The ability to self-regulate gives students the power to reach new heights in their lives and academic careers. Teachers give an invaluable gift when they pass along the principles of self-regulation to their students.
The difference between an Olympic runner and a weekend jogger isn’t simply that one runs faster than the other. Just as an Olympic athlete’s body trains and functions differently, the brain of a gifted student must be trained differently. Gifted courses should not just be harder versions of regular classroom work. They should be tailored and designed to stretch, challenge, and engage the brains of our gifted learners.
Underrepresented students are at a particular risk for failing to thrive in the gifted classroom. Factors like culture, home life, negative study habits, and perceived lack of resources can put them on an uphill path; but helping them to apply self-regulation strategies can empower them to learn for life.
