Triage. Who needs it most?

I first heard the term “triage” on TVs Mash in the 1960s.  It’s a process for sorting injured people into groups based on their need for or likely benefit from immediate medical treatment. 

The current RtI (response to intervention) movement in education must include triage for gifted students.  Not because our kids are injured but because they are some of the outliers, in greatest need and most likely to benefit from immediate treatment. 

Wisconsin has been a leader in assuring that giftedness is part of RtI.  You can find more on the DPI website: http://dpi.wi.gov/cal/rti-gifted.html 

Sometimes our brightest kids refuse the panacea we’ve prescribed because the cure-all doesn’t fit their gift.  When kids self-advocate, they let us know exactly where it hurts!