Education Commons^™

Teacher Background And Underrepresented Students In Gifted Education, Kayla Berg

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic students in gifted education programs is a longstanding concern involving equity and access in educational systems. This qualitative research explores the complex factors influencing this disparity, focusing on the role of teacher perceptions in the identification process. Elementary and middle school teacher participants (N = 14) from a single school district provided interview data. Data collection focused on interviews with classroom and gifted teachers related to the three research questions. The research design was a multiple embedded case study.

First, the study investigated how teachers' perceptions of gifted characteristics vary based on personal experiences, …

Parent Experiences In Advocating For Their Advanced Children In Elementary Schools, Kathryn Adams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The amalgamation of underachievement, underidentification, lack of state and national mandates and definitions, and the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of gifted and advanced students has resulted in a system fraught with issues that leave parents with the role of advocating for their child’s best interests at school. According to the National Association for Gifted Children, schools may not be completely effective in providing services for gifted children, leaving many parents feeling that their children’s needs simply are not being met (Harris, 2017). Parents of gifted or advanced children have noted several areas in which they feel unsatisfied with …

Preassessment Data And Differentiation In Middle School Math Classrooms, Brittany Mitchell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research study investigates the use of preassessment data to guide differentiated instructional strategies in educational settings. Since there has been an increased awareness of diverse learning requirements among students, differentiated instruction has become a highly researched topic and proved to be an effective strategy used to address different learning modalities, interests, and levels of readiness. However, there has been little research aimed at differentiating for a middle school math classroom. In this study, qualitative methods are employed, and interview transcripts are the primary sources of data. Findings revealed that math teachers understand the benefits of preassessments and differentiation strategies, …

Teacher Perceptions Of Gifted Middle School Students, Tom Wimsatt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Middle school students who fall under the gifted and talented category are often perceived as being “self-sustaining, easy to handle” students. Research into the nature of gifted and talented students over the last 40+ years has proven otherwise, demonstrating a wide range of social and emotional issues as well as the need for advanced academic challenges. However, middle school teachers have shown mixed opinions about the specific needs of gifted and talented students, oftentimes seeing GT students at the middle school level to be less student and more “student helper”. This study was conducted to determine the current trends and …