Most parents and educators will generally agree that gifted children are normally ahead of the curve when it comes to learning various concepts and completing tasks when compared to their peers. However, questions can arise as to whether gifted children are really any good at mathematics specifically. In this article, we will look at the unique advantages and challenges that gifted children have when it comes to studying and succeeding in mathematics.
Understanding Gifted Kids
Let’s begin by taking a closer look at what actually constitutes being a gifted kid. As a general rule, gifted children are able to comprehend and make logical connections between different concepts more quickly than their peers.
They will normally demonstrate superior problem-solving skills and will often display aspects of leadership at a much earlier age. Most parents, teachers and psychologists tend to agree that gifted children are already well ahead of their peers in terms of both knowledge and understanding from the time they start school. When their special needs, learning styles, and expertise levels all taken into account, gifted children will usually be able to learn at a faster rate than their age-matched peers.
This can often result in a greater probability of better performing academically. However, it is notable that there is a much greater variety in the academic success achieved by gifted children when compared to other groups of learners.
Are Gifted Kids Good at Math?
Arguably the most contentious academic subject amongst parents and educators is mathematics. The stereotype that “maths is hard” is a phrase which parents often find themselves using to encourage their kids to study, even if they don’t really believe it. The good news is that, overall, gifted children tend to do quite well at mathematics and a certain aptitude for the subject is increasingly seen as another of the benefits of being a gifted learner.
The reason why gifted children appear to be more successful than their non-gifted peers at mathematics is due to their special ability to make connections more quickly. Maths is largely made up of abstract objects, numbers, symbols and ideas.
As gifted children have an ability to quickly understand different ideas and concepts, they can also be more successful in applying those skills to maths-based problems. Gifted children often find solving problems in mathematics challenging and exhilarating at the same time. For example, if a maths problem requires figuring out a certain sequence, the gifted learner will find this entertaining and not a chore.
Further to this, gifted children are more likely to pick up a greater understanding of the language surrounding and informing mathematical work thus enabling their success.
Challenges for Gifted Kids in Maths
It should be noted, however, that being gifted does not necessarily make all maths problems easier. As discussed, being gifted does allow for them to understand mathematics better but not necessarily to help them get the answers a lot faster.
This comes down to the fact that math problems differ greatly in terms of difficulty and the ability to solve them, and the gifted child might still find some of them hard to solve. Another interesting challenge concerns talented underachievers, which is a subgroup of gifted children who have trouble engaging and succeeding in math, despite their obvious gifted abilities. This demographic of gifted learners is normally quite large compared to other sections of the student body and often struggle with aspects of maths due to them lacking motivation, strong work ethic, or sometimes even interest in the subject itself.
Ensuring Gifted Kids Succeed in Maths
Due to the unusually hardworking nature of gifted children, there are several things that teachers, guardians and parents can do to help ensure that their gifted learners are successful in maths. The first step is to find a suitable learning style for the gifted student. By understanding how the student usually interacts with the material, teachers and parents can then ensure that the learning style is adjusted accordingly.
This should also be combined with recurrent positive reinforcement to retain motivation levels. In addition, it is important to also create an environment of constructive feedback.
By giving feedback to the student as frequently as possible, the gifted learner is then provided with the opportunity to reward themselves for their successes while learning from their mistakes. With the right balance of motivation, suitable learning styles and constructive feedback, most gifted learners will be able to reach the level of maths proficiency that they are capable of achieving. Finally, it is important to remember that mathematics is only one area which gifted learners need to focus on.
While obtaining a mastery of mathematical skills is undeniably important, one should not overlook the importance of other areas such as physics and science, which can all compliment each other to produce a more proficient learner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, gifted children often can go on to perform better in mathematics than their non-gifted peers. The reason for this is due to their naturally specialized ability to make quick connections and their increased capabilities when it comes to comprehending abstract objects.
At the same time, there are challenges to ensure that gifted children are successful in maths, such as motivating them enough to apply themselves and implementing suitable learning styles for different students. With the right combination of techniques, most gifted learners will be able to enjoy and perform better in mathematics.