THE GIFTED AND TALENTED LEARNERS

Special Education is a set of educational programs designed to meet the special needs of children who cannot profit normally from general education because of their disabilities and exceptionalities. SPED covers mental retardation, those with behavioral problems and learning difficulties, the visually-impaired, hearing-impaired, and the gifted and talented individuals.      Giftedness is not a disability,…


Special Education is a set of educational programs designed to meet the special needs of children who cannot profit normally from general education because of their disabilities and exceptionalities.

SPED covers mental retardation, those with behavioral problems and learning difficulties, the visually-impaired, hearing-impaired, and the gifted and talented individuals.

     Giftedness is not a disability, it is an exceptionality. Gifted and talented children belong to CSN (Children with Special Needs). They are the children with above-average general ability, high level of task commitment and creativity. Although they are exceptional, they need special services too like the children with disabilities, because their maximum potentials should be developed and their talents and creativeness should be discovered.

     Giftedness is not determined by intellectual ability alone but as well as by the natural talents and emotional intelligence. These children also experience emotional behaviors. So, it is important to make them feel comfortable of their characteristics as gifted children so they will not feel that they are different to normal peers. Special Education prepares the gifted to face life normally, not to get emotionally depress when frustrations come their way.

     Assessment and enrichment are both important factors in making SPED programs successful. Reliable assessment and careful evaluation will lead to proper placement of gifted children. Enrichment through upgrading, modernizing, and augmenting differentiated curriculum will help these exceptional children develop their maximum potentials to the fullest. A team composed of school administrator, teachers, parents, and professional groups take over of assessing children’s abilities with cognitive instruction, formal assessment and professional assistance.

     Positive enrichment of experiences and stimulating learning environment will help enhance the child’s natural gifts. Emotional and psychological support from family members, peers, and the community are essential to the development of the gifted and talented children. Appreciate them as persons in their own right, love them as themselves and not because of their achievements, intelligence, potentials, and talents.Teachers play a major role in establishing such goal for the gifted.

     Remember, “ A teacher can make or break a pupil. “ So, let us be careful in the instruction, assessment, and evaluation of these exceptional children, the so-called “ Gifted and Talented Learners.”

By: AMALIA S. AQUIO | T-I | Antonio G. Llamas Elementary School Mariveles , Bataan