For gifted learners, an appropriately differentiated classroom will provide material, activities, projects or products, homework and assessments that are complex, abstract, open-ended and multifaceted enough to cause gifted students to stretch in knowledge, thinking and production.  These classrooms provide consistent expectations for gifted student to work with fuzzy problems, make great mental leaps and grow in ability to exercise independence (Tomlinson).  The ideas below identify some characteristics of a differentiated classroom essential for gifted learners.

Gifted Dimensions 

• The pace at which they learn.  They get their work done quickly and seek further assignments or direction.

• The depth of their understanding.  They ask probing questions that tend to differ from their classmates in depth of understanding and frequency.

• The interests that they hold.  They have interests in areas that are unusual or more like the interests of older students.  They often get "hooked" on certain topics.

Byrdseed.com is a resource for teachers who work with gifted and talented students. If you work with this population, you know that textbooks do little to address their unique needs, leading to boredom, apathy, and behavior problems.

Gifted Guru is a site for everyone interested in or passionate about gifted kids (and even adults!). You can expect to find practical and useful resources, tips and tricks o’ the trade for parents and educators and homeschooling momecators (mom + educator!) alike. 

NAGC's mission is to support those who enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research. We aim to help parents and families, K-12 education professionals including support service personnel, and members of the research and higher education community who work to help gifted and talented children as they strive to achieve their personal best and contribute to their communities.