This course is designed to reach out to the gifted student, someone who is often left behind in the classroom. The course begins by identifying who the gifted are, how they learn, and how to push them to higher achievement. We will develop pre-tests to avoid re-teaching material that students have already mastered, exploring new ways to challenge the gifted students and keep them focused. Curriculum for gifted students will be examined and modified, developing problem solving skills that incorporate multiple levels of intelligence. The goal is to develop a classroom that is conducive to the special needs of the gifted student.

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Create a working definition to identify gifted learners and measure their achievement. InTASC 4,6
• Assess the giftedness of a current student and recommend a differentiated plan of action for that student. InTASC 1,2,8,9
• Evaluate current curriculum to integrate differentiated activities and standards throughout. InTASC 1,3,8
• Critique the use of problem solving and creativity techniques and their future impact on gifted students. InTASC 1,5,8