What is Gifted and Talented Teacher

This chapter depicts a gifted programming framework following a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) model in K–12 education. Data-driven instruction and differentiation uphold a continuum of service model. This continuum is an essential characteristic of comprehensive gifted and talented programming. The gifted MTSS promotes talent development, creativity, and critical thinking in heterogeneous student groups while meeting the targeted needs of gifted students. This chapter also examines factors contributing to vulnerabilities in gifted education, the role of the gifted and talented teacher/specialist, and how to implement the gifted MTSS model effectively. Each tier in the gifted and talented program meets different learning objectives. The three tiers in the gifted MTSS are Gifted Tier I: Whole class push-in enrichment; Gifted Tier II: Content-based small group instruction; and Gifted Tier III: Pull-out gifted services.