Differentiated Instruction For Gifted Learners

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Benjamin Franklin

What is it? “Differentiation for gifted students consists of carefully planned, coordinated learning experiences that extend beyond the core curriculum to meet the specific learning needs evidenced by the student. It combines the curricular strategies of enrichment and acceleration and provides flexibility and diversity.” - NAGC

Modifying Content Acceleration – allowing learners to move beyond the standard curriculum Curriculum Compacting – allowing learners to skip parts of the curriculum that they have already mastered Flexible Pacing- allowing learners to move at a speed that suits their needs and/or interests (pre-assessments are crucial to this modification) Use of more advanced materials – use more challenging literature, graphic organizers, sample questions, etc. with gifted learners when teaching a concept in a heterogeneous group of learners

Modifying Process Challenging students through the use of higher level questioning (refer to Bloom’s Taxonomy) and/or open-ended questions . Encourage students to think more abstractly and with complexity of thought. Teachers select activities based on student interests and activities chosen should lend themselves to self-directed learning.

Modifying Product allows students to express their knowledge in a variety of ways that show knowledge of content as well as creativity in application and thought. Some alternative products include but are not limited to: Digital storyboards and presentation programs such as Power Point Plays and readers’ theaters Constructing scenes or models Writing original songs or poems Game creations