" How do you Differentiate Instructions for Gifted Students?" (Understood.org)
Purpose:
This video provides practical, teacher-friendly guidance for differentiating instruction in general education classrooms where gifted learners are included. It explains strategies such as curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, and enrichment opportunities, which research identifies as essential for preventing disengagement and underachievement among advanced learners (Baum, Renzulli, & Hébert, 2023). Including this video helps teachers visualize how these strategies can be applied in real-world rural classrooms with limited resources.
Just as plants need different types of care, gifted learners thrive when given the right level of challenge, independence, and enrichment. This video offers the "starter soil" for building those conditions in your classroom!
~ After watching this video, ask yourself:
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Which strategy do I already use and how can I elevate it for gifted learners?
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What's one thing I could change to better support high-achieving students?
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How do I ensure my strongest students aren't just coasting, but truly growing?
Let's Dig Deeper: "Cultivating Knowledge that lasts!"
The roots of effective instruction grow deeper when grounded in research. This section provides high-quality resources for educators who want to extend their learning and apply best practices for differentiating instruction for gifted and high-achieving students in the elementary setting.
NAGC Teacher Resources
Purpose:
The teacher preparation standards developed by the National Association for Gifted Children and the Council for Exceptional Children outline nationally recognized competencies for educators serving gifted learners. These standards emphasize equity, culturally responsive instruction, and the need for advanced curriculum planning (National Association for Gifted Children & Council for Exceptional Children, 2021). Aligning your differentiation strategies with these standards ensures your site promotes research-based practices consistent with national expectations.
Article: Elementary Gifted Students' Perceptions of Multi-Sensory Supports
Purpose:
Shows how gifted students benefit from sensory-friendly tools and routines.
This article highlights how multi-sensory approaches, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic supports, enhance engagement and learning for gifted students. Owens and Deriso (2023) found that incorporating these strategies allows students to better focus and thrive academically in both general and gifted classrooms.
UCONN Compacting guide
Purpose:
Curriculum compacting is a highly recommended differentiation strategy that replaces already-mastered material with advanced projects or enrichment opportunities. Reis, Burns, and Renzulli (2023) demonstrate that compacting prevents boredom, maintains rigor, and supports the continued growth of high-achieving students. Including this resource gives teachers actionable tools to implement this strategy, especially important in schools with mixed-ability classrooms and limited pull-out programs.
Video: Differentiating Instruction for Advanced Learners
Purpose:
Dr. Coleman’s video provides an expert explanation of how differentiation should be structured for advanced learners. It stresses readiness-based planning, intentional acceleration, and curriculum adjustment—practices that align with research identifying teacher planning as key to effective gifted education (Kaplan, Cannon, & Vaughn, 2021). This resource helps educators visualize how to implement differentiation strategies even when resources are limited, as often occurs in rural contexts (Miller, Smith, & Black, 2020).