Identifying Learners As Being Gifted

How do we defensibly identify students as being gifted?

The following is a list of characteristics of a potentially gifted student:

• Has a lot of knowledge and factual information
• Catches on quickly
• Works alone
• Is able to convey ideas
• Has a good attention span for information that is not routine or mundane
• Answers stimulating questions
• May show creativeness
• May want to disagree with the teacher or textbook
• Has a good memory
• Takes charge, but may not follow through
• Anticipates outcomes
• Is usually logical
• Possesses a special talent
• Reads at a more advanced level
• May show spontaneous outcomes or conclusions
• Gives thought-provoking responses
• Elaborate answers given
• Has perceptiveness other students lack

Mittah , Ken. (1989). Teacher pleaser or potentially gifted? Educational Impressions, Inc. Hawthorne, NJ.

Is a student who displays these characteristics gifted? Can this list be used as a checklist to identify students as being gifted? Unfortunately, it is not that easy to identify students as being gifted.

When identifying learners as being gifted there are many things to keep in mind. A student can not be identified from one defining characteristic and he or she can not be denied the label of being gifted for not having one defining characteristic.

A student with a poor GPA, but who has an above-average IQ and displays astounding creatively may be identified as being gifted.

A student with a perfect GPA and has been playing the piano since age 2 may not be identified as being gifted.

Each and every case up for identification must be looked at individually as the defensible reasons for labeling a learner as gifted are as varied as the students.

So how do we know if a student is indeed gifted? The following criteria should be used in the identification process:

• Ability
• Achievement
• Creativity
• Task Commitment
• Motivation
• Socio-emotional development
• Demographics
• School history
• Family background

I believe that the best method for identifying students, and the one with the most validity is that of a portfolio. When appropriate, a portfolio of what a student is capable of may provide the best evidence for giftedness.