Teaching Gifted and Talent in K-12 Classrooms

Gifted Education Add-On Endorsement

If you have a valid Virginia teaching license, you can become qualified to teach gifted students in grades K-12 by earning an add-on endorsement in gifted education. Mary Baldwin has long been a leader in educating extraordinarily bright and ambitious students. It is the only college in the country with a full-time residential program for women as young as rising ninth graders who bypass high school and enter our nationally acclaimed Program for the Exceptionally Gifted.

Endorsement Requirements

• Graduated with a baccalaureate degree with a valid Virginia teaching license with endorsement in any teaching area.
• Complete 12 hours of graduate-level course work. Required courses:
  • ED 603 Thoughtful Assessment
  • ED 622 An Integrated Aroach to Exceppptionality
  • ED 623 Advanced Studies of Gifted Education
  • ED 624 Inquiry Approach to Differentiated Curriculum
• ED 615 Gifted Education Field Experience
  Complete a 45-hour practicum, which will be supervised by the program or one year of successful, full-time teaching experience in a gifted program in an accredited school may be accepted in lieu of the practicum.

The add-on endorsement in gifted education will ensure that each teacher is competent in the following areas as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia:

• Understanding of principles of the integration of gifted education and general education.
• Understanding the characteristics of gifted students
• Understanding of specific techniques to identify gifted students
• Understanding of educational models, teaching methods, and strategies for selecting materials and resources
• Understanding of theory and principles of differentiating curriculum
• Understanding of contemporary issues and research
• Understanding of and proficiency in grammar, usage, and mechanics