Gifted students often resist collaboration, preferring independence or control, yet real-world success demands strong teamwork skills. This session focuses on how intentional structures transform collaboration into a meaningful experience for gifted middle school learners. Aligned with the AAGT theme Gifted. Seen. Heard. Served. Rewriting the story—and demanding what’s overdue, the presentation emphasizes how structured discourse strategies, assigned roles, and defined expectations ensure equity of voice and authentic engagement. By adapting cooperative structures with defined roles, expectations, and resources, to gifted classrooms, educators provide the scaffolding these learners need to thrive in group settings. Participants will explore practical tools that reduce common barriers such as perfectionism, dominance, or withdrawal, and walk away ready to foster collaborative classrooms where gifted learners feel supported, challenged, and empowered to contribute effectively, finally rewriting the story of gifted teamwork.