Title:
CHALLENGES IN TEACHING GIFTED STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING DISABILITIES: USING A STRATEFY MODEL OF 'ASKING, ANALYZING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS' (AAAMS) TO IMPROVE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Authors:
Doctor Nurit Salem ,Israel

Abstract:
The focus of this study was developing a strategy for teachers working in classes for students identified as Gifted and Talented (GT) with Special Learning Disabilities (2Els) situated in an Israeli secondary school. The research describes the challenges teachers meet while teaching Humanities Subjects (HS) to these students and the strategies they need in addressing their dual exceptionalities (2Els). Such students may experience difficulties especially in HS, and achieve significantly lower results than expected. The combination of giftedness with learning disabilities and underachievement creates special challenges for their teachers, for which they need specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs. The main purpose of this study is to examine how specific strategies may contribute both to the quality of teaching and to a better learning environment. The author developed a model (AAAMS) with an additional manual for teachers, which combines three strategies from the field of teaching gifted students and from the field of special education to help with HS. The qualitative research was conducted as a case study in a high school that the author of this paper both teaches and works as a vice principal in. The model was implemented by two teachers teaching HS in two high school classrooms with 60 2Els students overall. The information was collected through observations, interviews and open questionnaires. The research findings of this study describe the challenges that teachers may face with 2Els and the significant contribution of the implementation of the AAAMS to teachers and students. The research fills this particular gap in the literature, in the Israeli context, and the findings of this study bear policy implications and indicate the need for the tailoring of relevant teacher’ CPD' programs, to include strategies, to better address the needs of 2ELs for optimal success in fulfilling their potential and overcoming their difficulties