Hot Topic! Inclusion

I want to know how full inclusion benefits gifted children.

I conducted research on inclusion classrooms and the benefits it provides not only to children with disabilities, but to children who are exceptional or gifted. One article I came across stated that children with IQ's above 140 are wasting half or all of their time learning within an "ordinary elementary school situation." This means that students who are exceptional are only being hindered by their "normal" classroom settings. Taking inclusion into the classroom allows for the gifted students to remain with their school-aged peers, and be challenged on an educational level at the same time. This benefits the child, allowing them to remain with their peers, as well as keeps the students in the classroom rather than looking for alternative methods of education.
Highly Gifted Children in Full Inclusion Classrooms

I came across another article that discussed two cases; one that led to a student being introduced to an inclusive classroom, and one where a student was forced to seek outside acceptance. Both situations led to a satisfied student, allowing both the challenged and gifted students to feel more comfortable for who they were. But, this article brings up reasons why the inclusive classroom is a better alternative than looking elsewhere for education. Once inclusive classrooms are introduced, there is no need for any type of student to feel as though they "must leave because they are different." This links directly to multicultural education. If we keep separating our students based upon their learning abilities or disabilities, then we as teaching professionals are only further discouraging students to love and accept one's differences.
Educational Leadership: Why Gifted Students Belong in Inclusive Schools

I personally believe that it is important for any type of student to feel as though they belong somewhere. Inclusive classrooms eliminates the possibility of a student feeling "different" and having to find a place elsewhere that they can fit into. Students must learn that everyone is different in all sorts of ways, not just in the ways that we learn. Gifted students as well as students with disabilities and students who are average benefit from the inclusive classroom environment because they get to learn together and learn from one another.