How to Support Gifted Students Without More Work
A New Edutopia Article
I recently had the opportunity to write for Edutopia, and I wanted to share it here!
When students finish their work quickly, the most common response is to give them more to do or move them ahead. But supporting gifted students is not just about speed. It is about depth, complexity, and meaningful engagement.
In my latest article, I share practical strategies teachers can use to challenge advanced learners without adding more work or completely redesigning their curriculum. These are small, manageable shifts that can make a big difference in how students think, respond, and engage.
👉 Read the full article here
Takeaways:
Move beyond “more work” and focus on deeper thinking
Use open-ended questions to increase complexity
Encourage multiple approaches and perspectives
Add simple constraints to extend learning
Shift from faster pacing to richer understanding
Supporting gifted learners does not have to mean creating entirely new lessons or plans. Often, it comes down to how we adjust what we are already doing.
When we prioritize depth over speed, we create space for creativity, critical thinking, and authentic learning.
The school year is underway, and there’s a lot happening at InterestEd. This September issue includes practical classroom ideas, updates on the Whole Learner Instructional Decision Framework, gifted education and professional learning news, recent writing, resources, and a look at what I’ve been working on this fall.