The key to supporting gifted children in schools begins with the culture and then spreads to the curriculum.
In public schools, individualized education refers to a student being assigned an IEP, or an Individualized Education Program. According to today's research, what some schools that value gifted education mean by Personalized Instruction is that each student has a special relationship with an adult, either as an advisor or homeroom teacher, that will work with him or her, his or her parents, and the school in making the best possible academic and social decisions.
What does this kind of school culture look like, and what does it mean? Personalized Instruction means being there for the students with special needs – making the instruction appropriate and meaningful for the learners, communicating with parents, tutoring, providing extra help, having teachers being trained to address the learning styles that gifted children employ, knowing about ADD and 2e learning disabilities and the individual learning needs of all children. For example, a school that focuses on personalized instruction offers individualized plans, helps with homework, reading and math diagnostics, and all aspects of supplemental education in a safe, nurturing environment. The school understands when a student has a time conflict due to pullouts and makes individual arrangements with the families. The school uses Computer Assisted Instruction to help with individually monitored and designed independent practice of the teachers' curriculum, a 24x7 interactive computer network server for communications between students and their teachers, and improved physical and technological infrastructures through the syllabus.
And like most important changes in a school, it all begins with the curriculum.
