Redland Elementary SchoolGifted Education

Presentation by Ms. MattoxAugust, 2010

Inservice Faculty Meeting

Gifted EducationA Right- not a Privilege Gifted students, like disabled students,

have special needs that cannot be met with the general education curriculum.

Increased complexity Greater depth Faster pacing Development of creativity potential

Why Should a Student Who Has Not Benchmarked Attend Gifted Classes? Curriculum in gifted classes includes reading, writing, and thinking

at high levels.

Students are often reading and writing in their interest areas to complete a project of choice – high motivation to read, write, and research.

Attending gifted classes maintains a desire for the student to come to and remain in school.

To provide for social-emotional needs.

Why Does a Gifted Student Who is Failing Need to Receive Gifted Services? To find a “safe” place where the student can feel successful and be

accepted.

To receive affective help from the Gifted Teacher

Work on organizational skills Set goals, academic, social, and career Meet with a mentor who can serve as a positive influence

To provide motivation for the child to continue to come to school.

To meet the need for pace and complexity.

Why Do Gifted Students Underachieve? Repetition – Too many repetitions

cause loss of information.

Fear of failure – Promote independence whenever possible.

Mismatch of teaching and learning styles – Differentiate instruction for different learning styles.

Peer pressure – Many students are pressured to hide their ability and shy away from activities.

Lack of organizational and study skills- Teach study skills as in an area of student interest.

Reversing Underachievement

Meet independently with the student, develop a rapport, and use open discussion to identify the root needs behind the pattern of underachievement.

Develop an “Achievement Contract” along with the student, agreeing to provide desired opportunities.

Hold the student accountable for the contract. Maintain high expectations, and hold regular progress meetings with the student.

Maintain high expectations for students at all times. Expect them to succeed and show them how to succeed.

Emphasize self-efficacy to build student motivation. Show the student that they can achieve by assigning small projects at first, and building up in scope and complexity as the student’s self-confidence improves.

What Will Work for Your Subject and Teaching Style?

Differentiation Teachers can differentiate

through Content Process Product Learning Environment

Differentiation Is a conceptual framework for

maximizing student learning, by enhancing the instructional match between the learner and various curriculum components.

Differentiation is responsible teaching. One size doesn’t fit all.

Tips for Teachers

Recognize and act on the belief that students learn in different way.

Adjust instruction to meet student needs.

Develop and deliver differentiated lessons.

Consult with the gifted teachers on lessons for differentiated instruction.

Use a variety of instructional resources at differing levels of complexity and depth.

Implement “tiered lessons” by keeping the activity the same, but provide routes of access at varying degrees of difficulty.