Started in the 1970's, America's Gifted & Talented programs .
have been used to enhance the curriculum of students included in either .
category in order to challenge and strengthen their unique abilities. .
These students are usually provided a separate class with specialized .
lessons in all areas and a teacher whom many times holds a special degree, credential, or certificate in gifted education. It is important that the teacher empathize with these students, and understand what the students must sometimes face as "above average" members of their school. .
One of the earliest programs for gifted and talented students .
was set up in 1974, at The Old Donation Center, in Virginia Beach. .
Students scoring within the top 3% of students on an assessment test .
are referred here to be further challenged. These students are .
considered gifted and have special teachers and classes to promote .
development of their talents and minds. Programs like this began to .
pop up around the nation in the 70's; however, gifted students were .
looked down upon by teachers, parents, and peers. Many people .
considered them to be "freaks" because they were different. They .
didn't understand the implications of the terms "gifted" and .
"talented". Most people simply expected gifted students to act more .
mature or to be geniuses, even though gifted students are the same as .
other children in their needs as human beings. Some gifted students .
were forced to grow up too fast and some simply ignored the fact that .
they were smarter than others, thus, they were lost in the shuffle. .
The irony of it all is that gifted-ness seems to run in families and .
the children of these repressed gifted students are, themselves, .
gifted.
But what exactly is a "gifted" student? Students (elementary .
& secondary) are given a repertoire of tests. These tests check IQ, .
psychomotor ability, specific academic aptitude/talent, creative and .