Allison Kerley

Philosophy of Gifted Education

There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people.
-Thomas Jefferson

The purpose of gifted education is to meet the unique cognitive, emotional, and
social needs of exceptional students. I want my students to not only reach their
potential, but be challenged to exceed it every single day. They will need my guidance in
overcoming the stereotypes and bias they will face as a gifted child due to race, gender,
and socio-economic status.
The role of the teacher of the gifted is to create a classroom environment that
fosters and celebrates problem solving, creativity, and innovativeness. Children should
be encouraged to explore their interests as well as step outside of their comfort zone.
Teachers must also be good role-models who counsels students in peer relations and
other areas of self-development. It is essential for any teacher to self-evaluate the
effectiveness of their instruction and the classroom environment. An effective classroom
is one where students are eager to problem-solve, communicate, and take risks every
day.
I believe that gifted children deserve opportunities to develop their talents and
expand their knowledge. Gifted education should be focused on driving students to
become creative problem solvers. It is essential that these students develop the
motivation to help them become self-directed learners. One way to increase motivation
is to provide authentic learning experiences through methods such as Problem Based
Learning.

While these students may possess many amazing gifts, there are also challenges
when teaching gifted students. A common misconception is that gifted children do not
have problems socially or academically. The teacher of the gifted must not only
recognize each gifted students strengths, but also their areas of need. In accordance
with Dabrowskis Theory of Positive Disintegration, gifted students often need help in
their emotional development. I will also differentiate for my gifted students by
challenging these students with higher order thinking and problem-solving activities. I
will also use Gardners theory of multiple intelligences to provide a variety learning
opportunities for students.
My ultimate goal as a teacher of the gifted is to meet the needs of every child and
push them to become the best they can be. Even at a young age, I believe it is important
to begin equipping them with the skills and enthusiasm they will need to hone their
exceptional talents throughout life. I want to inspire all students to use their gift to make
the world a better place.