Affective characteristics: Affective characteristics are social and emotional characteristics which can include emotional intensity, a well developed sense of justice and fairness, the ability to empathize with the feelings of others, an unusually mature sense of humor, a preference for the companionship of older children, perfectionist tendencies, and an acute self awareness.

Areas of giftedness: Area of giftedness is the specific ability in which a student performs or shows potential to perform at a remarkably high level of accomplishment.

Artistic: A student can be said to be artistically gifted by possessing outstanding ability in the visual and performing arts.

Asynchronous development: A term used to describe disparate rates of intellectual, emotional, and physical rates of growth or development often displayed by gifted children.

CLD: Culturally, linguistically diverse ; students from diverse backgrounds, including those of black, Hispanic, and Asian descent, those learning English as a second language, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Often, these students are considered as being underrepresented in gifted programming. Can sometimes be referred to as culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse (CLED) students.

Cognitive characteristics: Cognitive characteristics are those characteristics defined as thinking, problem solving, concept understanding, information processing, and overall intelligence.

Creativity: The process of developing new, uncommon, or unique ideas. The federal definition of giftedness identifies creativity as a specific component of giftedness.

Gifted/talented students: The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act defines gifted and talented students as “Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.” [Title IX, Part A, Definition 22. (2002)].

Gifted students from poverty: Gifted students from poverty exhibit many of the characteristics of the gifted associated with any child. However, there are some characteristics that are hidden by the cloak of poverty. Dr. Paul Slocumb notes that this lack of resources frequently manifests itself in students through

• lower scores on standardized tests;

• behavior that is different from their peers from middle class households;

• appearing unmotivated, lacking goals and planning skills;

• lacking social skills necessary to resolve conflicts; and

• lacking many skills that society regards as basic academic skills.

Giftedness: Giftedness is that precious endowment of potentially outstanding abilities which allows a person to interact with the environment with remarkably high levels of achievement and creativity.

Intellectually gifted: Intellectual abilities and potential for achievement are so outstanding the child’s educational performance is adversely affected. ―Adverse affect means the general curriculum alone is inadequate to appropriately meet the student’s educational needs.

Overexcitabilities: A theory proposed by Kazimierz Dąbrowski, a Polish psychologist, psychiatrist, and physician, that suggests that some individuals have heightened sensitivities, awareness, and intensity in one or more of five areas: psychomotor, sensual, intellectual, imaginational, and emotional.

Social and emotional needs: Gifted and talented students may have affective needs that include heightened or unusual sensitivity to self-awareness, emotions, and expectations of themselves or others, and a sense of justice, moral judgment, or altruism. Counselors working in this area may address issues such as perfectionism, depression, low self-concept, bullying, or underachievement.

Talent development: Programs, curricula, and services for gifted and talented students that can best meet their needs, promote their achievements in life, and contribute to the enhancement of our society when schools identify students' specific talent strengths and focus educational services on these talents.

Twice exceptional: A term used to describe a student who is both gifted and disabled. These students may also be referred to as having dual exceptionalities or as being gifted with learning disabilities (GT/LD). This also applies to students who are gifted with ADHD or gifted with autism