Suggestions For Developing A School Definition:

Suggestions for Developing a School Definition: Primary Examples

Sample definitions below have been developed to stimulate critical analysis.

Your definition needs to reflect the special character of your school, related to your mission statement, and take into account the following issues:

Components Implicit in a School-Based Definition

Does the definition………..

 Recognise both performance and potential?

 Acknowledge that gifted and talented students demonstrate exceptionality in relation to their peers of the same age or circumstances?

 Reflect a multi-category approach which includes an array of special abilities?

 Recognise multi-cultural belief, attitudes and customs?

 Provide for differentiated educational opportunities for gifted and talented students including social and emotional support?

 Acknowledge that giftedness is evidenced in all societal groups, regardless of culture, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender or disability (learning, physical of behavioural)?

 Recognise that a student may be gifted in one or more areas?

Source: Riley et al. (2004). Gifted and Talented Education in New Zealand Schools. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media

Sample School Definitions

Example #1: Gifted and talented students at ……….. School are those who demonstrate exceptional performance and flair in relation to their peers of the same age or who have potential outstanding ability in one or more of the following areas: . General or specific academic aptitude . Creative ability . Leadership ability/social skills . Visual or performing arts, including cultural arts . Physical ability . Technological ability

We also recognise that some students have outstanding abilities related to their specific cultural beliefs, values and practices. We acknowledge that giftedness is evident in all societal groups regardless of culture, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender or disability.

Robyn Boswell, TEAM Solutions (2009) 1 Example #2: Gifted and talented children at ……….. School are those children with outstanding potential (relative to their peer group) who demonstrate high performance in a variety of educational and cultural opportunities across the curriculum.

These opportunities relate to the following areas: . Logical/Mathematical . Verbal/Linguistic . Bodily/Kinesthetic . Spatial . Musical . Interpersonal . Intrapersonal . Naturalistic

Example #3: Gifted and Talented Students at ……….. School are those who demonstrate extraordinary ability or its potential and require differentiated programmes to meet their needs.

Example #4: Giftedness refers to students of outstanding performance or potential abilities, relative to their peers, in one or more of the following domains: . Intellectual . Creative . Socioaffective . Sensorimotor

Gifted students have the potential to be more than high achievers; they have the capability to extend the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding. Differentiated educational environments are essential to meet the needs of this group of students.

Example #5: Gifted and talented children at ……….. School are those that have the potential or who display, relative to their peer group, outstanding general or specific abilities, behaviours and qualities, in a wide range of areas, including one or more of the multiple intelligences.

As a multicultural Catholic school, we acknowledge the special abilities that our children may have within the cultural and spiritual domains.

Example #6: Gifted and talented students at ……….. Kura are those who exhibit qualities and abilities characteristic of giftedness or talent grounded in Maori kaupapa. They require culturally appropriate learning opportunities and need emotional and social support to realise their potential.

Robyn Boswell, TEAM Solutions (2009) 2 Example #7: Gifted children at ……School are defined as those ‘who by nature of outstanding abilities are capable of high performance”. The term ‘outstanding abilities’ refers to general intellectual ability, specific academic aptitude, leadership ability, ability in the visual or performing arts, creative thinking, athletic ability or specific cultural abilities.

Example #8: Gifted students at ……….. School are those with the potential to achieve outstanding performance relative to other students of the same age, in one or more areas of human endeavour. Talented students are those who demonstrate exceptional ability in one or more areas.

Example #9: At ……….. School, gifted and talented students are those who demonstrate capability and/or exceptional potential, significantly beyond that typically seen in students of the same age.

Example #10: Gifted and talented students at ……….. School are those who exhibit qualities and abilities characteristic of giftedness or talent valued by the school community. They require culturally appropriate learning opportunities and may need emotional and social support to realise their potential.

Robyn Boswell, TEAM Solutions (2009) 3