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SEEING THE WHOLE STUDENTATYPICAL SIGNS OF GIFTEDNESSA strength-based guide to spotting gifted students who might otherwise be missed RESOURCESFoley Nicpon, Allmon, Sieck, & Stinson (2011) Gifted Child Quarterly: Overview of Twice-Exceptionality Research _________________________ Foley-Nicpon, Assouline, & Stinson (2012) Gifted Child Quarterly: Autism vs. Asperger Syndrome _________________________ Baum (2004) Twice-Exceptional and Special Populations of Gifted Students _________________________ Mayes (2016) Journal of African American Males in Education _________________________ Lummiss Self-Perceptions of Twice- Exceptional Students _________________________ Arky — Child Mind Institute Twice-Exceptional Kids: Both Gifted and ChallengedWHY THESE STUDENTS GET MISSEDGiftedness doesn’t always look like straight A’s and raised hands. Some students mask a disability with strong reasoning, some mask giftedness with behavior, and some are simply overlooked because of race, culture, or a “typical gifted kid” stereotype. Having a strength-based lens, like noticing what a student can do well, not just where they struggle can catch more of these kids before they fall through the cracks.
1. Grade-Level Masking (Compensated Underachievement) What it can look like: Turns in average, “fine” work and tests on grade level, but is quietly using strong reasoning skills to cover a real gap. This could look like guessing unknown words from context instead of decoding them. 2.Boredom-Driven “Off-Task” Behavior What it can look like: Fidgeting, interrupting, or appearing distracted but mainly during repetitive practice or whole-group instruction that isn't challenging enough. 3. Uneven Academic Profile What it can look like: Very strong in one subject (ex. 3 grade levels ahead in math) while genuinely struggling in another. This is often mislabeled as “not trying” or inconsistent. 4. Social Withdrawal or Preference for Adult/Younger Company What it can look like: Child may eat alone, avoid group work or seems “quirky”. They may connect better with adults or much younger/older peers than same-age classmates. 5. Perfectionism and Task Avoidance What it can look like: Refuses to start assignments, erases repeatedly, or melts down over small mistakes. Children often show a sign of high internal standards paired with real anxiety. 6. Acting Out to Mask Struggle What it can look like: Class-clown behavior, defiance, or disengagement used to draw attention away from an academic difficulty. This is especially common for students whose giftedness goes unrecognized by adults. • Is there ONE area where this student is a stand-out, even if others are average or low? • Does the “problem” behavior only show up during easy, repetitive, or unchallenging tasks? • Does this student have a talent, interest, or leadership role outside of school that isn’t showing up in class? • Could average or “on-level” work actually be covering up a bigger gap between ability and skill? • Would this student look different if I focused on what they CAN do instead of what they can’t? If you answered “yes” to two or more — it may be time for a referral for further evaluation. Giftedness that’s masked at school often shows up clearly at home, in sports or in clubs. Ask families and outside-of-school adults what they notice. It may include: • A deep, sustained interest or self- taught expertise in a hobby (coding, drawing, building, cooking, etc.) • Taking a natural leadership or “organizer” role on a team, in a club, or with siblings and friends • Asking advanced or “why” questions well beyond what's expected for their age • A strong, vocal sense of fairness or justice in family or peer situations • Creating art, music, stories, or inventions independently, without being asked • Being the person friends or family go to first to solve a problem 6 ATYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS TO WATCH FOR LOOK FOR TOOL LOOK BEYOND THE CLASSROOM