Characteristics of an Effective Teacher of the Gifted
Trust the Process—Continued Education
Teachers of the gifted also require additional courses above and beyond those for teachers in the general education population. In Florida there are five courses required in order to add gifted endorsement to your teaching certificate: Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted, Curriculum Development for the Gifted, Education of Special Populations of Gifted Students, Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted, and Theory and Development of Creativity.
Programs offered by universities and colleges are rare, but do exist. Most often certification training for gifted is offered at the Master’s level. On page 228, Clark displays a chart outlining the differences in the levels of training depending on which role the educator is seeking.
As a teacher of the gifted you are responsible for obtaining the necessary education you will need to better understand the children who will be coming to your class; to develop an environment conducive to diverse, unique learners; to provide a motivating, challenging curriculum; to bring out the best in your students; to teach with enthusiasm; and to enjoy what you are doing every single day!
Summing it all up
Congratulations! Now that you’ve completed Week 8 you are well on your way to joining the ranks of teachers of the gifted. In Week 1 you completed a survey on page 219 of your textbook. Apply your new knowledge and understanding of the Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted and complete the survey again. Compare your answers to your first one. As Dr. Seuss would say – “oh, the places you’ll go”!!!!
Use the matrix and the assignment checklist as your guides for completing the week's assignments.