A small selection of strategies based on the learning characteristics and needs of gifted and talented students are outlined here. Many gifted and talented students have special abilities in seeing relationships, reasoning and thinking. These abilities need to be encouraged, nurtured and extended. Gifted students are interested and challenged by complex situations and problems, and need to be able to direct thought patterns laterally. To do this they need experiences in a variety of thinking activities.
Each strategy includes an overview with activity and web/reference links, teachers are encouraged to alter and apply their own ideas in developing similar activities. The activities vary in length, some allowing students the freedom to explore topics in greater depth without time constraints. The suggestions may be incorporated into an individual, class or school based program. The main focus of the strategies used for gifted and talented students should be to enable them to become independent learners.
Bunbury District Education Office (Western Australia)
Follow the resources link to Teaching and Learning Strategies to download a set of teaching and learning templates and overarching learning outcomes posters for practical use in the classroom.