Lessons From a National Survey on Supporting Gifted Learners During the Pandemic

Scientific

Across the globe, gifted learners have faced unprecedented changes to their schooling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, educators have undertaken mammoth tasks to ensure continuity of education for gifted and talented students during the pandemic. During this period of unprecedented disruption, educators were initially thrust into virtual classrooms with little or no preparation as remote instruction was implemented. With such a quick transition, were our most advanced learners left to support themselves, or did this environment allow gifted learners to thrive? This presentation will share results of focus groups and survey data from gifted elementary students and teachers of the gifted that explored school practices during the first year of the pandemic, emotional challenges they faced, and benefits of virtual learning. The presenters will provide recommendations for parents, families, teachers, and community partners for future teaching practices that support the emotional needs of gifted learners.