Parents and teachers have differing thoughts on the definition of a ‘gifted’ student.  Is it a successful student? An early reader? An outlier? A “nerd”? Is every student gifted? Is a gifted student necessarily a divergent thinker or a great writer? Are there commonalities among all ‘gifted’ children?

Certainly, we all have gifts, and in some ways it is very destructive to the self esteem to divvy kids up according to abilities. On the other hand, if you are a parent of a child whose learning needs lie outside the ‘regular’ classroom, you know that individual learning needs on the ‘upper’ end of the ability spectrum are as important to meet as those at the ‘lower’ end of that spectrum.

What is ‘gifted’ to you? Do you think the label is helpful or divisive?