Instructional Playbook

Supports for Advanced or Gifted Students & Gifted Learners Recognizing Advanced Learners Advanced learners are not always the highest achievers in the room. Some are imaginative, intense, or curious. Others may be disengaged, underperforming, or quietly thinking beyond the task. Gifted and Talented students are those with exceptional ability or potential in areas such as academic achievement, creative thinking, leadership, or the arts. These students need more than just extra work —they need different kinds of learning: opportunities to accelerate, go deeper, make connections, and pursue areas of interest. Watch: Bite-sized PD: Characteristics of Gifted Learners Common Traits of Advanced Learners Advanced learners often share common cognitive, affective, or behavioral traits—though not all will look the same. High verbal ability Early and rapid learner Advanced reasoning and problem-solving skills Preference for complexity Unusual capacity for information processing Divergent thinking Ability to make connections across contents, events, or disciplines. Affective Passion for learning Perseverating on ideas Excessive worrying or perfectionism Highly perceptive Strong imagination Cognitive

Maximize Advanced learners may also include students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and underachievers. Look beyond grades and test scores. Minimize Increase Your Impact Did You Know?

Vertical Differentiation Across Tiers: High-Potential Learners: Recognized through curiosity, potential, or problem solving not yet reflected in performance; supported through open-ended inquiry and exploratory tasks. Advanced Learners: Demonstrate above grade-level performance in one or more areas; need access to enriched, compacted, and interdisciplinary content. Identified Gifted Students (e.g., SALTA): Require consistently complex, and creative learning pathways with both academic and socio-emotional supports.

“Gifted learners don’t just need more—they need different.” — Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, gifted education expert

Behaviors High curiosity in areas of interest Easily bored without a clear purpose Focus on efficiency and accuracy over compliance