How to Support Special Education Students Who Are Also Gifted and Talented?

Answer 1

A special education student who is also labeled gifted and talented can be tough to educate fairly and equally, as required by law. A student with dual and seemingly contradictory labels has needs so specific to him or her that traditional public education strategies can sometimes do more harm than good, particularly in the affective sphere. The most supportive basic component of such a child’s education is often at home. At home, there is less pressure to conform to conventional tracks or learning programs; learning can take nontraditional forms. Partnerships between teachers and parents are critical for such students.

It is vital to a dual label student that his or her strengths are supported throughout, even if they happen to be in noncore areas like music, art, auto repair, or web design. Gifted students often have quirky but fiery passions, which should be allowed to blossom. Success in those areas will lend confidence to a gifted student who is simultaneously far behind grade level in reading or math. Again, a home-school connection can make such opportunities possible – teachers often have access to resources that parents don’t, but parents can offer individual, intimate support that overworked teachers cannot.

Another central aspect of a dual label student’s success can be whether or not he or she is treated fairly in regard to his or her emotional maturity. Students who are have learning disabilities are likely to be treated as less emotionally mature than they really are; students who are highly gifted are likely to be treated almost like little adults. Emotional maturity exists independent of academic or intellectual achievements. Children with dual labels should be provided a journal or trusted mentor to “vent” to whenever necessary. Every child should be allowed friends that he or she feels compatible with, regardless of possible differences in age or academic proficiency.

Most importantly, children with dual labels should be able to learn at their own pace. Children who are home schooled are now shown to do as well, if not better, on national standardized tests than children who go to public school. Customizing a learning program for one student is difficult, but obviously worth it.