Classroom Management Teaching Principles for Creative, Talented and Gifted Students

What is effective classroom management?

Principles 16–17 outline effective learning environments for gifted students.

Principle 16

Expectations for classroom conduct and social interaction are learned and can be taught using proven principles of behavior and effective classroom instruction

Behaviors conducive to learning and appropriate social interaction are best taught at the beginning of the academic year and reinforced throughout the year. Gifted students can be advanced in different academic areas, but like nongifted students, they may demonstrate challenging behaviors within classrooms and often for similar reasons. Educators need to be aware of students’ unique backgrounds, their ability levels and their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Tips for teachers

Teachers can help channel gifted students’ behavior in the classroom by:

Creating a challenging and yet safe and encouraging learning environment appropriate to gifted students’ development.
Recognizing that classroom behavior and social interaction of gifted students can be similar to those of regular students, and it is important for educators to establish clear expectations and rules at the beginning of the school year.
Implementing differentiated and accelerated instruction to match gifted students’ learning rate.
Recruiting and retaining culturally different students in gifted education, all classrooms need to be culturally responsive to students from diverse backgrounds.
Using appropriate differentiation strategies in teaching can provide gifted students with more desirable learning opportunities, resulting in better classroom behavior and more positive learning outcomes.

Principle 17

Basis for effective classroom management

The development of an effective learning environment is based in both structure and support. To be effective and culturally responsive, teachers can develop and maintain strong, positive relationships with their students by consistently communicating that they are committed to supporting all of their students meet high academic and behavioral expectations.

Tips for teachers

Teachers can foster an effective learning environment for gifted students by:

Requiring high expectations, predicable classroom schedules, clear guidance, consistently enforced rules and well-organized procedures for learning activities.
Creating a safe and optimal learning environment with positive teacher–student and peer relationships. Such a learning environment can provide gifted students with opportunities to take risks and challenge themselves, helping them achieve at a high level and fulfill their potential.
Encouraging peer acceptance and awareness of gifted students’ potential social and emotional vulnerabilities to help prevent behavioral problems and underachievement and maintain a positive classroom environment.