Below are some comom misconceptions about the gifted children. These are my opinions that have been concluded based on outside readings and investigations. I strongly suggest that you research for yourself before taking my below ideas as fact. I strongly feel each child should be looked at on an individual basis. However, after reading my opions based on facts, I hope you will view the Gifted studnets with new eyes!
 Gifted Kids are so smart they do fine with or without special programs or special classes.
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They may appear to do fine on their own, but without proper challenge they can become bored and unruly. As the years go by they may find it harder and harder as work does become more challenging, since they never faced challenge before. They also have thier own learning issues becasue as they are considered smart teachers tend not to understand why they are struggling with some concepts.
Gifted Kids are like cream that rises to the top in a classroom.
- Not necessarily. Gifted Children can have hidden learning disabilities that go undiscovered because they can easily compensate for them in the early years. As time goes on though, it becomes harder and harder for them to excel. Which can lead to behavior problems and depression.
Gifted and Talented means the same thing.
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Taking into account that achievement tests are grade level testing. A child is most definitely Academically Talented if they score in the nintey perscentile on these types of assessments, but further individualized IQ and out of level academic testing must be given before we can define that child as "Gifted". At the same time, there is no rule that states a child identified as gifted should be achieving to high standards in the classroom. This type of stereotyping can do serious and irreversible damage to both groups. Any child can benefit from enrichment. Academically Talented Children can benefit from Honors (Grade Level) Classes. Intellectually Gifted children need a differentiated curriculum and possibly even a different environment.
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People who are not "Gifted" should be jealous!
- More often than not gifted children can feel isolated and misunderstood. They have more adult tastes in music, clothing, reading material and food. These differences to other children can cause them to be shunned and even abused verbally or physically by other children.
They need to go through school with their own age mates.
- Where it's true that children need to play and interact socially with other children their age, they do not need to learn with them. Especially in the case of a highly gifted child who may have a chronological age of six and a mental age of 11 who has been reading since two. To put that child in a reading class with other six year olds who are just learning to read is sheer torture for that child. However there is other research that may say different. I suggest that you research for yourself and base that decision on the individual child.
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