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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