Become a Gifted Education Teacher

A stroke of genius: consider teaching the leaders of tomorrow

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All students have gifts, but some students are especially advanced in one or more areas such as math, language, music, or art. According to the National Association of Gifted Children, approximately 3 million students are identified as gifted across the country, and more than 8,000 teachers work with them. When you choose to become a gifted students' teacher, you join a formidable force in the education of many of tomorrow's leaders, inventors and teachers.

What Does a Gifted Education Teacher Do?

As a gifted education teacher, you'll have responsibilities much like other elementary and secondary teachers; however, your duties will include a number of specialized tasks, such as the following: Planning rigorous lessons and assignments so bright students can work at the level of their ability Developing and learning innovative gifted teaching methods Gathering materials and resources, and inviting special guests to encourage class time achievement Educating students and parents about the opportunities and difficulties associated with exceptional talents Encouraging students to develop discipline, accountability, productivity, creativity and leadership skills Assisting in the college and career selection process (for secondary gifted education teachers)

Gifted Program Work Environment

Gifted students can be found in schools everywhere, and school districts address their needs with special pull-out gifted programs, as well as separate schools that cater to self-paced, independent, experiential and advanced classes. Often, families choose to send their gifted and talented students to special private schools that require comprehensive testing and observation to attend.

Community colleges and universities often offer advanced placement programs to younger students entering regular college courses. Some universities have gifted programs created specifically for these students, such as Johns Hopkins' University's Center for Talented Youth. Professors who teach in the program have taken special coursework that equips them to handle these students in a college setting.

Salary + Benefits + Outlook = Promising

When you become a gifted students' teacher, your skills will be highly sought after in elementary and high school settings. Your special training and certification will allow you to identify gifted and talented students and work with regular classroom teachers to improve their teaching. Because of this, you may be able to negotiate a salary in the upper end of the yearly elementary and secondary teacher salary range of $28,590 to $76,100.*

Education and Training for Gifted Education Teachers

Your starting point, if you want to become a gifted students' teacher, is to complete a bachelor's degree, either in a particular subject matter or in elementary or secondary education. You may then go straight into a certification program in your state or choose to complete a 1- or 2-year master's degree program in gifted education. These programs offer coursework in identifying, evaluating and accommodating special abilities, and a research program and internship is usually required.

All the Right Hoops: Certification Requirements

Each state governs its own requirements for gifted endorsement certification programs. Most states require a graduate degree and special certification in order to work in a gifted program. Some states, however, require only a generic teaching degree and certification along with the desire to become a gifted education teacher. Check with your local state Department of Education for information on requirements in your area.

Gifted education teachers contribute to the advancement of our education system by raising the levels of challenge available to gifted students in classrooms across the country. If you are up for a challenge, and are passionate about teaching students at advanced levels, this career path may be a great one for you.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006