6 Teaching Strategies for Gifted Students

The latest data reported by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that nearly 7 percent of students in the United States are considered “gifted.” How did they arrive at this figure? Though many use the word “gifted” quite liberally in referring to students’ talents and accomplishments, there are precise measures that determine if students “perform—or have the capability to perform—at higher levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment.”

So, for the most part, society has found ways to quantify who is and who isn’t gifted, but bigger questions now revolve around specific teaching strategies for gifted students. What unique support do they require? What should their lesson plans look like? What classroom dynamics work best? Teaching gifted students does indeed require special consideration. Edmentum, one of Brightmont Academy’s curriculum partners, suggests six important things to keep in mind.

1. Recognize each student’s uniqueness

First and foremost, teachers should not treat all gifted students the same. Being gifted does not necessarily mean that students excel in every academic subject, every academic practice, etc. For example, a math wiz might have average writing skills, or a history and literature buff might struggle with science concepts. In other words, a blanket gifted program rarely serves students well. Instead, customization is key. 

Customization is the fabric of Brightmont’s teaching model, offering not only standard and accelerated coursework but also flexible scheduling. In turn, the school naturally celebrates and addresses the precise needs of all types of gifted students in the classroom.

2. Aim for enrichment, not busy work

“Gifted students just need more to do.”

In the past, many educators subscribed to this flimsy mantra in their encounters with gifted students. However, effective teachers know that the best teaching strategies for gifted learners focus on quality versus quantity of coursework, and enrichment versus mere extra credit. 

Examples abound at Brightmont on how enrichment is done well. At Brightmont’s Plymouth campus, a senior enrolled in Sociology is conducting an intensive capstone research project on the effects of immigration from generation to generation. A fifth grader at the same location is creating a 250-foot interactive display to help his fellow students commemorate America 250. Legitimate enrichment is often remembered for a lifetime, and it’s safe to say these two students will experience just that.

3. Create opportunities for immersive learning

Many gifted students have clear and deep passions, such as music, ancient history, environmentalism—the list goes on. Teachers can use these personal interests to drive home the foundational academic concepts being introduced in class. 

Perhaps a gifted student is particularly interested in medieval times; the plague may become a topic over which the student learns about pathogens and immune responses in science class. Perhaps another student is intrigued by 19th-Century history and culture; close examinations of themes, figurative language, the narrative arc, etc., within books such as Moby Dick, Little Women, or Frankenstein could provide meaningful immersive opportunities for students and teachers alike. 

4. Celebrate curiosity

Working with gifted learners in the classroom might also mean fielding and pondering a lot of questions together—a lot of questions! Gifted students are often naturally curious, and it shows through their desire to look beyond the presented curriculum. 

Still, there are obvious time constraints, and entertaining every question simply isn’t possible. However, gifted education strategies might include dropping tedious drills from the class schedule (internalization may not be as laborious for gifted students) and including more “open-ended tasks in which they extend or apply what they have learned.” 

5. Continue to value peer interaction

It’s also common for gifted students to feel disconnected and/or isolated from their peers as they pursue other avenues of learning. But what a tragedy it is when gifted students’ academic goals overshadow the important need to build friendships and enjoy community!

Since Brightmont is a one-to-one school, all students receive individual attention in the classroom. But this doesn’t mean that peer relationships aren’t valued and championed at the school. Group activities over lunch breaks, as well as Spirit Weeks and other special events, help ensure that Brightmont students—whether gifted or not—feel a sense of belonging. 

6. Build a lifelong learning foundation

As mentioned above, gifted students may be full of questions. If teachers allow these questions to get out of hand, the high performance that students once enjoyed might give way to unmet deadlines and incomplete assignments. In other words, teaching gifted students still entails nurturing their good study habits. 

Self-directed learning leads to rich lifelong learning, and Brightmont prepares students for that very thing. Through a shared “Assignment Tracker,” teachers clarify responsibilities and deadlines, then students practice prioritizing their work and managing their time in the school’s Homework Studio. Such discipline today yields great benefits tomorrow as students encounter more and more of the world to explore.

Putting Gifted Teaching Strategies Into Practice

What do all of these suggestions amount to? In summary, when considering how to teach gifted students, keen individualized attention and focused intentions are paramount. Though gifted learners are often high achievers and impressive performers, educators are wise to devote just as much time and effort to lesson plans and other classroom strategies for gifted students. With committed teachers by their side, there’s no telling the impact such students will make now and into the future.