It was a great first book for me to read, I think. It gives some definitions and identifies several areas of giftedness. Of course, I was reading it with J and Z in mind, trying to identify their strong areas. I'd like to go through all of them and make notes about J and Z as I go. I think I'd better take each area one at a time, though. I don't think I can do more than one a day!
So here's #1.
Advanced Intellectual Ability (Really, Really Smart)
- Just seems plain smart in a lot of areas, including some that might surprise you.
This is what people notice first about J & Z. Babysitters and total strangers pick up on it. - Easily grasp new ideas and concepts.
Definitely J. - Understand ideas and concepts more deeply than other children his age.
J tends to show his understanding by expanding the concept beyond what we've discussed with him, or by summarizing the concept while applying it to a new situation. It shows depth, and I don't think that's a common thing for kids his age. - Come up with new ideas and concepts on his own, and apply them in creative and interesting ways.
I can't think of any specific examples. A lot of times, J's wrong, but it's amazing that he's still thinking and trying to apply the things he's learned. - Easily memorize facts, lists, dates, and names.
Because it's spring, we've recently been talking about all the different plants that are now in bloom. I told the boys one time that the trees covered in purple blossoms are plum trees, and the yellow flowering bushes are forsythia. Z spends his car rides shouting, "There's a plum tree!" and J points out all the forsythia (I think Z can't quite wrap his tongue around that word!) - Have an excellent memory and never forget a thing.
We call J an elephant because he never forgets. His amazing memory is one of the first things we noticed about J, primarily when at age 2, he remembered what he'd gotten in his Easter basket at age 1. - Learn new materials and to use new things more easily and quickly than other children his age.
This is hard to compare outside of a school setting. - Really love to learn--which may or may not include loving school.
When we're teaching J something and pause, he says, "what else are you going to tell me?" He's thirsty for learning! - Enjoy playing challenging games and making elaborate plans--the more complex, the better.
Oh my, J makes elaborate plans. Just today, he invented a game and explained the rules to me in great detail, then created the props with his art supplies. He'll often make intricate plans for road trips we'll never take, including where we'll sleep and eat on the way. - Have friends who are older (because he needs someone to match wits and interests with).
Unfortunately, we've moved far too often for him to make any friends. We're working on that now that we're finally settled. His primary source of friends is his church Sunday school class, and they're divided by ages. - Enjoy books, movies, games, and activities meant for older children or even adults.
J fell in love with a movie about sending a robot to Mars when he was still 2. It was definitely meant for adults. He was completely enthralled when we watched American Experience about polio on PBS together. At the library, he always wants Eyewitness books, which seem about right for 6th graders. He also loved (and still does) Bill Nye the Science Guy videos from about age 3, which say they are for 4th grade and up. He can hardly bear to watch an unanimated movie for entertainment, but if it's nonfiction, he's more than happy! - Know many things that other children his age seem totally unaware of.
This is also difficult to measure because of our lack of friends and school experience. But I doubt many of his church friends could discuss black holes, the law of gravity, or viruses and bacteria.
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