Gifted: The shift to enrichment, challenge and equity

(Paperback)

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Description

'Gifted and talented' is a zombie. It is dead, but still walking around. There are new labels to stratify students - 'more able', 'significantly able', 'high-aptitude learners'. New labels do not equal new thinking. The concept of 'gifted' is still stubbornly embedded in our educational structures, with its legacy of social immobility, racism and sexism. Students can be 'more able' when they have more financial resources, more access, more visibility, or more cultural acceptance. There are pervasive narratives that educators should prioritise extension for some students and not others. We can dispel the myth that pitching lessons judiciously to 'middle ability', and then differentiating up and down, is effective.

This book explores how we can provide every student with rigorous challenge. Challenge for all is an inclusive approach to teaching, whereby every student is invited, and given the tools, to reach a place of mastery. This can be through project-based learning, Harkness round-tables, oracy, adaptive teaching, inclusive enrichment programs, dynamic classroom strategies and a schoolwide mission for equity. Educators can embed powerful knowledge into the curriculum, reimagine teaching to the top, and stretch learners through personalised and responsive instruction. The shift to enrichment, challenge and equity creates magnificent possibilities. The message to all students is: you belong here.

Reviews

Morgan Whitfeld's excellent Gifted The Shift to Enrichment, Challenge and Equity brings fresh energy to this important area of educational thinking, presenting a vision for curriculum and pedagogy that is simultaneously challenging and inclusive. I love the extended circus metaphor that runs through the book, guiding us along a tightrope and through rings of fire as we explore the problematic 'gifted' concept, then leading us up to the Big Boom of learner autonomy. It's an engaging book full of conviction and insight, and I would highly recommend it as an addition to any CPD library. * Tom Sherrington *
Gifted: The Shift to Enrichment, Challenge and Equity isn't just another piece of academic dribble; it's a heartfelt manifesto for true inclusivity in our schools. As someone deeply invested in educational equity, I found this book resonating with the very principles I hold dear. It offers a critical yet hopeful examination of how we can stretch all minds, not just the ones we've pre-labelled as 'gifted'. This book is a clarion call to dismantle barriers and cultivate a landscape where every student can soar. If you, like me, believe in nurturing every child's potential and are seeking actionable insights to make this a reality, this book is an essential read. It's a potent reminder that enrichment isn't a privilege for the few but a right for all. * Leisa Grace Wilson, editorial director, Teach Middle East and Schoolfinder.ae *
This book is an eye-opening read, dispelling the myths of 'gifted and talented' that have been circulating schools for far too long. Morgan flips this idea of an elite few being 'gifted' and instead advocates for a 'challenge-for-all' approach, allowing children of all backgrounds to have a level playing field in a truly inclusive learning environment. This evidence-based book will provide you with the essential pedagogy to begin building opportunities in the classroom that truly embrace inclusivity. Let's stop putting that lid on education, which creates a systemic bias towards those who should be successful, and instead provide a system where all can achieve. * Cat Chowdhary, author of So What Does an Outstanding Teacher Do *
This is an important book, different to anything I have ever read before, and one I can highly and wholeheartedly recommend to anyone in education who believes every child deserves to succeed and thrive. * Kate Jones, author of Love to Teach, Retrieval Practice and Smashing Glass Ceilings *
Gifted The Shift to Enrichment, Challenge and Equity delivers a powerful wake-up call to the educational community. With razor-sharp insight and genuine conviction, Morgan dismantles the outdated notion of 'gifted and talented' and champions a bold new approach to teaching and learning. Through compelling arguments and practical strategies, this book implores educators to embrace inclusivity, equity and rigorous challenge for all students. This book is a must-read for anyone committed to transforming education and creating a more equitable future for our students. * Stephen Moffatt, deputy head, MA, NPQH *
As educators, it's our goal to create rigorous challenge for all students. In this book, Morgan explores the research behind the strategies that help provide teachers with practical advice and guidance on how we can empower our students so that all your students can achieve mastery. I strongly recommend this book to any new or experienced teacher seeking a research-informed guide on supporting every student. * Steve Oakes, author of The Student Mindset *

Author Bio

Morgan comes from a family of dynamic educators and is happy to continue the tradition. She has worked on three continents, with most of her career in British curriculum schools, where she has taken on such roles as director of teaching and learning, head of sixth form, head of humanities and head of scholars. She loves to present to fellow teachers and is a passionate advocate for equity in education. Morgan hails from Canada and holds a National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership and degrees from Queen's University and the University of Guelph, where she was a President's Scholar. In her spare time, Morgan travels the world with her husband and their three magnificent children.