Classroom Behaviors of Gifted Children

Buy this book »

Does the child

• Ask a lot of questions?
• Show a lot of interest in progress?
• Have in-depth information on many things?
• Often want to know why or how something is so?
• Become unusually upset at injustices?
• Seem interested in and concerned about social or political problems?
• Often have a better reason for not doing what you want done than you have asking them to do it?
• Refuse to drill on spelling, mathematics, facts, flash cards, or handwriting?
• Criticize others for dumb ideas?
• Become impatient if work is not "perfect"?
• Seem to be a loner?
• Seem bored and often have nothing to do?
• Complete only part of an assignment or project and then take off in a new direction?
• Stick to a subject long after the class has gone on to other things?
• Seem restless and leave his or her seat often?
• Daydream?
• Seem to understand easily?
• Like solving puzzles and problems?
• Have his or her own idea about how something should be done? And stay with it?
• Talk a lot?
• Love metaphors and abstract ideas?
• Love debating issues?

This child may be showing giftedness through cognitive ability.

Does the child

• Show unusual ability in some area—maybe reading or mathematics?
• Show fascination with one field of interest? And manage to include this interest in all discussion topics?
• Enjoy meeting or talking with experts in this field?
• Get mathematics answers correct, but find it difficult to tell you how?
• Enjoy graphing everything? Seem obsessed with probabilities?
• Invent new obscure systems and codes?

This child may be showing giftedness through academic ability.

Does the child

• Try to do things in different, unusual, imaginative ways?
• Have a really zany sense of humor?
• Enjoy new routines or spontaneous activities?
• Love variety and novelty?
• Create problems with no apparent solutions? And enjoy asking you to solve them?
• Love controversial and unusual questions?
• Have a vivid imagination?
• Seem never to proceed sequentially?

This child may be showing giftedness through creative ability.

Does the child

• Organize and lead group activities? Sometimes take over?
• Enjoy taking risks?
• Seem cocky, self-assured?
• Enjoy decision making? Stay with that decision?
• Synthesize ideas and information from a lot of different sources?

This child may be showing giftedness through leadership ability.

Does the child

• Seem to pick up skills in the artssmusic, dance, drama, or painting, for example-without instruction?
• Invent new techniques? Experiment?
• See minute detail in products or performances?
• Have high sensory sensitivity?

This child may be showing giftedness through visual or performing arts ability.