Gifted & Talented Instruction Program
The purpose of the Gifted and Talented Instruction Program is to provide educational services to students who have the potential for exceptional academic and artistic achievement in grades Pre-Kindergarten - 12. Gifted children and youth are those who demonstrate abilities that give evidence of high performance in academic and intellectual aptitude. The Gifted and Talented Instruction Program recognizes students who have been identified through a state evaluation as being academically gifted and/or talented in the areas of theatre, music, and visual arts. The goal of the Gifted and Talented Instruction Program is to challenge, support, and inspire gifted and talented students through differentiated, accelerated, and enrichment learning opportunities designed to meet their unique academic, social, and emotional needs
Several studies have been conducted on the importance of gifted identification.
- Gifted students are more likely to take advanced courses. Brody and Mills (2005)
- Gifted students have higher educational attainment. Brody and Mills (2005)
- Gifted students experience social benefits. Brody and Mills (2005)
- Gifted programs have a positive effect on post-secondary plans. Hebert (1993)
- Students who participate in gifted programs, maintain interests and career aspirations in college. Delcourt (1993)
- Students’ involvement in gifted programs in high school enabled them to explore potential career interests and allow students to see themselves in the role of practicing professionals and visualize a different sense of self. Taylor (1992)
Contact the Child Search Department at 504-349-8677, if your child is between two (2) and five (5) years old to schedule an appointment for a potentially gifted screening.
Characteristics of Gifted Children
CREATIVE
- Independent thinker
- Expressive (oral or written)
- Keen sense of humor
- Resourceful
- Doesn’t mind being different
- Is original, unconventional, imaginative
ACADEMIC ABILITY
- High rate of success in subjects of interest
- Pursues certain areas with vigor
- Good memory
- Comprehends well
- Acquires knowledge quickly
- Widely read in special areas
LEADERSHIP
- Likes structure
- Self-confident
- Well-accepted by peers
- Shows good judgement, common sense
- Responsible
- Articulate, verbally fluent
- Foresees the consequences of things
VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS
- Expresses feelings, thoughts and moods through art
- Good coordination
- Exhibits creativity, imagination
- Observant
- Likes to produce original products
- Flexible
INTELLECTUAL
- Observant
- Gets excited about new ideas
- Inquisitive
- Learns rapidly
- Independent learner
- Has a large vocabulary compared to others his age
- Thinks abstractly
- Enjoys hypothesizing
- Intense