’s “Differentiating Characteristics of Gifted Students”

10. Societal Characteristics • Strongly motivated by self-actualization needs • Advanced capacity for conceptualizing and solving societal problems • Leadership • Involvement with the meta-needs of society (i.e., justice, truth, beauty) Clark’s “Differentiating Characteristics of Gifted Students”

11. Common Attributes of Giftedness • motivation • communication skills • well-developed memory • insight • imagination/creativity • advanced ability to deal with symbol systems • advanced interests • problem-solving ability • inquiry • reasoning • sense of humor (Frasier & Passow, 1994)

12. Social and Emotional Characteristics of Gifted Children Which May Pose Challenges • perceptiveness • high involvement and preoccupation; need to understand • heightened sensitivity • perfectionism • uneven integration of intellectual abilities • emotional intensity • feelings and early awareness of being different • asynchronous development of physical, intellectual, social, emotional aspects • anxiety caused by advanced knowledge • early adolescence (some children, especially highly gifted, may skip the latency stage of development) • need for mental stimulation • excitability and overexcitability • need for precision • tendency toward introversion

13. aware of their own creativeness original independent willing to take risks energetic curious keen sense of humor attracted to complexity and novelty artistic open-minded need for privacy, alone time perceptive Positive Characteristics of Creativity

14. questioning rules and authority stubbornness low interest in details forgetfulness carelessness and disorganization with unimportant matters absentmindedness indifference to common conventions tendency to be emotional Negative Characteristics of Creativity

15. Characteristics of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities Characteristics Which Hamper Identification as Gifted • Frustration with inability to master certain academic skill • Learned helplessness • General lack of motivation • Disruptive classroom behavior • Perfectionism • Supersensitivity • Failure to complete assignments • Lack of organizational skills • Demonstration of poor listening and concentration skills • Deficiencies • Low self-esteem • Unrealistic self-expectations • Absence of social skills with some peers

16. Characteristics of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities Characteristic Strengths • Advanced vocabulary use • Exceptional analytic abilities • High levels of creativity • Advanced problem solving skills • Good memory • Task commitment • Spatial abilities • Ability to think of divergent ideas and solutions • Specific aptitude (artistic, musical, or mechanical) • Wide variety of interests