ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on professional learning for developing and implementing literacy education that addresses the unique needs of gifted and talented students. Specifically, professional learning content should include the necessary components of an effective literacy program, as well as effective pedagogical practices. The foundation of an effective literacy program includes phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, along with writing. Professional learning for phonemic awareness should focus on how teachers can differentiate instructional time for young gifted and talented students when class time is being spent building awareness for other students. Whereas phonemic awareness focuses on the oral expression of letters as sound, phonemic instruction emphasizes the relationship between sound and spelling as applied to the written word. Lists of age-appropriate texts and related bibliotherapy resources are available to share through professional learning activities. Literacy programs for gifted students must include a strong language study component.
