Character education and gifted children

Abstract

Character education is both an age‐old and growing discipline, which attempts to restructure schools to optimally foster the development of the ethical and pro‐social motivations and competencies of students. The key components of evidence‐based quality character education are presented. Then the relevant characteristics of gifted students are explored with the aim of identifying those characteristics that offer the opportunity for the optimal implementation of character‐building practices and structures in schools. Finally, the synergy between gifted student characteristics and character‐building pedagogies are delineated, demonstrating that the unique set of qualities of gifted students offers many rich opportunities for the application of effective character education to gifted education.