It is commonly acknowledged that approximately five percent of the student population in the United States is considered gifted. We need to understand who are these 5% and understand whether “common core” education help them succeed?
We will find that these are gifted children that can be simply identified by restless behavior if given unchallenging tasks. They are early readers and show avid reading ability. They tend to show rapid learning ability, extraordinary problem solving/reasoning abilities. They respond emotionally to stories or events, show compassion for others and have sophisticated sense of humor. They may get into trouble because they may question authority, ask unusual questions and have vivid imagination. The abilities of gifted children can be very general such as extraordinary leadership skills and creativity. They may have specialized talents such as an aptitude for mathematics, writing, science, or music. These children demonstrate intellectual, creative skills and excel in specific academic categories.