Removing the Mask: Giftedness in Poverty

by

Paul D. Slocumb, Ed.D. and Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.

aha! Process, Inc.

www.ahaprocess.com

1-800-424-9484

Attribute / Giftedness
Kingore, B., Portfolios: Enriching and Assessing All Students, 1993, p. 64 / Giftedness in Poverty
Slocumb & Payne, Removing the Mask: Giftedness in Poverty, 2000, pp. 83-84
Advanced Language / Displays advanced vocabulary
Uses complex sentences effectively
Naturally uses metaphors and analogies to express relationships / Vocabulary limited to casual register
Sentence structure may lack cause and effect relationships
Use of figurative language may reflect comparisons to people and entertainers
Analytical Thinking / Discerns components of a whole
Determines relationships and patterns in procedures, experiences, ideas, and/or objects / May not be able to plan but is intrigued with the idea of planning
Discerns patterns in human behavior but not necessarily in ideas
Meaning Motivated / Shows curiosity and inner drive for thorough, independent understanding
Asks penetrating, intellectual questions
Demonstrates extensive memory / Curious, independent
Asks questions that are focused on relationships
Extensive memory about people and conversations
Questions things related to fairness
Sense of Humor / Demonstrates understanding of higher levels of humor and application of a finely developed sense of humor, either through production of jokes, riddles, puns, or other humorous effects or through understanding the subtle humor of others / Application of finely tuned sense of humor, creates original jokes
Humor often reflects imitations of people and events
Tells stories and uses casual register in colorful ways
Mimics accurately
Perspective / Displays an ability to understand and incorporate unexpected or unusual points of view through oral language, writing, manipulatives, and/or art / Incorporates unexpected or unusual points of view through oral language and manipulatives and art
Sensitivity / Is intensely sensitive to the needs of others
Demonstrates a strong sense of justice and sets high standards for self and others / Demonstrates a strong sense of justice as defined by poverty
Fairness issues
Identifies with the anti-hero; sees anti-hero as the victim
Accelerated Learning / Demonstrates mastery and an ability to learn and understand material and concepts beyond the facts and knowledge typical and expected for that age group / When shown how to do things that the student considers meaningful, he/she learns quickly