The Qualities of Teachers Needed by Gifted Students

Do teachers have to be gifted themselves in order to teach gifted students? Rest assured that you don't have to have a superior IQ to teach gifted students. The truth is that many teachers who pursue training in gifted education have some personal connection to gifted students. They may have children who have been identified as gifted, or perhaps they went through gifted programs themselves. In the interest of being able to handle any issue in their class, many teachers seek training in gifted education. Of course, it sure helps to be a wonderful teacher who welcomes the challenge of facilitating academic progress for all students.

Teachers who are successful with gifted kids often possess certain qualities that gifted children respond to positively. They tend to:

Respect students' strengths and weaknesses and have the ability to encourage students to accept both without embarrassment.

Be enthusiastic about teaching and the joy of lifelong learning.

Have confidence and competency in teaching their content area(s).

Have flexible teaching styles and be comfortable with situations in which students are flexibly grouped for learning and some students are doing different activities than others.

Possess strong skills in listening, leading discussions and using inquiry-based instruction.

Be knowledgeable about the unique characteristics and needs of gifted students and willing to accommodate them.

Be willing and able to create and nurture a learning environment where it's safe to take risks and make mistakes.

Know how to praise effort more than products.

Be eager and willing to expose students to new ideas and provide opportunities for exploring those ideas.

Have a free-flowing sense of humor and a level of comfort with their personal strengths and weaknesses.

Be comfortable connecting the curriculum to students' learning profiles, interests, and questions and are good at empowering students to follow their passions.

Be well organized-though not necessarily neat!

Source: Teaching Gifted Kids in Today’s Classroom, by Susan Winebrenner