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I've taught gifted kids and kids who test in the bottom 2 percentiles, and it's not a matter of being harder or easier to teach. But it is very different. People learn differently It is a matter of respect to treat students as individuals and teach them in the ways most suited to them. It is just as inappropriate to require a child who is gifted in math to relearn the same ways to solve problems every year, as it would be to expect every student to know exactly how to solve problems when a teacher does one example on the board. Some people just require more time, more repetitions, different approaches.
An easy way to solve this problem is a return to tracking. In too many areas, it is seen as elitest to recognize that some students are better in math, English, science, etc., than other kids. This has led to what is currently being called differentiation. Teachers are expected to differentiate the instruction within the classroom (which in California can have 40 students) to meet each student's needs. Even with perfectly behaved children, this is an impossible task.
I must return to respect for the individual. Tracking according to the work level of the student helps every student to progress at his own pace.
Posted at December 28, 2005 1:07 AM in response to Gifted Children Left Behind?
