Most participants at this conference would be very aware of the needs of Gifted children and have all done a lot of work in trying to meet those needs. Unfortunately for many practising classroom teachers with the best will in the world - large class numbers, an overcrowded curriculum, demands to write individual programmes for slow learners and bureaucratic paperwork — this becomes a difficult task. Added to this many teachers in our schools have had little or no training in this field. Then there are the sceptics. We’ve all met those. They constantly talk about elitism, in the academic sense only. It’s quite okay to have selection and specialisation in sport or even cultural activities but not in the academic field .
In a perfect world it would be wonderful if all GAT children could work together with children of like minds and abilities, in a supportive environment using a differentiated curriculum. In an OC class or GAT class this might be possible but all gifted children don’t have this opportunity. Teachers need training in Gifted Education just as most teachers have had some training in Special Education for slow learners. While millions of dollars have been spent in that area very little has been spent at the other end, by comparison and bright children do not learn “in spite of their teachers.”
Explicit examples will also be discussed to address the question how can we provide a differentiated curriculum for GAT students in a mixed ability classroom without adding more stress to overworked teachers?
OC classes aren’t elitist. These children have special needs and they are met in this type of classroom where they can work with children of similar ability, at their own level, in a supportive environment. It is a wonderful experience for any teacher to work with these children. They are demanding and keep you guessing but they are passionate and caring and give you back so much. As I constantly say to the children when exhorting them to complete tasks “you get back what you put into it.” This class has become a focal point for many of the GAT activities across our school. No-one would question selecting children to be part of an elite sports group or perform in The Sing 2000 Choir but we still have an ingrained habit in our society of knocking anything academic as elitist. All parents are happy to tell their friends that their child is a very fast runner or swimmer but how many would say their child was very clever?