It is not enough to acknowledge that gifted learners have unique abilities. That’s only part of the puzzle in helping them reach their full potential. Their educational environment and those in their support system must find ways to inspire curiosity and holistic growth.
This blog provides practical strategies that educators can use to support gifted and talented students, ensuring they feel both challenged and understood. Read on for everything from classroom instruction approaches to recommendations for fostering emotional well-being.
Practical Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students
Intention and creativity—these are key elements of how educators can support gifted and talented students in the classroom. The right teaching strategies can turn an ordinary school day into a moment of discovery and excitement.
There are two highly effective strategies: acceleration and compacting.
Subject acceleration is one way teachers can support gifted individuals. Because these students excel in certain subjects, they tend to master content faster than their peers in a traditional school. By allowing them to progress at their own pace and presenting appropriately challenging material, gifted learners are more likely to stay engaged.
Another way teachers can meet gifted students where they are is by using a technique called compacting. This strategy eliminates already-mastered content from the curriculum, freeing up time in the classroom for deeper exploration into fields of interest.
Materials and Approaches to Support Gifted Learners
Wondering what kind of material teachers can use to better support gifted and talented students? Here are a couple that are easy to put into practice right away:
- Ask open-ended questions, empowering students to come up with creative solutions and flex their critical thinking. Instead of asking, “What is the main theme of this story?”, a teacher could ask, “How would the story change if the main character made a different decision?” This approach invites students to dive deeper into analysis.
- Provide real-world scenarios to increase tangible problem-solving skills. Giving gifted students realistic challenges helps them apply what they’ve learned. For instance, a math lesson could include designing a budget for a community project, or a science unit might involve proposing solutions to reduce plastic waste.
The Davidson Academy’s Approach
The Davidson Academy has found that creating custom Prospective Learning Plans (PLPs) is a great way to set gifted students up for success early on in the school year. The student works with their parent(s) and staff members to build a curriculum that is unique to their strengths and passions. Getting buy-in from the gifted individual and their parents helps all parties get on the same page about where the student is headed in their academics and how educators can support them.
Tips for Classroom Management & Working With Gifted Students
A common question we hear is, “How should teachers work with gifted and talented students?” The answer lies in recognizing their unique needs while cultivating a learning environment where every student feels valued. This may feel more difficult in a mixed-ability classroom, but really, it just requires a thoughtful balance of inclusivity and challenge.
One method is flexible grouping, where students are grouped based on their skill level instead of age. This enables gifted learners to collaborate with like-minded peers.
Teachers can also use differentiated instruction to address gifted individual’s specific learning needs. By offering tiered assignments or personalized projects, educators make sure every student has the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the material.
More Accommodations for Gifted & Talented Students
As we touched on in the last paragraph, independent study or passion projects are helpful ways to motivate gifted students. These opportunities support gifted and talented students in the classroom by allowing them to dive into a topic they’re excited about. Whether it’s coding an app or writing a novel, they can explore their passions at their own pace instead.
Another example of classroom accommodations for gifted and talented students is enrichment activities. These go beyond the standard curriculum, helping individuals stay connected to topics of interest, practice their problem-solving skills, and meet others who like the same subjects. Depending on where a gifted student is located, there may be programs available in person and, if not, there are ample opportunities online.
Other Support at School: Social & Emotional
Gifted students often face unique challenges, such as perfectionism or feelings of isolation, that can affect their overall well-being. Educators can prevent this by making sure their classrooms feel like supportive environments.
Additionally, schools should offer counseling services, encourage mindfulness practices, and teach strategies for managing stress.
Emotional skills not only help gifted individuals thrive, but also play a part in building meaningful relationships. Teachers and school staff members can facilitate these connections by assigning group projects, pairing students in peer mentoring programs, or organizing interest-based clubs.
Some academic institutions, like Davidson Academy, provide easily accessible social and emotional development resources to support gifted students’ overall growth.
Key Takeaways
Knowing how to support gifted and talented students in the classroom means combining individualized instruction and curriculum modifications to keep them stimulated. Equally important is addressing their social and emotional well-being through counseling, peer connections, and mindfulness practices. When educators take a holistic approach, they help gifted learners grow academically and personally.