Programs for Teachers of Gifted and Talented Students
Gifted education, which is also know as Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) is a type of education that involves specialized theories, practices, and procedures that are used to provide education to children who have been recognized as gifted or talented by their school district or state.
Role of Teachers of Gifted and Talented Students
Teachers of gifted and talented students are responsible for supporting the
abilities of gifted and talented students and providing meaningful learning
experiences that provide challenges and foster life long learning. They must
coordinate enrichment tasks and organize regular curricular activities to enable
gifted and talented students to work at a level and pace that coincides with
their abilities. Teachers of gifted and talented students collect and
distribute useful information to students, parents, other professionals, and the
community. The information includes useful resources, special opportunities,
innovative teaching methods, and specialized materials. They also provide
counseling and advice to students, teachers, and parents about a variety of
positive and sometimes negative issues associated with gifted and talented
education.
Ways to Help Gifted and Talented Students in Regular Classrooms
It is essential for gifted and talented students to constantly be presented with
ways to challenge their abilities and reach their highest learning potentials.
Teachers in regular classrooms must employ diagnostic teaching methods to enable
gifted and talented students to receive access to special services. The methods
often include adapting schedules, teaching strategies, goals of curricula,
choosing resources, and procedures for evaluations. There are a variety of ways
to develop an effective classroom environment that meet the needs of gifted and
talented students including independent projects, learning centers, vertical
enrichment activities, academic competitions, and leveling assignments.
Teachers can also incorporate multiple intelligences and Bloom’s taxonomy into
their curricula.
Resources for Teachers of Gifted and Talented Students
There are a variety of resources for teachers of gifted and talented students.
The resources often focus on specific grade levels such as primary,
intermediate, junior high and middle school, and high school teachers.
The National Association of Gifted Children provides a variety of resources for teachers to support the needs of gifted and talented learners. It provides classroom resources, teaching strategies, national standards for gifted and talented education, and live resources.
Other resources include the Center for Gifted Education, Critical and Creative Thinking for the Gifted, KidSource Online, New Horizons for Learning, and the ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education.
Programs
Teachers of gifted and talented students must take pride and enjoyment of
working with students who are innovative and challenging. They must be able to
identify indications of gifted and talented abilities. Many states require
special certification or graduate degrees for teachers of gifted and talented
students. Teachers who are interested in becoming teachers of gifted and
talented students can typically obtain information from their State Department
of Education. The state education departments provide a variety of information
for gifted and talented education. Many colleges and universities, private
educational organizations, school districts, and gifted and talented student
associations offer a variety of training programs and workshops. National
organizations including the National Association for Gifted Children and the
Association for the Gifted as well as school district coordinators of gifted
programs provide additional sources of information for specialized training for
teachers of gifted and talented students.
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Sources:
KidSource Online
TeachersFirst.com