What strategies could I adopt for Gifted and Talented students?

What constitutes an effective lesson?

My teacher listened to my ideas and used them in the lesson

We completed a wide variety of tasks

We played games which helped us understand and remember a challenging topic

My teacher asked for my opinion

My teacher treated me as an intellectual equal

My teacher was aware that I already had an interest in and knew quite a lot about the topic we were studying and set me a different task to the rest of the group

I was allowed to research the topic in depth

I worked with resources/equipment that we don't usually work with

I worked with someone I don't usually work with

I was encouraged to choose how I presented what I had learned about the topic

I was encouraged to challenge my teacher

We had real discussion

The task(s) we had to do were really challenging

I made a model

The task seemed impossible but my teacher, by careful questioning and encouragement helped me see that it was achievable

We only wrote things down that were absolutely necessary

We were given clear targets by the teacher who explained clearly how we might go about reaching them

I was involved in a role play

We had a quiz

I was given something different and interesting to do because I finished early

We were given a task where we really had to think

We were given problem solving activities

The task was open-ended

I was allowed to work at my own pace

My teacher made the lesson a fun experience

We were given an interesting homework to do which was based on the lesson

Less Effective/Less Stimulating Lessons involve

Copying from the board, worksheet or book

Cutting and sticking masses of information into files/books

Writing for the sake of writing

Over-explanation by teachers

Teachers who set a task and then simply leave the class to it

Covering work/information that students know already

'Dead Time' - fast workers/early finishers having to sit and wait for
others to catch up

Undifferentiated punishments e.g. the whole class having to stay
behind, copy out work or being shouted at when only one or two
pupils are off-task, uninterested or disrupting others

Colouring-in

Low level tasks (e.g. 'filling in the missing word' activities etc.)

Too much time to complete tasks - students slow their own pace of
working to fit the time available

Lockstep teaching (Le. every student doing exactly the same task at
exactly the same pace)

Teachers who talk all lesson

Teachers' lack of sympathy, advice and support when highly able pupils
encounter barriers to learning instead of making comments like "You
should be able to do that"

Lack of variety in tasks set - the same thing every lesson (e.g.
colouring in, copying notes etc)

Not being given the bigger picture - studying information in minute
detail without seeing the whole first then working back

Under explanation on the part of teachers - teachers assuming that because they are able, they will automatically know what to do

Gifted & Talented Pupils

Like ... VARIETY!!

Real discussion (not just someone talking through the teacher)

Time-limited tasks

Teachers who treat you as an intellectual equal

The chance to have FUN in a lesson

Teachers who get the whole class involve

Working with different people

Teachers who set clear targets and explain clearly how they can go about reaching them

Practical work

Thinking activities Investigations

Problem-solving

Group work

Drama and role play in ordinary lessons

Teachers who 'break-up' activities

Teachers who are consistent

Alternative forms of recording (e.g. attribute webs, KWL grids, mind maps, mnemonics, concept maps etc)

Working beyond the syllabus/SOW to consolidate arid reinforce learning

Study skills and revision techniques taught THROUGH subjects not in isolation

Teachers who enjoy learning themselves

Teachers who team teach

Teachers who have a good sense of humour and make learning FUN

Structure to tasks

Choosing their own activities sometimes

Quizzes

Competitions

Opportunities to work at their own pace

Being allowed to have an 'off day'

Learning from mistakes in a supportive environment

Being given something different and interesting to do if they finish early

Opportunities to study something at great depth

Independent research

Applying knowledge to real problem events

Gifted & Talented Pupils

Dislike:

Being made to feel 'different'

Acting as an unpaid teacher

Too much independent activity - they welcome direct teaching and interaction with the teacher

Insufficient structure to lessons - they like to know where the lesson is heading

Their requests for help being ignored

Over-emphasis on writing - 'Writing for the sake of it'

Dictation

Time-filling activities such as colouring-in

Low level tasks (e.g. simple recall)

Teachers assuming that they know what to do

Teachers who 'go on and on'

Having to remain silent for long periods (excluding tests, exams etc)

Teachers who have no sympathy for them when they encounter barriers to learning

Being told to 'work it out for yourself when they genuinely are unable to undertake a task

Lack of variety in homework - always just finishing of what they have begun in class

Lack of variety in c1asswork - in the teacher's restricted range of teaching approaches

Always being given more of the same when they finish work early

Not being told what the lesson objectives are

Having to work at the same pace as everyone else (usually far slower)

'Waiting around' for the next task/the teacher's attention

Sexist teachers

Condescending teachers

Not being allowed to have an 'off day'

Not receiving praise or recognition for doing well

Being seen as a 'trophy' by the school not as a person

Lack of consistency among teachers

Unfair awards - lack of differentiation

Work which is far too hard or far too easy

Not being given any choice in how to present work

Being criticised by teachers for not getting 100% all the time

Working with the same people all the time

Being left to just 'get on'

Always having to help people who find the work difficult or who simply don't want to learn

Constant pressure to do well and be involved in everything

Unrealistic deadlines

Repeating work

Teachers who over explain

Having to wait until the whole class understands what to do before they can begin work

Unhelpful marking (e.g. a simple tick or cross or 'good', instead of reasons why something was good or incorrect with suggestions as to how it might be improved

Provision for Gifted & Talented Pupils –

Some Ideas

Publicise departmental events on the G & T notice board in the staffroom

Build up a portfolio of work produced in the department including G & T pupils work in a separate section

Hold Competitions in School

Enter pupils for Regional and National competitions – e.g. Xcalibre regularly.

Provide a range of extra-curricular activities e.g. clubs, societies, groups

Compile a Talent Pool of local experts who may be willing to offer advice or to work collaboratively with teachers

Hold regular 'Hobbies Days'

Set quiz questions, problems or puzzles for the week for the whole school and/or at individual class level

Provide real life problem-solving activities

Devise simulations - e.g. Court Room/Board Room, Crime Scene etc

Establish a school newspaper, newsletter or magazine

Establish a Questions Board or Questions Box

Offer a Menu approach to tasks on occasion

Involve pupils in the planning and organization of school/class trips

Organize pupil Focus Groups and Consult them on a regular basis

Utilise ICT both as a learning tool and a medium to convey knowledge,
understanding and ideas

Suspend the Timetable and have an activities day or week or a Thinking Day or Thinking Week