ABSTRACT
The humanities are often undervalued, with many individuals seeming to feel that unless one is studying something that leads directly to a job, it's not of value. The skills and abilities nurtured in the humanities are relevant to interpersonal, academic, and career success; in fact, communication abilities and flexible creative thinking/problem solving are the qualities most sought after by employers along with the hard skills of analysis, knowledge, and specific abilities. Literacy is the key to learning in any subject area and requires an additional focus as the people explore the role of the humanities in meeting the needs of gifted and advanced learners. Many school districts have adopted Renaissance Learning's Accelerated Reader program. The humanities offer opportunities for developing knowledge, skills, and sensitivities that are essential components of educating gifted students. The general education curriculum and classroom are rarely adequate for this task; thus, advanced differentiated strategies and materials are necessary.
