Gifted Education Commons^™

Differentiated Instruction For All Students In English Language Arts, Philip M. Zola

Education Masters

Teachers are challenged to meet the needs of every student in their classroom and deliver instruction that gives students the opportunity to learn at their highest potential. In any given classroom, there are “at risk students,” “grade level students,” and “accelerated students” that need to have their specific learning needs met. Specifically in English Language Arts, teachers have a wide spectrum of abilities they need to accommodate for. All three levels of learners should be pushed to their fullest potential and challenged equally. By administering a survey to several schools in a suburban Rochester, New York community – data was …

The Impact Of Independent Investigations On The Engagement Of Elementary Spanish Immersion Students Who Are Gifted, Carolyn Suarez

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, What is the impact of independent investigations on the engagement of students labeled as gifted in the elementary immersion setting? It documents the implementation of a Renzulli Type III intervention, independent investigations, and students’ levels of engagement before, during and after implementation. Data was gathered from student questionnaires, translated style inventories, translated interest surveys, individual student reflections and group exit interviews. Results indicated that during the study, students demonstrated levels of engagement similar to or higher than other gifted education strategies already in place. Students who utilized engagement and research tools provided …

Supporting Students With Gifted-Talented Potential In High Need Schools: A Portraiture Study, Anna Zillnger Shepard

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project is – how are students with Gifted-Talented potential supported in the inclusive classroom model when it is implemented in high need

public schools? The research was conducted and organized utilizing Sarah Lawrence- Lightfoot’s Portraiture qualitative research method, which includes the components of

Voice, Context, Emergent Themes, and Aesthetic Whole. Five teachers who served in high need K-6 public schools provided the data through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed and read multiple times to determine five Emergent Themes in accordance with the research method. Those themes were: Identification, Testing/Evaluation, Support, Failure, and Success. …

Honors In Practice, Volume 13 (2017), Editorial Matter

Honors in Practice Online Archive

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Dedication: James Sherman Ruebel 1945–2016

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Examining The Relationship Between Gifted Behavior Rating Scores And Student Academic Performance, Lori M. Cleveland

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Current trends in gifted education research suggest the importance of identifying, developing, and nurturing the talent and potential of gifted learners in addition to recognizing high ability through intelligence testing. However, despite decades of work to decrease the achievement gaps, increasing excellence gaps, the disparity between the highest levels of student achievement from White, affluent backgrounds and the top-performing students from minority or low income backgrounds, remains a problem (Plucker & Callahan, 2014). This quantitative research study examines how a component of the identification process, the gifted behavior rating scale, can be used to assess student potential and increase representation …

How Cinema Excerpts Enhance A Culturally Relevant Responsive-Value Driven Pedagogy, Sunni Ali

Journal of Research Initiatives

Abstract

Most certainly “good styles of teaching” match the needs of students. As technology distractions within society grow more and more tearing students away from a classroom’s pedagogy, it becomes even more important today for teachers to find effective ways to engage students. Cinema clips is one-way educators can apply a cultural value driven pedagogy to connect students to lessons. For one, the use of cinema clips allows teachers to use multi-media resources to translate or deconstruct a lesson through video and auditory mechanism. Furthermore, it offers a differentiated style of teaching for students. What makes the use of …

The Looking Glass Effect: A Phenomenological Study Of Graduate Asian Students’ English Writing Challenges, Papia Bawa, Sunnie L. Watson

Journal of Research Initiatives

Increasingly more students from China are looking to the USA for learning opportunities. Despite being beneficial for both stakeholders, this phenomenon has some deep-rooted issues pertaining to cross cultural language acquisition barriers that may be preventing such learners from reaching their full potential in academic accomplishments. This phenomenological study of five Chinese students in the USA, engaged in the process of English language communication, is a step towards understanding this phenomenon. The study’s findings led to the development of a new metaphorical paradigm (Looking Glass Effect Paradigm) to explain the key issues faced by such learners, a new pedagogical approach …

Impact Report 2017: Imsa30, The Promise And Power Of Imsa, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Impact Reports

The State of Illinois launched the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), which is recognized as the world's leading teaching and learning lab for imagination and inquiry, in collaboration with business, education, and science leaders. For 30 years, IMSA has pioneered the future of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through its two legislative charges: 1) to provide a uniquely challenging education for students talented in the areas of mathematics and science and 2) to stimulate further excellence for all Illinois schools in mathematics and science. IMSA champions these goals through:

New STEM teaching models: leading the charge to …

Social Justice For Gifted Populations: The Intersectionality Of Diversity, Equity And Inclusion, Adrienne Coleman, Sowmya Anjur

Publications & Research

Through a model of inquiry and collaborative learning, participants will learn about the structural and institutional features of oppression faced by gifted students. Participants will develop meaningful ways to apply their new awareness and knowledge at both the individual and institutional levels, creating a diversity plan including a diverse curriculum. The ultimate goal is to provide professionals with the tools and resources to ensure equity and promote an environment that is both diverse and inclusive.

What Do Parents Really Want? Parent Perspectives On Gifted Education, Ryan Mccreary

Education Dissertations and Projects

In this research study, the correlation between the strategies that previous research had indicated as effective for gifted education and the programming sought by parents of gifted children was examined. Survey results and interviews with parents revealed several strategies that parents wanted to be implemented in gifted education as well as powerful practices that would enhance gifted education if implemented by school leaders. The problem of underachievement among gifted students is also discussed as well as strategies to reverse it.

Investigation Of Teacher Perceptions Of Gifted Education: How Teacher Perceptions Influence The Use Of Specific Research-Based Teaching Strategies Tailored To Challenge Learning In Ag Students, Ian Robert Olsen

Education Dissertations and Projects

The research study examined teacher perceptions of gifted instruction. It focused on teacher perceptions of the needs of gifted students; teacher confidence in adapting instruction to meet the needs; and teacher perceptions of which research-based instructional strategies are best implemented. The purpose of this study was to determine if AG teacher perceptions of instructional strategies influence the implementation of them. This study combined literature research, survey data, and interview data all shedding light on the need to improve academic instruction for all AG students (Bangel, Moon, & Capobianco, 2010; Manning, 2006; McKinsey & Co., 2009). The research and data demonstrated …

The Impacts Of Principals' Knowledge And Advocacy On Gifted Programming In Site-Based Districts, Colleen E. Urlik

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of elementary principals’ knowledge-base and advocacy on gifted and talented (GT) programming within their school in a site-based district. This study sought to understand principals’ knowledge-base, acquisition of knowledge, and advocacy behaviors in an effort to support principals in the future to better understand and support GT programming within their schools. The research questions which guided this study were: How does the knowledge-base of a principal impact gifted and talented programming within his or her school? How does the advocacy behaviors of a principal impact gifted and talented programming within …

Seeing The Unseen: An Educational Criticism Of A Gifted School, Kate A. Bachtel

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

There is systemic oppression of gifted children in many traditional school models resulting in disenfranchisement (Chu & Myers, 2015; Delisle, 2014). Yet, how can teachers be responsive to aspects of student development that they cannot see or do not understand? All students deserve instruction responsive to their unique strengths and needs, inclusive of gifted students. This study explores the aspirations and practices of a school designed to empower diverse gifted children. The selected school site is located in an urban area in the western United States and has been serving gifted students with a creative approach for more than 25 …

The Limitations On Colorado School Districts Adoption Of An Early Access Addendum Process, Lindsey Reinert

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

Colorado House Bill 08-1021: Early Access is legislation that is an optional based policy for school districts in the state of Colorado to choose to implement. The basic parameters within this state legislation is identified highly gifted students defined as academically gifted, socially and emotionally mature, who are in the top 3% of the gifted peer group, motivated to learn, ready for advanced placement, and have exhausted the resources of preschool or home schooling. Colorado House Bill 08-1021: Early Access passed in 2008, but as of 2017 only 42% of school districts had a process registered with the state department …

Affective Learning Opportunities For Gifted Adolescents, Jessica Anne Howard

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

The importance of teaching children and adolescents about affective content has recently become more of a priority in the realm of education, especially when working with gifted learners. The Colorado Department of Education requires that students on Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) write an annual academic and affective goal. The problem of practice guiding this research is the lack of services and support for gifted adolescents to achieve healthy affective development and to write affective goals. It appears that opportunities for students, especially secondary students, to learn about affective content are limited. This multiple case study examined factors contributing to gifted …

A Description Of Early Access In Colorado, Ruthi Manning-Freeman

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

Early access, as defined in Colorado statute, remains optional. There is a shortage of administrative units engaged in an early access process to admit gifted young learners ahead of neurotypical age peers. Only 21 school districts currently use their addendum as evidenced by the receipt of Colorado state funding. Indeed, “there exists a basic lack of awareness of the effectiveness of the intervention, the impact on the student’s social-emotional development, as well as concern for the lack of consistent procedures for making this decision” (Assouline, Colangelo, Van Tassel-Baska, & Lupinski-Shoplik, 2015, p. 54). In this retrospective mixed-methods study, the researcher …

Uncovering The Gifts In English Language Learners, Sheri J. Collier

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

This research study addresses the problem of practice of the underrepresentation of English language learners (ELL) in gifted and talented (GT) services. The literature provided several reasons for the underrepresentation of ELL students being identified as gifted. One reason cited in the literature was teachers’ lack of referrals or understanding the characteristics of ELL students who may be gifted (Barkan & Bernal, 1991; de Wet & Gubbins, 2011; Esquierdo & Arreguín-Anderson, 2012; Ford & Grantham, 2003; Harris, Rapp, Martínez, & Plucker, 2007). The literature also stated assessment play a major role in identification practices (Anguiano, 2003; Barkan & Bernal, 1991; …

Fandoms In The Lives Of Gifted Individuals With Imaginational Overexcitabilities, Jessica B. Delallo

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

Fandoms are communities, either officially or unofficially organized, that are dedicated to the love of a particular person, team, fictional series or character (Barton & Lampley, 2014). According to the Belonging theory (Gailliot & Baumeister, 2006), people yearn for belonging because it provides them with a sense of identity, self-esteem and self-worth. Gifted individuals often have unique social-emotional characteristics, such as overexcitabilities (OE), which set them apart from their non-gifted, non-OE counterparts because they actually experience life in a very different way (Neihart et al., 2002). The purpose of this study was to examine the role of fandoms in the …

Collaborative Conversations With Parents And Caregivers Of Black Gifted Students, Rebecca A. Mckinney

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

This research study attempts to address the persistent problem of practice of inequitable identification and programming for culturally and linguistically diverse gifted learners. One of the possible root causes of this persistent problem is the lack of parent engagement from culturally and linguistically diverse parents and caregivers (Jolly & Matthews, 2012; Grantham, Frasier, Roberts & Bridges, 2005). This phenomenological study targets parent and caregiver engagement of African American or Black parents and caregivers through the collaborative development of parent education. Participants were parents or caregivers of African American or Black school age children in metro Denver who participated in four …

Exploring The Lives Of Gifted Women, Christine Ann Winterbrook

Teaching and Learning Sciences: Doctoral Research Projects

Exploring the Lives of Gifted Women is a narrative collection that shares the lived experience of five diverse gifted women. These women were identified as gifted and talented through a formal psychological evaluation. They were served in gifted programming in elementary and secondary school. This qualitative narrative study revealed the lived personal experience of being a gifted female throughout the lifespan for these five diverse gifted women. The internal gifted characteristics and external influences that affect gifted women’s relationships, social and emotional health, achievement, and overall wellbeing were analyzed. The results of this study also examined the internal and external …