As an educator who presents challenging material to keep gifted students engaged I often find myself in a balance with students who show potential for gifted achievement but are not quite there. I am a firm believer in identifying potential early but what happens when students begin to have difficulties in the regular classroom as a result of being removed for regular instruction for nurturing. I want to find a way to provide challenge in the regular classroom so that I reach more possible students. Gifted students are not gifted for the short period of the day that I see them. They need challenge all day, everyday. All students benefit to exposure to higher level thinking. It needs to be the standard in all classrooms.
I have a friend who teaches fifth grade in the general classroom. She has the highest of expectations for all students. Her students start out a little intimidated by her in the beginning of the year. She can be tough. She is also each child's biggest cheerleader and advocate. Her student's test scores are phenomenal (not that I think that is the only and true measure) and student are engaged every moment in her room. She always has higher level tasks that all students get to try out. It amazes me how she takes some students with the greatest of challenges, students who have doubted their own self worth, and she builds them up into confident citizens who can take on any challenge. She is a great generalist! I feel that I have learned a lot from her. Her classroom is the one I want for my own child!
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