ERIC Number: EJ975974
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-1350
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Keys to Successful Districtwide Differentiation: Training, Time, Practice, and Sharing
Coil, Carolyn
Understanding Our Gifted, v17 n1 p17-19 Fall 2004
Differentiated instruction allows each student to learn at the depth, complexity, and pace that is most beneficial to him. Differentiating curriculum and instruction is a rich and effective strategy to use when providing the needs of gifted and talented students--especially when those students spend most of their time in regular classrooms. A first step is to help teachers who have had little or no training in gifted education understand that these students do have special and unique needs. The next step is to show teachers practical and doable ways to meet these needs when they also must focus on the needs of many other students in their classrooms. This challenge is one that can be met by using the strategies inherent in differentiation. While one workshop about meeting the needs of gifted students or differentiation for all may spark the initial interest of a few teacher-leaders, this at best is merely the spark to get the fire going. Long-term results take time, effort, planning, practice, ongoing teacher training, and a wealth of practical strategies that teachers can implement effectively. These are the elements that turn the concept of differentiation into a reality. This article presents general guidelines that are helpful in developing and implementing teacher training and professional development, as well as recommendations from the National Association for Gifted Children for the professional development of teachers of gifted children.
Descriptors: Academically Gifted, Cultural Context, Guidelines, Parent Participation, Individualized Education Programs, Individualized Instruction, Change Strategies, Educational Strategies, Professional Development, Time Perspective, Educational Practices, Training Methods, Knowledge Management
Open Space Communications LLC. P.O. Box 18268, Boulder, CO 80308. Tel: 303-444-7020; Tel: 800-494-6178; Fax: 303-545-6505; Web site: http://www.our-gifted.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A