GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION

at MURITAI SCHOOL - Eastbourne, NZ

Monday, 21 March 2011

Gifted describes learners who have the ability to excel academically in one or more subjects such as English, Numeracy, Higher Order Thinking ...

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

There are dozens if not hundreds of definitions as to what gifted and talented actually means. We like the following ones:

Talented describes learners who have the ability to excel in practical skills such as sport, leadership, artistic performance, or in an applied skill.

Monday, 21 March 2011

GIFTED STUDENTS LOVE

Opportunity to explore (persistence)

Challenge - complex ideas / questions

Choice

Problem Solving

Experimenting & innovative thinking

Active learning: doing, talking, making, testing etc.

Pursuing a question or idea

Wide variety of experiences Activities which allow risk taking

Being able to complete their work to their own timetable

The unexpected

Monday, 21 March 2011

In general they are the ones who:

¥ Ask more insightful questions, display curiosity

¥ Are observant of detail

¥ Grasp concepts quickly

¥ See relationships/connections readily

¥ Develop expert vocabulary / knowledge

¥ Read with enthusiasm in their area of expertise

¥ Enjoy playing with ideas

¥ Persevere in problem solving

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GIFTED AND TALENTED LEARNER

Monday, 21 March 2011

GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS ARE THOSE WHO:

Includes qualities such as:

• originality of thought• an openness to and

eagerness for experience

• flexibility.

Includes qualities such as:• application• Perseverance

• practice• ability to accept

constructive criticism• self-confidence

Stand out from peers through:

• Assessment data• Performance

observations• Speed and depth of

thinking when learning

Renzulli, 1978

Monday, 21 March 2011

DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING involves providing students with different avenues to acquire content; to process, construct, or make sense of ideas; and to develop teaching materials so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability.

MEETING THE STUDENTS NEEDS

Differentiated learning is the process of “ensuring that what a student learns, how he/she learns it, and how the student demonstrates what he/she has learned is a match for that

student’s readiness level, interests, and preferred mode of learning”.

Monday, 21 March 2011

DIFFERENTIATING PLANNING?

• It should not take long to differentiate a programme as all that is required is for you to

take time to consider how you can cater for your gifted learners by adapting your

existing programme.

• You do not need a new curriculum or set of separate lessons.

• Differentiating a programme involves targeting learning experiences to suit the particular

needs and abilities of individual students.

• Before you can differentiate your class programme you need to know who the gifted

students in your room are.

Monday, 21 March 2011

Lessons need to have:

1. Choice but within a framework

2. Is the content challenging current understanding?

3. Are original and reference research activities included?

4. Does it include hands on activities through investigation, observation, construction etc.

5. Does it examine our thinking - analyze, critically evaluate, point of view etc.

COMPONENTS FOR A DIFFERENTIATED PROGRAMME

Monday, 21 March 2011

AIMS OF DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING

1. Acceleration in the pace

2. Complexity of thought

3. Depth of Understanding

4. Novelty and uniqueness in personal expression

5. Intensity and idealism in manner and deed

Monday, 21 March 2011