Griselda Ortiz

EDUC 2301 Online

Spring, 2024

Chapter 15 Gifted and Talented

Definition. Define this particular exceptionality.

Growing up I had always heard of Gifted and Talented classes which are
better known as GT. I believed these classes were only for smart kids or
students who performed higher than others but when I was finally placed in a
GT class during third grade, I discovered a new definition for what I thought
was only for smart kids. Students who are known as Gifted and Talented are
often placed in those classes because of their certain abilities in specific
topics and them being a bit more academically advanced than other
students who are the same age as them. Gifted and Talented students are
usually known as critical thinkers, they like to think deep about what they
are doing and often question certain takes on such subjects. According to the
department of education of Missouri these students often need ¨ a unique
academic environment to meet their learning needs so they can make
continuous progress.¨ ( ) What they mean by this is that gifted and talented
student usually are on a different curriculum than your average student not
only that but they also tend to show more interest in certain subjects which
is what leads to them having to be on a different curriculum which is
provided by the district with specific funds just for these students.

Causes or Etiology. List said causes of this particular exceptionality.

Some causes for this exceptionality vary from genetics to many more.
Genetics can play a huge role in gifted and talented students. Many students
who are GT come from parents who are highly intelligent and ambitious to
learn new things, it is just something that comes naturally to them. Another
cause could also be early childhood experiences, what I mean by this is that
maybe from a young age a certain student showed interest in a certain
subject by buying books/games that relate to the topic which just fed into
the habit of them learning to engage in subjects they are curious about.
Another cause for this would be the environment, which to me is one of the
most important ones. Prior to me being in a GT classroom I don't remember
me being so engaged in learning like I was when I started my first GT class in
third grade. I believe environment and the people you are around play a
huge role when a student is seen as a possible candidate to be considered
GT. It is important for individuals who have ambition to learn new things and
are filled with curiosity to be with others who are as passionate as them to
serve as motivation and inspiration.

Assessment. Discuss methods and/or strategies used to evaluate learners

with this exceptionality.

One of the few ways a student who is Gifted and talented are usually
assessed/tested would be by a standardized test which covers certain
subjects to see their weaknesses and strengths, with this test they are able
to determine if a student is eligible to be part of the GT program. Depending
on the grade level will vary on the difficulty of the specific exam. Personally, I
remember taking my Gt test at the end of second grade and it was more so
another teacher asking me questions instead of a written exam. Another way
these students could be evaluated would be by evaluation, you can never go
wrong with an observation. Being able to get an inside scoop on how a
student acts and behaves on day-to-day basis can be effective when trying
to figure out if they are eligible to be considered gifted and talented. It is
important for students to be observed because the student may be bad at
taking exams which leads to him getting overlooked as a potential candidate
for the gifted and talented program but in reality this student may be very
passionate when learning certain things which is what you will get to realize
if you observe a student and not just base their knowledge of an exam.

Characteristics. Describe various characteristics of students with this

particular exceptionality.

Some characteristics and traits of students known as gifted and talented

would show more interest than others in certain subjects. Students who are
known as GT usually show interest in subjects such as science and math
which leads to them being involved in STEM or robotics soon. Showing
interest in certain subjects leads to many doors opening for them in the
future. Growing up as a gifted and talented student myself I showed interest
in history a lot, fast forward to 4 years later I ended up going to the State
History Fair as a 7th grader due to the opportunities and extra help I got
being a GT student. Another characteristic that students known as gifted and
talented show would be having a long attention span. Most students are
usually only able to focus on one thing for a short amount of time, but gifted
and talented students can focus on certain things longer. Another
characteristic shown in students known as gifted and talented is that they
have a strong sense of curiosity. Most students who are GT tend to question
everything which leads them to many doors with new opportunities due to
being interested in certain things that other students pay no mind to.

Strategies for Effective Teaching and Learning. Discuss ways in which

teachers can support the learning needs of students with this exceptionality.

One of the many ways teachers can support the learning needs of students
who are known as gifted and talented would be by taking trainings in which
help them become better educators for students who learn differently from
the rest of the population of students. A teacher of gifted and talented
students can also support their students by providing them hands on
experience on certain subjects they seem to be deeply interested this can be
done so by organizing a fieldtrip relating to an educational topic or even
creating a hands-on lesson for students to gain experience in the topics
which call their attention. A teacher can also support gifted and talented
students by changing their instruction, nobody knows their students more
than a teacher. As a teacher you should be able to identify when a certain
tactic is not working for your student, which is when you start to switch
things up to help the students better understand and become more engaged.

Teacher Candidate Personal Reflection. After reflecting on this chapter and

your responses to the above questions, what concerns do you have about
teaching students with this exceptionality? Explain.

After reading and reflecting on this chapter I won't lie, I have many
concerns. One of my biggest concerns would be questioning if I'm good
enough to be the teacher of students who strive for more compared to the
other students. I am also afraid that my school/district won't provide support
or funding to give these students the opportunities they deserve. With
students who are gifted and talented they need so much more than just a
good curriculum but hands-on experience when it comes down to subjects,
they show interest in or even field trips. At times it is easy for schools to say
they are willing to support you and these students, but it is very common for
them to forget to give you support when they have 20 other teachers and
500+ students to support. Another thing I am afraid of is not being
interesting enough for the kids to be engaged and curious about what they
are learning. Although students who are gifted and talented have a longer
attention span it does not mean they won't get bored or distracted, if you
aren't able to engage these students from the start you lose them, and they
are most likely to not show interest again in certain subject.

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