Triple R Teaching Thoughtfully meeting the needs of advanced readers - with Dr. Amanda Nickerson
Jul 14, 2025
Dr. Amanda Nickerson, a literacy specialist with a focus on advanced readers and gifted education, shares her insights on nurturing overlooked learners within the MTSS framework. She discusses the crucial difference between gifted and advanced readers, emphasizing the need for equitable identification. Amanda stresses the importance of including enrichment in MTSS and argues against neglecting advanced learners. She also provides practical strategies for assessing, grouping, and differentiating instruction, ensuring that every advanced reader receives the support they deserve.
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Personal Start: Missed Gifted Services
- Dr. Amanda Nickerson recounts being identified as gifted in second grade but missing services after changing districts.
- That experience motivated her career focus on supporting advanced learners within schools.
Working With Twice-Exceptional Students
- Amanda describes teaching twice-exceptional students and balancing enrichment with remediation.
- She found working with that population challenging but deeply fulfilling.
Identification Cutoffs Create Inequity
- 'Gifted' is a restrictive label often based on cut scores or IQ tests that vary by district.
- Reliance on arbitrary cutoffs creates inequities where similar students may or may not receive services.
