At Gifted Learning Center (GLC), gifted and advanced learners don’t need to move faster through the curriculum or simply get “extra work.” They need different: different questions, different challenges, and different ways to connect ideas.
Gifted and Talented models of teaching enrich and differentiate learning experiences, challenging and engaging students to promote higher-order thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning. Our methods move beyond memorization and help students grow into confident, capable thinkers.
These models guide students to analyze, classify, and connect knowledge at a higher level.
The Depth and Complexity model provides students with new ways to think about content by examining it through lenses such as patterns, ethics, or multiple perspectives.
This model challenges them to delve deeper and think more critically about the same subject. It creates a habit of higher-level thinking, creativity, and connections across ideas, allowing all students to engage more meaningfully with their learning.
This model helps students understand new information by connecting it to what they already know. At the start of a lesson, the teacher provides students with a "big picture" idea—such as a story, chart, or example—that organizes the new material before they examine the details. The Advance Organizer helps students see how everything fits together, making it easier to remember.
The Concept Formation model is a method of learning by sorting and grouping ideas. First, students use their divergent thinking skills to examine numerous examples and consider a wide range of possibilities. Then, they focus on what all the examples have in common and decide what makes something fit the concept using their convergent thinking skills. This model helps students understand ideas more deeply and practice essential thinking skills.
The Concept Attainment model is a learning method where students determine the meaning of a concept by examining examples. Students use divergent thinking as they suggest different rules or ideas about what makes an example fit the concept. Then they use convergent thinking to test their guesses and decide on the one rule that works. This model helps students practice careful observing, comparing, and critical thinking.
These models emphasize hands-on, real-world application of knowledge.
The Project-Based Learning model focuses on students solving real-world problems through meaningful, hands-on projects. In this approach, students actively apply what they know while also exploring new ideas, giving them the chance to succeed as well as to make mistakes and learn from them. This authentic work set in ambiguity helps students develop skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
The 5E model helps students grow their thinking in powerful ways. The model captures students' interest, encourages them to ask questions, and provides opportunities for them to discover ideas on their own. They build understanding by discussing what they find and connecting it to clear explanations. They strengthen their knowledge by applying it in new situations, and they reflect on their learning to see how much they have grown.
The SCAMPER model of teaching is a creative thinking strategy that encourages students to explore new ideas. Creative thinking is a skill that can be developed and strengthened. It is done by asking students to Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, or Reverse the topic they are exploring. SCAMPER allows them to stretch their imagination.
These models focus on dialogue, collaboration, and inquiry.
The Socratic Seminar model of teaching centers on thoughtful discussion rather than memorizing facts. In this model, students ask questions, share ideas, and build on each other's opinions to deepen their understanding of a topic. Instead of the teacher giving answers, students learn by listening closely, questioning thoughtfully, and responding respectfully.
The Group Investigation model of teaching encourages students to take an active role in their learning by working together to explore a topic. In this model, content exploration is the goal as students ask their own questions and use their natural curiosity to guide the direction of their investigation. Students become more invested in the process and take greater responsibility for their own understanding.
These strategies do more than teach content—they transform how students see themselves as learners.
At Gifted Learning Center, we weave together multiple research-based models so students can connect, apply, and own their learning.
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