The needs of gifted students go beyond the standard classroom activities. It is difficult to generalize gifted students because of their characteristics which are personal and unique to each student. This group of students have an increased pace in which they learn and complete work, they learn more rapidly, exhibit a greater depth of understanding concepts, need time for in-depth exploration and investigation, and ask challenging questions.
Typically, their interests are advanced and beyond their peers, which increases the need of participating in a grouping environment where they have the ability to interact with their same aged peers with similar intellect. Providing an early and appropriate educational environment allows gifted students to use their exceptional ability in constructive ways. According to research, intellectually gifted children will not be happy and complete until they are using intellectual ability at a level approaching full capacity.*
Educators are challenged with developing curriculum that will be challenging, enlightening, and intriguing to students of different abilities, and still maintain a sense of community within the classroom. At Stargate we develop educational programs that meet these specific characteristics and focus on nurturing the academic and social differences. Our focus is on identifying each students unique learning style and abilities in order to develop each student to their full potential.
* Halster, J.W. (1988) Guiding gifted readers--From preschool to high school. Columbus: Ohio Psychology Publishing