ERIC Number: ED411665
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1997-May
Pages: 30
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
What Are the Most Effective Characteristics of Teachers of the Gifted?
Heath, William J.
This paper reviews the literature concerning the personal characteristics, professional characteristics, and teaching methods or styles of effective teachers of gifted students. The review is divided into three sections. First, a brief historical overview of gifted education since ancient times is offered. The next section looks at the opinions expressed by experts in the field of gifted education on essential characteristics of teachers of the gifted. The experts generally agreed that standards for teacher training should be established, that the teacher of the gifted should have state certification and/or an endorsement in gifted education, and that the teacher should have high intelligence, an understanding of giftedness, originality, and self-confidence. A table compares four editorial studies which examined experts' listings of desirable teacher characteristics. The bulk of the report reviews empirical studies of teacher characteristics. A table compares 10 such studies. Among desirable teacher characteristics identified by these studies are intelligence, enthusiasm, achievement, drive, self-confidence, promotion of student independence, and a preference for teaching gifted children. (Contains 51 references.) (DB)
Publication Type: Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A