gifted and talented

rage – just lost a whole post on gifted and talented. be very glad – probably karma as i have ranted so much today.

points of rant -

1.nomenclature – gifted and talented vs average or struggling

2. there being a national register of gifted and talented children

2.not being frank that what labour wants to do is reintroduce setting/streaming

3. pretending that individualised option is a reality in most schools

but mainly the words!!!

but doesn’t this

General Characteristics of Gifted, Talented and More Able Pupils – he or she may:

• be a good reader
• be very articulate or verbally fluent for their age
• give quick verbal responses (which can appear cheeky)
• have a wide general knowledge
• learn quickly
• be interested in topics which one might associate with an older child
• communicate well with adults – often better than with their peer group
• have a range of interests, some of which are almost obsessions
• show unusual and original responses to problem-solving activities
• prefer verbal to written activities
• be logical
• be self taught in their own interest areas
• have an ability to work things out in their head very quickly
• have a good memory that they can access easily
• be artistic
• be musical
• excel at sport
• have strong views and opinions
• have a lively and original imagination / sense of humour
• be very sensitive and aware
• focus on their own interests rather than on what is being taught
• be socially adept
• appear arrogant or socially inept
• be easily bored by what they perceive as routine tasks
• show a strong sense of leadership
• not necessarily be well-behaved or well liked by others

sound like characteristics that lots of HE kids you know have? And isn’t it sooooo meaningless in the HE world of individualised education!