Building Inclusive Classrooms: Lessons learned from Gifted Learners - Strengths and Sensitivities: Implications for Practice

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Can we build inclusive classrooms where all learners needs are met?

Arising from her new book ‘The Gifted Learner: How to Help’, Fidelma Healy Eames, PhD, MSc., BEd., argues that classrooms that respond to gifted learners’ needs can meet the needs of all learners.

Two and a half years in the making, Fidelma draws from research & practice informed by nineteen case studies with gifted learners ranging from 10 years – 58 years of age with learners represented at primary, second-level, third-level and adulthood. Her work draws on a total of 57 interviews conducted with students, parents and a ‘nominated’ teacher who gifted learners felt understood them.

This course spans a wide range of learners. It highlights how to identify, recognise, understand and support the gifted learner, the underachieving gifted learner and the twice-exceptional (2e) learner, a student with a gift and a disability. Each chapter contains a ‘how to help’ section for parents and teachers.

The participants will be enabled to:

• Explore what giftedness is and how to identify a gifted learner, drawing on an originally-designed framework for teachers' and parents’ use.
• Identify fascinating differences between high achievers, gifted learners and creative thinkers.
• Recognise the gifted under-achiever and ways to better understand and support them.
• Identify and discuss the ‘twice-exceptional’ (2e) learner, a child with both a gift and a learning difficulty, how to better understand and support them.
• Explore ways to accommodate gifted learners – Hear student voices highlight practical ways to understand and support learners, drawing on useful resources.

Facilitator - Dr Fidelma Healy Eames

Fidelma’s enduring interest is making learning easier. Passionate about enabling learners to develop the mindset and skills to take ownership for their own learning, she is Director and Lead Educator with Study & Careers.

Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames, PhD, MSc(Ed), BEd., has a long background in teaching and learning and teacher education. She began offering ‘learning to Learn’ and Wellbeing courses to schools and colleges nationally from 2002 with a team of specially trained teachers. In 2007 she published ‘Switching on for Learning: A Student Guide to Exam & Career Success’ which has become a core text for teachers, parents and students interested in becoming independent learning. In 2021 she developed an online ‘learning to learn’ programme used across second-level schools. 

In 2017 she expanded her services to include career guidance coaching and personality profiling for students and adults in career transition. Fidelma is an accredited tester with the British Psychological Society in the areas of personality, ability, occupation and emotional intelligence profiling and laterally in educational testing (2022).

She is adjunct faculty as a teacher educator specialising in student placement with Hibernia College. Along with her associates, she offers a specialist preparation course in Teacher Education interview preparation for the Professional Masters in Education (PME).

Her research interests include language, literacy and learning, the writer’s voice, wellbeing and issues surrounding equity, diversity and inclusion. Her new book ‘The Gifted Learner: How to Help’ (Pavilion, 2022) builds on this theme and reveals a fascinating and engaging account of learnings and insights arising from her research with gifted learners, ages ten to fifty-eight years, their parents and teachers.