Teaching gifted students is the place where I can
"sparkle" as a facilitator! My philosophy in education is: When given
enough choices, every student can find motivation. With that in mind, I initially plan my
lessons around concepts, which must be addressed to meet and enhance core
standards, as well as provide enrichment to stimulate the gifted mind. To that
end, I begin with mini-lessons on a concept using multiple avenues to guide
learners toward understanding. For
example, a gifted math student may, also, be a struggling reader. He or she may
actually be willing to read a shortened passage with simplified vocabulary from
the same text as the advanced reader.
The concepts and knowledge gained are the same, just presented in an
achievable format. I regularly use
technology, which helps me “fix” reading passages in this way. Similarly, the student identified as gifted
in reading may dislike math; thus, I have mini-lessons prepared to integrate
mathematical concepts within the larger picture of project-based
activities. For example: In a project
about saving our sea turtles, I have an activity to calculate the rate of
decline in female nesting turtles on the Island of Palau; or, I may ask
students to research the origin of the concept of zero (0) and the historical
origin of the number "one" (1). Relying on my many years’ experience
to guide me, I am able to identify gifted students’ needs readily and develop
activities or assignments to reach every youngster and help each one "sparkle"!
