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CHARACTERISTICS OF GIFTEDNESS
General intellectual ability
- is an avid reader
- has avid interest in science or literature
- provides very alert, rapid answers to questions
- has a wide range of interests
- is secure emotionally
- is venturesome, wanting to do new things
- tends to dominate peers or situations
- is an entrepreneur - readily makes money on various projects or activities
- needs little outside control - applies self discipline
- is resourceful - solving problems by ingenious methods
- is creative in new ideas, seeing associations, pursuing innovations
- displays a great curiosity about objects, situations or events
- has the capacity to look into things and be puzzled
- is involved with many exploratory type activities
- reveals originality in oral and written expression
- is perceptually open to his or her environment
- displays a willingness to accept complexity
- has the capacity to use knowledge and information other than to memorize
- shows superior judgment in evaluating things
- is a good guesser
- makes good grades in most subjects
- learns rapidly, easily and efficiently
- uses a lot of commonsense
- retains and uses information which has been heard or read
- uses a large number of words easily and accurately
- asks many questions of a provocative nature
- has a power of abstraction, conceptualization and synthesis
- has an interest in cause-effect relations
- has a liking for structure, order and consistency
- has a power of concentration, an intense attention that excludes all else
- is persistent
- has a high energy level
- is independent
- is friendly and outgoing
Specific academic aptitude
- shows similar characteristics to general intellectual ability but concentrated around one or a few fields
- has a long attention span in areas of interest
- learns rapidly, easily and with less repetition in one or a few specific areas (probably not all subject areas)
- likes or loves one or a few areas of knowledge
- likes to study some subjects more than others
- spends time voluntarily beyond ordinary assignments on projects of interest to him or her
- is able to extend learning from these key areas to various situations somewhat unrelated in orientation
- is able to show broad perspective on one or more subject areas
- is able to judge own and others' relative abilities in key areas of interest
- seeks assistance of others beyond his or age peers in extending knowledge in areas of interest
- is fluent in producing and elaborating on ideas
- makes unusual associations between remote ideas
- is flexible in thinking patterns
- senses when problems exist
- acts spontaneously, intuitively
- tolerates ambiguity and uncertainty
- senses inconsistencies and discontinuities
- readily guesses and makes hypotheses
- juggles or redefines elements of a problem or task
- can show intense concentration on a task
- retains own ideas in a discussion or collaboration
- provides multiple solutions or responses to problems
- is uninhibited in expression, sometimes radical
- is intellectually playful, interested in fantasy, imagination
- always trying to adapt or improve things
- has a keen sense of humor, seeing humor in situations others don't
- doesn't mind being different
- doesn't accept authoritarian pronouncements without own judgment
- asks provocative questions, challenges parents, teachers, written and other authorities
- is bored with memorization and recitation
- displays energy, sometimes disruptively
- produces unexpected, sometimes "silly" responses
- is considered, and perhaps resented, by some peers as "crazy"
- can show unusual degrees of originality, concentration and persistent hard work on projects that capture their interest and imagination
- can stimulate and arouse others
- organizes others
- recognizes skills and abilities possessed by others
- interacts with others easily showing social skills
- recognizes and can articulate the goals of a group
- can articulate ideas clearly
- can listen to others empathetically
- understands how people feel and how groups function
- can give directions clearly and effectively
- exercises authority reliably and responsibly
- can adopt non-leadership roles within a group
- can establish the mood of a group
- supports others in a group when appropriate
- can coordinate the work of several individuals
- is often asked for ideas and suggestions
- is looked to by others when something must be decided
Music
- has good sense of rhythm
- is well-coordinated
- discriminates musical and other sounds well
- understands musical relationships
- enjoys musical activities and demonstrates musical feeling
- shows tonal memory
- responds readily to rhythm, melody and harmony
- uses music to express feeling or experience
- makes up original tunes
- enjoys dance and dramatic activities with musical elements
Dramatics
- demonstrates interest and enjoyment in dramatic activities
- readily shifts into role of another character, animal or object
- uses voice to reflect changes in mood
- demonstrates understanding of conflict when acting out a dramatic event
- communicates feelings by means of facial expressions, gestures and bodily movements
- enjoys evoking emotional responses from listeners
- demonstrates ability to dramatize feelings and experiences
- brings a dramatic situation to a climax with a well-timed ending when telling a story
Art
- draws a variety of objects
- puts depth into drawing, showing planning and good proportion
- treats art seriously and enjoys it
- shows originality in modes of undertaking art
- is willing to try out new materials and experiences
- pursues art in spare time
- uses art to express feelings and experiences
- is interested in other people's art, both appreciating it and criticizing it
- likes to model three dimensionally with clay, soap carving, plasticine, etc
