ABSTRACT
Professional learning is essential for all educators who ideally are engaged in learning communities to identify specific knowledge and skills needed to serve different groups of learners. Teachers and content specialists should collaborate in teach communities to identify specific knowledge and skills needed to serve different groups of learners. Although the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (CCSS-ELA) provide the framework for the learning experiences for all students, gifted educators need focused training that is content-specific for differentiating the standards. Professional development for implementing the CCSSELA for gifted and high-ability learners should focus on evidence-based differentiation practices as they relate to specific core content. Gifted educators are in no way expected to be experts in all content areas; therefore, it is imperative to develop collaborative relationships with skilled content specialists to provide knowledgeable advice, content-specific peer coaching services and pedagogical knowledge while implementing the CCSS-ELA.
