Lesson 8: Putting It Altogether for the Twice-Exceptional Student

A collaborative effort between classroom teachers, special educators, gifted educators, and parents is needed to identify twice-exceptional students and implement strategies to meet their diverse needs. It is essential that the disabilities are identified early so appropriate interventions can be provided at optimum times. Unfortunately, the struggles of many twice-exceptional students go unnoticed for many years, resulting in learning gaps and undeveloped potentials.

Coleman and Gallagher (2015) argue that education of a twice-exceptional (2e) child is no less complex than when doctors and specialists collaborate on the best path to follow for a patient.  The provision of flexible, multidimensional, customized supports and services requires a system of education that is capable of dynamic and personalized interventions that respond to a 2e student's learning strengths and challenges.   We believe that this wind of education response entails more than an excellent individual teacher...it takes a team.  (Coleman and Gallagher. 2015)