Commentary: Challenging Gifted Students
Tue, Feb 14, 2017 10:37 AM
socio-economically disadvantaged gifted learners
There are many definitions of giftedness, however, gifted students can be defined as those who have ability in one or more learning areas that exceeds grade/age level expectations of two years or more. In my opinion, gifted students should undergo periodic reassessment since children at an early age are expose to various resources that create an enrich environment that stimulates their abilities. In the article, the Governor’s School in Virginia has given gifted students the ability to take virtual classes that will count as college credit. However, as stated in the article, gifted students from other states are not always provided the opportunity to take challenging advance courses.
This is a very informative article that provides an outlook on Virginia’s education systems, but it does not apply to my classroom or school district. My school district does not have enough resources to accommodate students virtually. As a classroom teacher, I could allow students to complete virtual assignments, but I would have to ensure that they have resources at home to complete the task. I am a believer that gifted students should be provided a unique learning opportunity, therefore, it is up to the teacher to find creative, engaging assignments that will allow them to take risk and remain motivated.