Gifted Aboriginal students
Planning for the Education of Gifted and Talented Aboriginal Students
When planning for the educational needs of gifted Aboriginal students, schools should consider:
- the need for teacher sensitivity and awareness of cultural related issues and information;
- an understanding of the concept of giftedness from an Aboriginal cultural perspective;
- an operational model for the identification of gifted Aboriginal students;
- appropriate curriculum and program strategies.
All aspects of the education for gifted and talented Aboriginal students must take into account their unique cultural views, characteristics and circumstances. It is essential for teachers to consider culture-specific information and community participation and support when planning programs for gifted and talented Aboriginal students, this includes the involvement of parents/carers.
Identification is based upon:
- the quality of the curriculum and learning environment;
- teacher, parent/carer and peer nomination and achievement and standardised test data;
- identification checklists such as the Harslett Rating Scales and Peer Nomination Inventory:
- Harslett Academic Rating Scale
(Word Doc 41 kb) - Harslett Peer Group Nomination (Word Doc 46 kb)
- ID Checklist Harslett Rating Scale Parents (Word Doc 45 kb)
- ID Checklist Harslett Rating Scale Teachers (Word Doc 46 kb)
- Academically Gifted Aboriginal Students (Word Doc 41 kb)
- Intellectually Gifted Aboriginal Students
- for teachers (Word Doc 46 kb)
- for teachers/parents and community members (Word Doc 45 kb)
- Harslett Peer Group Nomination (Word Doc 46 kb)
- Intelligence Tests, i.e., Raven Standard Progressive Matrices. Consideration may need to be given to un-timed testing.
Harslett Rating Scales for the Behavioural Characteristics of:
Programs must relate to both traditional and contemporary topics and issues in a way that promotes rigour and cultural pride. Programs must develop the gifts and talents of Aboriginal and multi-cultural domains, they may be based upon:
- fast paced problem solving;
- learning styles;
- goal setting.
Programs should be planned and monitored in partnership with parents/carers, committees which include nominees of the Aboriginal community, the school and other appropriate stakeholders.
The following Department of Education and Training (WA) websites provide related information.
Aboriginal Education directorate
This site provides links to:
- Aboriginal Perspectives across the Eight Learning Areas.
- Awards of Excellence and other related programs, policies and resources.
English as a Second Language and English as a Second Dialect
The "home talk" of many Aboriginal students is Aboriginal English, this site provides an overview of Aboriginal English and related resources to support teachers learning.