CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HIGHLY CAPABLE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do you define Highly Capable?
Highly Capable students are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in the top 5% or rarer) in one or more domains.

What are some characteristics of Highly Capable students?

  • Thoughtfully interrelating complex knowledge from multiple subject areas

  • Having exceptional insight to themes and generalizations

  • Demonstrating sophistication in learning and applying new information to tasks

  • Asking provocative questions that probe and analyze problems

  • Giving diverse, thought-provoking, responses that lead to innovative solutions

  • Insightfully evaluating information and ideas

  • Creating products that synthesize ideas from a variety of challenging sources

  • Initiating and going above and beyond required assignments

What is the difference between a bright child and a Highly Capable child?

BRIGHT CHILD

Knows the answers

Is interested

Is attentive

Has good ideas

Works hard

Answers the questions

Top group

Listens with interest

Learns with ease

6-8 repetitions for mastery

Understands ideas

Enjoys peers

Grasps the meaning

Completes assignments

Is receptive

Copies accurately

Enjoys school

Absorbs information

Technician

Good memorizer

Enjoys straight-forward, sequential

Is alert

Is pleased with own learning

HIGHLY CAPABLE CHILD

Asks the questions

Is highly curious

Is mentally/physically involved

Has wild, silly ideas

Plays around yet tests well

Discusses in detail; elaborates

Beyond the group

Shows strong feelings and opinions

Already knows

1-2 repetitions to mastery

Constructs abstractions

Prefers adults

Draws inferences

Initiates projects

Is intense

Creates a new design

Enjoys learning

Manipulates information

Inventor

Good guesser

Thrives on complexity

Is keenly observant

Is highly self-critical

By: Janice Szabos – Gifted Quarterly