Ask a teacher on Summer Break

[J a c k]

I'm a high school history teacher, and currently on summer vacation.  So I figure I have time for one of these now.

I apologize if my question has already been asked, but out of curiosity, how do you go about instructing students who are gifted and talented?  Based on your experience, what are the main challenges involved in instructing these individuals, and how can a teacher best go about ensuring that these students develop their abilities and don't end up hating school and becoming underachievers? Thanks for your time and attention.

P.S. I admire your profession as a teacher and the patience and dedication that is requisite for success in this field; you're a better person than I am.  Live long and prosper.

This is a good question. I've been told to start looking for programs for gifted students for my little one to avoid the underachieving problem, but our rural area has nothing for him. His psychiatrist says that it's likely the school will blame his lack of commitment to the fact that he's autistic, but he gets bored easily when he's not being challenged.

Good question, Kernel. Maybe teachers don't get to be creative anymore or able to cater to an individual student, but Cecelia, do you participate in any programs for gifted students, have participated, or know of anything that has worked?