Often bright children are the ones who succeed better in a typical school setting They are the teacher pleasers. They work, perhaps, harder than their gifted counterparts and receive praise for those efforts. They make few waves, get A's, and joyfully complete their assignments. Honestly, in my 34 years of teaching I can tell you, we teachers are happy to have these kinds of students.  Still, though these qualities may be apparent, thought he child may seem to sail through what the teacher may offer in the typical classroom, these qualities are mistaken as signs of giftedness.  Click on the insert above and consider the following when reviewing the difference between gifted vs. bright.  The first traits: A bright child knows the answer; the gifted leaner is inquisitive and asks the questions.  What does this look like: The bright child accepts and readily retains the information presented. The gifted learner will begin to manipulate that information in order to draw unique inherences and start asking many questions, almost immediately.  Let's look at the second traits: A bright child enjoys school; the gifted learner enjoys self directed learning.  Again, what does this look like?  the bright child is interested and attentive at school; they listen to the material, are receptive and enjoy working with their peers. While the gifted learner, conversely, is more that merely interested, they are highly curious about it. They can be seen as genuinely mentally and sometimes physically, involved in the topic. When the lesson is over, they prefer the teacher or perhaps working alone rather than any form of cooperative learning. A bright child is receptive at school, while a gifted student can be downright intense at school! Honestly, I've had many parents argue that having a bright child, rather than one who is gifted, is a wonderful thing because the characteristics often associated with giftedness can be particularly challenging. To continue reading about the differences between bright and gifted click here: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/gifted-ed-guru/201201/bright-child-vs-gifted-learner-whats-the-difference . 

The table of characteristics above is helpful in distinguishing between bright learners and gifted learners. It is important to remember that no child will demonstrate all of the traits listed nor will they deomstrate them all of the time. This table is meant to give you and idea of what these two types of learners are like.  If you find that your child is genuinely displaying gifted characteristics, contact your child's teacher and talk to them about referring them for a talented and gifted assessment.  With Smiles, Val:)

What Does Giftedness Look Like?

Generally, TAG is used when referring to a student who is identified as Talented and/or Gifted through pre-established identification procedures and criteria. Most people think of gifted children as those who excel in school, are well behaved, and are well liked by peers and teachers. In reality, very few gifted students actually fit this profile. Many adults are under the false assumption that gifted students do not need additional support and will do just fine on their own. Gifted students actually represent a unique population  in our District Student Services Department. They represent a diverse group with a wide variety of needs. While each gifted child is unique and will have needs specific to their situation. The six profiles below highlights the traits, challenges, and needs of gifted students as described by George Betts and Maureen Neihart. (2010)  We at the Ontario School District are committed to identifying and supporting our gifted students through the use of TAG plans to customize instruction and identify differentiated strategies for teachers to apply in the classroom to meet their unique characteristics and needs. With Smiles, Val:)

The Social Emotional Side of TAG Students

Ontario SD Talented and Gifted Program

District Goal: To identify instructional services that promote growth for our highest achieving students.