Definition of Giftedness
The NAGC states that giftedness, intelligence, and talent are fluid concepts and may look different in different contexts. Even within schools, you will find a range of beliefs about the word “gifted,” which has become a term with multiple meanings and much nuance.
The NAGC also states that gifted children may develop asynchronously: their minds are often ahead of their physical growth, and specific cognitive and social-emotional functions can develop unevenly. Some gifted children with exceptional aptitude may not demonstrate outstanding levels of achievement due to environmental circumstances such as limited opportunities to learn as a result of poverty, discrimination, or cultural barriers; due to physical or learning disabilities; or due to motivational or emotional problems. This dichotomy between potential for and demonstrated achievement has implications for schools as they design programs and services for gifted students.
Below are a few definitions of giftedness that are considered:
“The term ‘gifted and talented,” when used with respect to students, children, or youth, means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in such areas as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.” -National & Federal Definition of Giftedness
“Section 162.675. RSMo defines gifted children as “those children who exhibit precocious development of mental capacity and learning potential as determined by competent professional evaluation to the extent that continued educational growth and stimulation could best be served by an academic environment beyond that offered through a standard grade level curriculum." - DESE Missouri
“Giftedness designates the possession and use of untrained and spontaneously expressed natural abilities (called aptitudes or gifts), in at least one ability domain (e.g., intellectual, creative, socio-affective, perceptual/motor, and ‘others’)…By contrast, ‘talent’ (or high-achieving) designates the superior mastery of systematically developed abilities (or skills) and knowledge in at least one field of human activity.” -Francois Gagné
“Gifted behavior occurs when there is an interaction among three basic clusters of human traits: above-average general and/or specific abilities, high levels of task commitment (motivation), and high levels of creativity. Gifted and talented children are those who possess or are capable of developing this composite of traits and applying them to any potentially valuable area of human performance.” -Joseph Renzulli