On May 2nd, 2025, staff at Medan Independent School (MIS) had the opportunity to engage in a focused professional development session led by Jason Pringle on the topic of “Strategies for Supporting Gifted and Talented Learners in the Classroom.” The 1.5-hour session formed part of a broader day of professional learning and provided valuable insights into how teachers at MIS can better meet the needs of high-ability students through thoughtful differentiation.

The session began by exploring some of the common myths and facts about gifted and talented students. Participants discussed widespread misconceptions—such as the belief that gifted students don’t need help because they’ll succeed on their own—and contrasted these with research-based truths that highlight the diverse needs and potential vulnerabilities of this group.

We then examined the strengths and challenges faced by gifted and talented learners. While many of these students demonstrate high levels of creativity, intense curiosity, and rapid learning ability, they may also struggle with perfectionism, social isolation, or disengagement when lessons fail to challenge them appropriately.

The heart of the session focused on practical classroom strategies, with a particular emphasis on differentiation. Jason Pringle shared a range of approaches teachers can implement to ensure these learners remain challenged and engaged, including tiered tasks, flexible grouping, open-ended questioning, and opportunities for independent learning projects. These strategies allow educators to adjust content, process, and product according to students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles.

Staff left the session with renewed commitment to meeting the needs of all learners—including those who are gifted and talented—and with a toolkit of adaptable strategies ready for classroom application.

This session was one of several on the day designed to support continuous professional growth at MIS and to ensure that every student in our school is given the opportunity to thrive.