The Gifted Child
One of the first questions posed by prospective families is related to differentiating characteristics of children who are smart and hard working, as contrasted to those who are gifted and creative. The following table outlines the differences between the groups. Very few children will exhibit all of the characteristics in a single column. The academic program at Sage is best suited for those children who display a disproportionate number of characteristics of the gifted and creative learner.
|
Traditional High Achiever |
Characteristics of Sage Students |
|
|
Gifted Learner |
Creative Thinker |
|
| Remembers the answer | Poses unforeseen questions | Sees exceptions |
| Is interested | Is curious | Wonders |
| Is attentive | Is selectively mentally engaged; May be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD | Daydreams, may seem off task; May be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD |
| Generates advanced ideas | Generates complex, abstract ideas | Overflows with ideas, many of which will not be developed |
| Works hard to achieve | Knows without working hard | Plays with ideas or concepts |
| Answers questions in detail | Ponders with depth and multiple perspectives | Injects new possibilities |
| Performs at the top of the group | Is beyond the group | Is in own group |
| Responds with interest and opinions | Exhibits feelings and opinions from multiple perspectives | Shares bizarre, sometimes conflicting opinions |
| Needs 6 to 8 repetitions to master content | Needs 2 or 3 repetitions to master content | Questions the need for mastery |
| Enjoys the company of age peers | Prefers the company of intellectual peers | Prefers the company of creative peers but often works alone |
| Is receptive | Is intense | Is independent and unconventional |
| Absorbs information | Manipulates information | Improvises |
| Memorizes well | Anticipates and infers well | Creates and brainstorms well |
| Is pleased with own learning | Is self critical | Is never finished with possibilities |
Challenges Facing Gifted Students
While many people believe it is a blessing to be deemed “gifted,” those who fall into the category experience intense pressures that stem from both internal and external forces. Some of the most common challenges are listed below.
- Feeling different
- Heightened sensitivity to external stimuli including light, sound and touch
- Idealism and deep concerns with morality and justice accompanied by a black and white view of what is right and fair
- Feelings of inadequacy that may be masked by an arrogant exterior
- Relentless criticism of self and others
- Unrealistic expectations of adults and a fear of not exceeding those expectations, which may be manifested in a perfectionist nature
- Difficulty with social relationships and hiding talents to fit in with peers
- High levels of anxiety with low frustration tolerance
- Depression that may be manifested as boredom or lack of focus
- Resistance to arbitrary rules or authority figures
- Short emotional response time – quick to anger or cry
At Sage, we are adept in working with children who come to school ready to learn even if they experience some (or all) of these challenges. This is exactly the child we understand! Our expertise is in working with each child as an individual, finding just the right level of challenge while managing the internal and external obstacles.
