This workshop is an overview of gifted children- their characteristics, rights, behaviors and needs. As education professionals, we will examine the philosophy behind serving this population, the charge of elitism against gifted programs, and whether it is equitable to create services for these students. We will study transactional and transformational giftedness, as well as explore types of gifted learners. Finally, we will delve into practical strategies of differentiation, acceleration and curriculum compacting, as well as critical socio-emotional skills that you can carry into your school systems.