Advanced Learners
Differentiating instruction for advanced learners
|
Key Questions to Consider |
|---|
|
What do my students already know and understand? What should each student be able to do to meet the learning goals? How can I appropriately challenge each student? Is the complexity level too high, too low, or just right to maximize each student's capacity? |
Differentiated instruction for advanced learners focuses on classroom practices that ensure effective learning for varied learner needs. It is dependent on quality curriculum and instruction that takes into account each learner’s readiness level, interests, and learning preferences.
Differentiated instruction serves as the vehicle for ensuring advanced learners spend their time wrestling with complex and in-depth work rather than repeating work they already know. Students may be given multi-option assignments, allowing for student choice about what or how they learn. Activities and products for advanced learners are to be complex, open-ended, drawing upon advanced reading materials and resources.
The California Department of Education requires districts to ensure differentiated curriculum and instructional strategies are in place and responsive to the needs of gifted students. Differentiated curriculum provides for the balanced development of critical, creative, problem solving and research skills, advanced content, and authentic and appropriate products. Differentiated instruction facilitates advanced learners to meet or exceed state core curriculum and standards.
Resources
California Association for the Gifted (CAG)
http://www.cagifted.org/
(outside link)
CAG is a mission-driven, volunteer-administered, nonprofit organization whose
membership of parents and educators work to promote the welfare and appropriate
education of gifted students.
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
http://www.nagc.org/
(outside link)
NAGC is an advocacy group consisting of parents, professional educators, and
affiliate groups from the various states to support gifted education at the
national level.
National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT)
http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/nrcgt.html
(outside link)
This nationwide cooperative of researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and
other persons and groups work toward developing the performance and potentials
of young people from preschool through postsecondary levels.
The Association for the Gifted (TAG)
http://www.cectag.org/
(outside link)
A special interest group of the Council for Exceptional Children, TAG is an
advocacy group that focuses on the needs of the gifted within the broader range
of diverse and special needs children.
There are no comments.