Serving Gifted Students in the Regular Classroom

Most educators agree that, when done right, differentiated instruction can help teachers better meet the learning needs of more of their students. What's unclear, however, is whether gifted children with exceptional needs can truly thrive in the mixed-ability classroom. Too often, experts say, teachers fail to help these students grow intellectually and emotionally—even when differentiated instruction is "done right."

"Full inclusion classes have done a disservice to the gifted," states James Delisle, professor of education at Kent State University. Few teachers can deliver the level of instruction gifted students require while also adapting their lessons to meet other students' needs, he contends. It's not that teachers don't want to provide for gifted students, Delisle is quick to clarify; it's just that they often lack the knowledge, necessary resources, and support to do so.

Understanding the Gifted