Are we failing gifted students? Education 3-2-1

http://neatoday.org/2013/09/18/are-we-failing-gifted-students-2/

This is an extraordinarily relevant article regardless of its publication date. It provides a look into the personal experiences of gifted and talented (or high-performing, if that terminology is more suitable to you) students as they progress through a school system which often does not serve them properly.

Del Siegle identifies some insightful characteristics of classrooms and learning activities which serve as motivating factors for this population of students:

1) Control

2) Choice

3) Challenge

4) Complexity

5) Caring teachers

I believe any educator would read these five characteristics and agree wholeheartedly, particularly with the importance placed on the relationships between teachers and students in developing motivation. Combining practical steps with inspirational stories, this article is a great resource for educators who are trying to provide gifted and talented students with the educational experience that they require and deserve.

After reading this article and taking part in some incredible discussions with other educators, I would like to record my thoughts in this week's Education 3-2-1: 3 words, 2 connections, and 1 question.

3 words:

--Crucial (these students are particularly important for the development of our future society)

--Fair (these students deserve an education which targets their skills and needs)

--Comprehensive (the 5 C's cover a variety of motivational sources, including relationships)

2 connections:

--RTI: These concepts directly apply when considering Tier 1 planning in RTI, particularly in schools without defined gifted and talented programs/populations.

--Professional Development: Teachers are being asked to alter their practices, and therefore require new understandings. The 5 C's would provide an excellent opportunity for PD.

1 questions:

--This scenario in which we are "failing" gifted students is incredibly complex. Unfortunately, there is little research which has investigated the root causes of the issue, making it difficult to truly address the various contributing factors. What causes have you personally experienced which have fed into this type of classroom scenario?

I would love to hear your ideas surrounding this subject! Get in touch on Twitter @RebeccaGodwin52 !