Professional requirements for gifted and talented teachers vary from state to state. Nearly half either require or may require a teaching license for general education and a certificate in teaching gifted and talented students. The teacher must exhibit expertise in a specific creative or academic area, reports Prufrock Press. For those seeking information or training programs for a specific state, Kid Source recommends contacting the State Department of Education or state branches of the Association for the Gifted or the National Association for Gifted Children.
Ideally, says Prufrock Press, a qualified teacher of the gifted should be highly intelligent, self-directed, lifelong learners with a wide array of cultural and intellectual interests. They must be able to employ strategies that encourage higher order and independent thinking skills in students. They must be able to cover material quickly to keep gifted students engaged. They must also be organized, flexible and creative.
The emotional qualities that shape an effective teacher of gifted students include humor, self-confidence, enthusiasm, genuine liking for teaching gifted students and emotional stability. Prufrock Press also stresses the importance of being able to relate to students on an individual basis. Patience and empathy are critical, as gifted students may often not respond emotionally to some situations in the same way as their non-gifted peers.
Good communication skills are paramount for teachers of the gifted. Teachers must be able to respond to their students on a one-to-one basis and provide them with accurate feedback. Teachers of the gifted should provide students with a learning environment in which they feel secure and are valued as individuals, acting more as a classroom facilitator or mediator than the star of the show.