• LINKS TO RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS

    The first link is our AHS slideshow on Gifted Brains that provides more in-depth information and understanding about gifted learners.  (Additional links to resources are listed below the slideshow.) Some of the big take-aways include:

    • The legal definition for giftedness is a 97% score in quantitative, visual-spatial and/or verbal reasoning.
    • The traits of giftedness are what we focus on in order to support a wide range of learners.
    • The gifted brain is physically different - composed of MORE neural connections that are smoother and faster processing. There are some helpful images in the slideshow to demonstrate this principle.
    • The gifted part of the brain is like a Super Information Highway because that part processes, synthesizes and applies information with speed and eloquence. The gifted part of the brain craves novelty, problem-solving, creativity and diversity.
    • The gifted part of the brain is INTENSE. Gifted Intensity is one of the most interesting parts of the slideshow. Check it out - you will likely find your "Intensity" channel there!
    • Not all parts of the brain are gifted, creating disparities in how a gifted student learns and functions. The gifted parts are on the Super Information Highway, traveling at mach-speed, while the other brain parts are traveling at the speed limit, or sometimes - stuck in a traffic jam.
    • Some gifted students are high-achievers, and some are under-achievers. 
    • Many gifted students struggle with Dual-Diagnosis, meaning they are coping with a learning, social-emotional and/or physical challenge.
    • ALL gifted students struggle at some point with feeling "out of sync" with their peers. They may experience developmental delays and/or leaps along the way, and gifted learners perceive the world from a unique lens - often described as "old souls."