Six Strategies for Challenging Gifted Learners

The Genetic Studies of Genius, today known as the Terman Study of the Gifted, is currently the oldest and longest-running longitudinal study in the field of psychology. It was begun by Lewis Terman at Stanford University in 1921 to examine the development and characteristics of gifted children into adulthood.

The study of giftedness began in earnest in the early part of this century, when Lewis Terman initiated a large-scale longitudinal study of over 1,500 high-IQ children.

1. Offer the Most Difficult First. “Gifted students don’t need to do 25 problems in math when they can do the five most difficult first to demonstrate mastery,” says Brulles.
2. Pre-Test for Volunteers.
3. Prepare to Take It Up.
4. Speak to Student Interests.
5. Enable Gifted Students to Work Together.
6. Plan for Tiered Learning.

A bright child has a fine imagination; the gifted learner uses that imagination to experiment with ideas and hunches. What’s required, of course, is defining giftedness as something that is beyond just being a high achiever. Often gifted students are high achievers but, perhaps just as often, they are not.

Swicord says, “Within-classroom accommodations that respond to the varying needs of gifted students include curriculum compacting, self-instructional programs, learning packets or learning contracts, and advanced materials.”

Below are some interventions that can serve as steps toward reversing underachievement in gifted students.

1. 1: Identify the root causes!
2. 2: Focus on the child’s gifts and talents.
3. 3: Secure mentors or seek counseling services.
4. 4: Strengthen parent-teacher collaboration.

Acceleration is an intervention that moves students through an educational program at a more rapid rate than their age-mates. The goal of acceleration is to tailor the level and complexity of the curriculum to the ability and academic readiness of individual children (Colangelo et al., 2004).

Tips for Teaching Gifted Students

1. How can you meet the needs of gifted learners? Tune in to their individual needs, do frequent assessments, and differentiate instruction, experts say.
2. 2 | Assess often.
3. 3 | Let students take charge of their learning.
4. 4 | Honor interests and allow for exploration.
5. 5 | Involve parents.

Specific techniques to build critical thinking skills in students include:

1. Providing timely, positive, yet constructive feedback.
2. Expressing agreement, appreciation, and encouragement.
3. Posing challenging questions to students.
4. Teaching the value of comparing and contrasting; everything is not right or wrong.

an inability to be receptive to an idea or point of view that differs from your own (close-mindedness) unwarranted assumptions or lack of relevant information. fear of being wrong (anxious about being taken out of your ‘comfort zone’) poor communication skills or apathy.

Chapter 13. Dealing with Challenging Students

1. Drop All Grudges.
2. Limit Negative Faculty Room Talk.
3. Open Parent Conferences with a Positive Statement.
4. Tell the Student You Understand Her Feelings.
5. Value the Student, Despite the Inappropriate Action.
6. Keep the Class Moving.
7. Unleash the Power of Appropriately High Expectations.