In this month’s article I hope to shed some light on the teaching style I’ve found to be most effective with gifted learners. Authoritative teaching is a classroom management style that provides firm, realistic boundaries for your child in a compassionate way. An authoritative teacher focuses on maintaining high standards and projecting genuine warmth. While this style of teaching is likely effective for many (if not all) learners, it is especially critical for those that are gifted, as gifted learners are often characterized by their high needs for engagement and empathy.
In the programs I facilitate, we start every day with a meeting. It’s a time for my students to share with our community what is important to them. They share their deepest hopes and worries as well as what happened on the last episode of “Dr. Who.” Then we go to math. No child is expected to come into the classroom and immediately start producing. First, I want to know where their heads are at. I want to know how I can help them feel at ease so they can do their best. My students want to feel contributed to by a teacher who understands that it’s a complicated life being gifted.