Beneficial Teaching Concepts for Gifted Students

Regarding the education of your gifted child, parents often hear about accelerated learning or enrichment. But what do these terms mean? And what other options are there for best supporting a gifted child’s learning experience?
 
Let’s delve in and find what options parents can consider when advocating for the education of their child.
 
Acceleration is when students are moved forward faster. For example:

• Early Access – An opportunity provided by Colorado law that allows for early entrance to kindergarten at age 4 or early entrance to first grade at age 5 for highly advanced gifted children (97th percentile) who are placed in a grade level above other same-aged peers.
• Grade Acceleration – Jeffco School District has a process for advancing a student more than one grade level.
• Curriculum Compacting – Curriculum is condensed or moves at a faster pace so students can complete a course quicker than usual.
• Subject Acceleration – Typically in elementary, students remain in the same grade as their age peers, but move ahead into higher grade levels for the specific subjects where they exhibit advanced abilities. In smaller population elementary schools, this can work for all students by scheduling, for example, math at the same time for all classes. Students then move to the class with the level they need.
• Pull-Out Programs – A few students may be pulled from their classes to meet with a specialist to enhance their learning in a specific topic. This can also be included in WIN (What I Need) time.
• Concurrent Enrollment – Allows students to enroll and earn college credits while still in high school.

 
Enrichment is helpful for gifted students who need opportunities to pursue their interests and talents beyond the standard curriculum. Examples include:

• Clubs
• Destination Imagination
• Passion projects
• Critical thinking opportunities

 
Extension is when learning goes deeper and broader into a topic that a student has already mastered. It provides more depth and complexity with curriculum. For example:

• A research project on a specific topic that is designed to challenge the student and engage higher level thinking.
• Higher level text to challenge the student.         
• Above grade level math concepts that relate to current grade level unit.

 
Differentiation is a way of teaching that encompasses acceleration, enrichment, and extension to ensure gifted students grow academically at least one full year for every year they invest in school. Differentiation is assessing each student to be able to tailor their education appropriately so they are challenged and grow. This Position Statement by the National Association for Gifted Children “Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted and Talented Students” explains what differentiation is, how it can be implemented, and why it’s important.
 
So now you know some concepts of education that can help your gifted child. But where do you start? Always talk with your child’s teacher first and find out what is already being done. Explain your goals for your child and any issues you’re seeing or concerns you have. And most of all, remember your child’s teacher wants your child to succeed. You and your child’s teacher are a team to ensure the best outcome.
 
In some cases, you may want to work with the principal of your child’s school to help find supports for your child’s teacher like Professional Development opportunities and having assistance from the GT Department. There are also some whole school opportunities that can be beneficial for not only gifted students, but all students, to help schools meet each student where they’re at academically. One way to be able to have input in your child’s school’s decisions on where to spend their Student Based Budgeting (SBB) dollars is to participate in the school’s Accountability Committee. Every public school in Colorado is required to have a School Accountability Committee (SAC) and also every school district is to have a District Accountability Committee (DAC).
 
This chart can help you know what options are available and how the resources are accessible.

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Finally, should you need further guidance to address your child’s educational needs, you can reach out to your GT Resource Teacher (RT). Each school is assigned an RT. RTs not only identify students for Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs – which means the student is designated Gifted & Talented) but they help teachers with resources to benefit gifted students in their classrooms. Always check the GT Department’s website (especially the Family Resource’s page) to see what opportunities there are for parents to connect with the department. If you need further assistance, you can reach out to the RT assigned to your child’s school.
 
Resources:

• Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher “Enrichment vs. Extension In the Regular Classroom” by Jeffrey Shoemaker, M.Ed²  April 4, 2014
• Center for Student Achievement Solutions “Enrichment Versus Acceleration: Equity And Excellence For Gifted Learners (Part One)” by Chandra Williams  March 31, 2019