A R T I C L E S

Selected resource material for teachers and parents

Joseph Renzulli
Expanding the Conception of Giftedness To Include Co-Cognitive Traits and To Promote Social Capital.

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In 2002, Joseph Renzulli, one of the world’s best-known figures in gifted education, published a hugely significant new article in which he looked at a dimension of gifted behaviour totally different from anything he had considered before. Why is it, he asked, that some gifted people are prepared to commit their abilities, indeed sometimes their whole lives, to such socially constructive actions? At the ultimate level, what is it that brings about the remarkable contributions of people such as Nelson Mandela, Rachel Carson, Mother Theresa, and others like them? Can a better understanding of such individuals help us create an education system which produces future corporate leaders who are as sensitive to aesthetic and environmental concerns as they are to the corporate bottom line? Can we influence the ethics and morality of future industrial and political leaders so that they place gross national happiness on an equal or higher scale of values than gross national product? Seeking to answer these questions, Renzulli identified a number of traits he called "co-cognitive factors" and outlined some steps we can take to recognise and nurture these traits.

Originally published in Phi Delta Kappan, 84(1), 33-58.

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Francoys Gagne
The Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (The DMGT).

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Gagne's most up-to-date version of his influential model, complete with new in-colour diagram and his personal notes. Published here with the kind permission of the author.

Naida Pou & Rosemary Cathcart
The Gifted Child Who Is Maori

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Two teachers, one Maori and one Pakeha, in a dialogue about discovering cultural perspectives, presented originally as a workshop and then published in Gifted Children: Their Future: Our Challenge. Vol. 17/3, 1992.

Stephanie Tolan
Is It A Cheetah?

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Translated into over 40 languages, this article has made the cheetah an analogy for gifted students all over the world and has become the logo of many groups working on behalf of these children. Time and time again this deeply moving and vivid short article has helped teachers, parents and policymakers to grasp the different attributes of the gifted child and the need for specific provision for these children. Published here with the kind permission of the author and with acknowledgement to Diane Scanlon for the graphics. See also our Links page.

The remaining articles are by Rosemary Cathcart:

Choosing A School  

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A guide to finding the right school for your gifted child.
First published in Tall Poppies, March 1996, and re-published in another format in 2004.

 

The Mystery Condition: Detection & Intervention

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There are some children who have a condition which impacts very significantly on their learning but which is very difficult to diagnose. What is it, and when we find it, what are we really trying to achieve through intervention? First published in Kairaranga, Journal of the Resource Teachers of Learning & Behaviour, Vol. 3, Issue 1, 2002.

Gifted Is As Gifted Does

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Why is this quote so apt? How can it help us to cater for the gifted learner? First published in Education Today, Issue 5, 2004.

The Inclusive Classroom and the Gifted Child

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Paper presented to Rising Tides, a National Conference on the Gifted & Talented, Wellington, 2006.

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