Differentiation Strategies for Gifted Students in Elementary School with Melita Haines

When we think about differentiation, we often focus on supporting struggling readers—but what about the students who need more challenge? If you’ve ever had a student who finishes their work in record time or seems disengaged despite their advanced abilities, this episode is for you!

I’m joined by gifted education expert Melita Haines to break down what giftedness really looks like (hint: it’s not always the straight-A student), how to differentiate effectively without adding hours to your workload, and why acceleration and enrichment matter for these learners.

In this episode, Melita and I discuss... 

• The common myths about gifted students—and what’s actually true.
• How to differentiate instruction in a way that challenges without overwhelming.
• Practical strategies for supporting gifted readers and writers.
• How to work with families to ensure gifted students get the support they need.

Show Links

Gifted Matters website
Follow Melita on Instagram
Gifted Matters on Facebook
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Hoagies' Gifted Education
The Dictionary of Difficult Words
Davidson Institute
Book Creator
Storyboard That
Common Lit
Khan Academy Kids
Evernote
Kidblog
Google Scholar
Spelling City
Penpal Schools
Join Malia on Instagram
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!

Rate, Review, and Follow

If you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.

Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!

While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out! Follow right here.