How can gifted students monitor their performance during a unit?

Self-assessing understanding with a rubric is a highly effective method for gifted students to monitor their performance during a unit. Rubrics provide clear criteria for evaluating various aspects of their work, such as understanding of content, application of skills, creativity, and effort. This structured approach helps students reflect on their performance objectively, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and make informed adjustments to their learning strategies. By engaging in self-assessment, gifted students develop metacognitive skills, as they learn to evaluate and understand their own learning processes and outcomes.

In contrast, while working independently to reach goals allows gifted students to challenge themselves, it may not offer the immediate feedback that self-assessment with a rubric provides. Completing additional free-choice projects can enhance learning by allowing exploration of interests, but is not a direct method for monitoring performance. Finally, completing an inventory of prior knowledge can help establish a baseline for learning; however, it does not provide ongoing measures of progress throughout a unit. Thus, the self-assessment approach stands out as the most effective in facilitating continuous reflection and improvement for gifted students.