Jeanette Murphy

Lisa Lu
Elissa Exley
Marsha Larkin

Definition of Gifted
A student is considered gifted when she/he
possesses demonstrated or potential abilities
that give evidence of exceptionally high
capability with respect to intellect, creativity,
task commitment, or the skills associated with
specific disciplines.

Definition of Gifted
How is Enrichment different?
Students may be bright or capable students
who occasionally need broader or deeper
educational experiences, but are not identified
as having the special need of giftedness.

Bright Child

Knows the answer

Works hard
Top of the group
Good memorizer

Gifted Learner

Highly curious
Wild, silly ideas
Intense
Already knows
Shows strong
feelings and
opinions

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

(Gardner, 1983)
7 Key areas:
Linguistic
Logical - Mathematical
Spatial
Bodily, Kinesthetic
Musical
Interpersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal Intelligence

The Three-Ring Concept of

Giftedness (Renzulli, 1996)
Above Average Intelligence: Student might
make abstractions easily, masters skills quickly
Creativity: Student might offer unique or
unusual ideas, risk-taker, willing to challenge
or disagree
Task Commitment: Intense involvement in
tasks, eager for new challenges, perseveres

What is Giftedness?
(Renzulli, 1996)

Above
Average
Intelligence

Task
Commitment

Creativity

Prevalence
Gifted students make
up approx. 1% of the
population in public
schools
However, this
number includes the
many students that
are gifted and have
other designations

From the annual provincial report collected from the

Ministry of Education

Identification and Testing

It is important to identify
a student who is gifted
as early as possible
Students who are not
identified and
addressed early may
exhibit emotional and
behavioural difficulties

Identification and Testing

Identification should be
carried out by
using multiple criteria
having information
from a variety of
sources
having procedures in
place that are unbiased

Identification and Testing

For most students
identification starts in the classroom by the
teacher
the teacher will then most likely consult with
the parents
then a formal assessment is referred and
taken by the student (most likely level C)

Approaches to Curriculum
In general, gifted students:
learn at a faster pace
work well with abstract ideas
easily make learning connections
have more mature interests

Approaches to Curriculum
Gifted programs should include the following
elements:
different in pace, scope and complexity
allow students to interact with others with
similar abilities
address cognitive and affective domains
incorporate adaptations and/or extensions
goes beyond the walls of the school

Approaches to Curriculum
Strategies (BC Ministry of Education):
Acceleration
Telescoping
Compacting (MACC)
Independent study (Challenge)
Tiered assignments
Learning centres (What can YOUth do?)

Middle Age Cluster Class (MACC)

District based service for gifted children in
grades 6,7, and 8
Offered at Citadel Middle School, Hillcrest
Middle School, and Kwayhquitlum Middle
School
With MACC: four core subjects (LA, Science,
Math, Social Studies)
Regular classes: Explorations and other
non-core subjects

Middle Age Cluster Class (MACC)

Each applicant must have a P designation and a

Parent Support Letter
Three year compacted program but students can
withdraw or join later if applicable
My Experience....

Middle Age Cluster Class (MACC)

MACC allows opportunity for gifted learners:
to be themselves, while developing the social and
emotional skills essential for school and life
to focus on collaborating with others and becoming a
contributing member of a community
to develop depth and breadth of knowledge, connecting
their learning beyond the classroom
to become self-directed learners, expressing their learning
in many ways
(SD43 Programs: Gifted Education, 2015)

Challenge
Montgomery
Middle
Students are pulled
from class every
Tuesday afternoon
to participate in
independent study
My experience

What can YOUth do? Symposium

Annual Symposium held at SFU Burnaby through
SFU Volunteer and Career Services
Invites Gifted Secondary School Students (grades
8-10) to attend a day long event
Workshops include: Movement/ Improvisation
Activity, Philosophers Cafe, Mindmapping
exercises, Tour around SFU, and closing
Presentations
My Experience
March 6 and April 3rd, 2014