When we think of gifted students, we typically think of kids who are incredibly smart, gifted in math and science, and maybe even gifted in the arts. We seldom think of kids who are gifted in reading. But that’s exactly what we need to think about when we are guiding these students.
The gifted reader is not just a smart reader. The gifted reader is someone who can read quickly, understand complex texts, and decode complex symbols. The gifted reader is also someone who is adept at noticing details in a story and drawing connections between different parts of the text.
If you are a teacher or parent of a gifted reader, here are some tips for helping your student reach their full potential as a reader:
1. Encourage your student to read for pleasure. The more your student reads, the better they will become at decoding complex texts and noticing details in a story.
2. Provide your student with challenging texts. Reading difficult texts will help your student develop their reading skills and understand complex ideas.
3. Encourage your student to read for comprehension. Help your student understand what they are reading by asking questions after they have read a text.
4. Provide your student with opportunities to read for research. Reading for research will help your student develop their critical thinking skills.5. Encourage your student to read for self-improvement. Reading for self-improvement will help your student develop their writing skills.
