A Talented and Gifted Glossary of Terms: A Sampling of Terms Most Used in TAG Education

Since I became active in Talented and Gifted Education almost 15 years ago, I discovered early on, that many people are confused by much of the terminology used in conjunction to Talented and Gifted education. In this article I'll try to hit the high points in Talented and Gifted education terms/language so we are all on the same page when it comes to the language used.

ELP - Extended Learning Programs...an term used which is exchangeable with little or no difference from TAG.

TAG - Talented and Gifted. This is used as a descriptive term for not only the program but for the students in the program as well.

Giftedness/gifted individuals - Those who show a superior mental ability or intelligence. This is discovered in a variety of ways which differ from school to school and state to state. Giftedness is used also as a term which indicates "potential" to the educator. Potential is important in the identification process as it gives and indication as to what levels the student MAY achieve given the correct guidance.

Grade advancement/grade skipping - this is a promotion to a higher grade level than the student would actually be enrolled in had he/she been with his/her age same peers. This is oftentimes confused with acceleration which can be combined with grade advancement but which is different in it's approach to the TAG child.

Acceleration - This is faster presentation of content to more closely try to match the abilities of the TAG child. This is most often seen implemented in school systems and can be used in a regular classroom as well as a separate TAG classroom setting. Indentification of TAG students.

Requirements for TAG or ELP differ from state to state and oftentimes even school to school but most schools look at IQ scores as well as other standardized and specialized testing as well. IQ scores are split into many areas which will be covered later on but generally those who score at a 130 or above are automatically placed into a TAG program. Some schools may raise their IQ requirements due to funding restrictions and others may lower theirs to include more students.This causes confusion in many individuals who may be accepted in one school district for the program and upon moving to another area, are told they do not meet the criteria. It is also important to note that tests are not the only criteria TAG programs use to identify students. A good program will take many identifying factors into play and will use a compilation of these factors to identify those students for TAG programs.

Anti-intellectual - One who is jealous, suspicious or even hostile toward those intelligent people and their goals in TAG education. This may take the form of "name calling" ( ie: egg head, geek, number nerd) or a more intense, biting insult, such as author Edward de Bono's coining of the term "intelligence trap". All these undermine the self worth of the TAG student and make it harder for them to appreciate their own gifts.

Basic skills - Basicall this is reading, writing, and arithmetic. Think the old fashioned "3 R's"

Convergent thinking - Thinking which results in conventional solutions and answers or conformity in one shape or another. Contrast this term with divergent thinking when it comes to education.

Divergent thinking - This is the type of thinking that results in unique, novel, and/or creative solutions or answers to problems at hand. This type of thinking is one that oftentimes is accelerated in the TAG child the point of which observers are amazed.

Empathy - Empathy is based upon clear understanding and feeling from the point of view of the other person. This is an important part of development of self in society. Oftentimes TAG individuals have either a heightened awareness of empathy or must learn it anew. Contrast and compare this term with sympathy, which according to dictionary.com is:"harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another."

Elitist - This is a common criticism of TAG programs world wide. Many feel students in gifted programs act as if they are socially or mentally superior to others or that the TAG program at work supports the "superior" social order at the risk of ostracizing others. This may cause undue jealousy, rage and frustration with other students, educators and even other adults dealing with TAG eduation.

I hope this post of terms better aids the reader in understand much of the "lingo" used by educators and scholars of TAG education. The list of terms is lengthy and some can be difficult to digest, but I think if you begin to understand the basics you will more easily be able to increase your knowledge base from there and in turn help your child as well.