Understanding the Unique Needs of Gifted Students A Guide for Teachers and AdministratorsCreated By: Carolyn Bellotti

Unique Needs of Gifted Learners0Gifted students have different needs from their

general education peers. Some of these include:

Challenging Learning

Situations

Cognitively Complex Levels

of Thought

Divergent Thought

• Problem Solving• Decision Making

Tasks that Require

Sustained Concentration

Systematic Inquiry

Integration of Information and

Ideas

Discussions with Intellectual

Peers

Challenge in Areas of

Strength and Interest

Critical Thinking Coping with Exceptionality Leadership

Applying Knowledge and Abilities to Real

Problems

Appropriate Programming for Gifted Learners

0Thematic units of study.0Multiple learning

disciplines integrated together.

0 In-depth learning about self-selected topics of interest.

0Development of independent study skills.

0Open-ended tasks.

0Develop research skills.0 Integrate the basics with

higher level thinking.0Encourage the

development of products that:0 Challenge existing ideas0 Produce new ideas0 Use new techniques,

materials, and forms

Appropriate Programming for Gifted Learners

0 Encourage the development of self-understanding0 Recognizing and using your

abilities0 Becoming self-directed

(independent)0 Appreciating likenesses and

differences between themselves and others

0 Evaluate student outcomes by using appropriate and specific criteria0 Include opportunities for self-

assessment

Program Outline0Differentiation is key when designing programs for

gifted learners.

Differentiation

Environment

Content Process

Product

Components of Effective Gifted Programs

Quality learning time with mental

age peers

Flexibility Less repetition

Integration Self-directed learning

Creative thinking and

problem solving

Faster pace Greater depth Increased intensity

Components of Effective Gifted Programs

0 Increased concentration on0 Higher level thinking skills0 Interrelationships

between subjects0 Nontraditional school

subjects0 Increasing levels of

difficulty0 In depth study, focusing on

passion areas

“Above all else, gifted education programs should develop students who are PRODUCERS of new knowledge and information rather than just being CONSUMERS of existing knowledge and information.”

Strength-Based Programming

0Four components should be given attention over time:1. Acceleration2. Differentiated Content3. Process and Product4. Affective and Career

Guidance0Content options should

be matched to strengths

Program Options

Differentiating by Acceleration

Differentiating by Use of Complexity

Differentiating by Adding Depth

Differentiating by Providing Novelty

Differentiating Curriculum Content

Individualizing Instruction

The Power of Choice

Timeline

0 The EP (educational plan) team decides what services are appropriate for students who are gifted.0 Factors considered include:

0Universal Screening Assessment0 Progress Monitoring/Data Collection

0 The problem-solving teams (PST) meet to determine that high achieving students receive the depth and complexity of instruction necessary to meet their needs in all content area courses.

0 An EP is created based on student strengths and instructional decisions are made in the best interest of the student. 0 Educational options vary according to district and school site.

Description of Activities

Problem-Based

Learning

Career Fair

Number Talks

Genius Hour

Literature Circles

Problem Based Learning

0The learner encounters a real world problem

0Students inquire about the nature of the problem, research it, and use resources to acquire relevant data

0Teacher uses flexible team grouping and whole class discussion

Number Talks

0 Students act as teachers as they share their own strategies for solving problems

0Encourages students to develop metacognition and to evaluate the efficiency of multiple strategies

0 Student directed learning and discussion

Elementary Career Fair

0 An elementary take on internships and work study designed for older students

0 Community professionals present to the class about their careers

0 Students choose a career to pursue and create a resume and complete a mock interview

0 Real world learning applications to prepare students for their future

Genius Hour

0During genius hour students are empowered to explore their own passions

0Students have a choice in what they learn

0The teacher provides a set amount of time for students to work on their passion projects

Literature Circles

0Students work with their peers to read and discuss books based on their interests and levels (differentiation)

0Students complete jobs and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers about what they read

Related Resources0http://www.geniushour.com0http://www.mathperspectives.com/num_talks.html0http://www.litcircles.org/Overview/overview.html