What is Professional Efficacy

Giftedness can have varying definitions. For this chapter, giftedness will be defined using the national definition, specifically, that gifted students excel academically, creatively, artistically, and demonstrate strong leadership skills. Further, gifted students are those that require services beyond the typical curriculum to develop their unique skills. Teachers and students interact each day in a classroom microsystem. When students feel respected and challenged by the teacher, the students will work at higher levels. Teacher beliefs and attitudes are a reflection of teacher professional efficacy. The focus for this chapter includes defining teacher beliefs, attitudes, and efficacy, and how those beliefs, attitudes, and feelings of efficacy affect the gifted learner's experience in the general education classroom.