Gifted Education Commons^™

Natural Disasters: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades 3-5, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Gifted Education In The Middle, Debra Ann Carlson

All Graduate Projects

Educators have always been concerned with addressing the needs of gifted students within the regular classroom. It has become difficult to challenge all children when school populations are composed of diverse groups with special needs, interests, abilities, and learning styles. With an interest in the education of highly capable (gifted and talented) students, the author did extensive reading and research. This project encompasses a variety of strategies, grouping practices and programs that can be implemented into a regular classroom to accommodate the gifted population. With this comes a focus on meeting the unique affective and academic needs of the gifted …

Australia: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades 2-4, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Millennium Moments: An Integrated Literature Unit, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

As we begin the new millennium, with its recent challenges and complexities, many educators are looking back to the twentieth century as a rich source of subject matter for their students to investigate. Further, most state standards call for an exploration of "modern" history. Certainly, there are numerous curricular materials that provide historical summaries of the century. Indeed, Millennium Moments is best used in conjunction with resources that chronicle modern world history and provide contextual information. It is our hope that this interdisciplinary unit will serve to engage students firsthand in the discoveries, personalities, accomplishments, and cultural events of the …

Ocean: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Meeting The Needs Of Gifted Primary Readers, Lori K. Deboer

Graduate Research Papers

Today's classrooms consist of students with a diverse range of social, emotional, and academic abilities. There are young children who enter school already knowing how to read or who learn quickly after they begin their education. Current literature seems to indicate that primary reading curricula in schools are not meeting these students' needs. This project was developed as one method to meet the needs of gifted primary readers.

The project consists of 10 books that were selected to challenge and address the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of gifted primary readers. For each book a series of discussion questions and …

Dual Differentiation: An Approach For Meeting The Curricular Needs Of Gifted Students With Learning Disabilities, Susan M. Baum, Carolyn R. Cooper, Terry W. Neu

Education Faculty Publications

Gifted students who experience difficulty with reading, mathematics, spelling, handwriting, and organization frequently become frustrated at an early age. Well-intentioned teachers attempt to remediate their weaknesses; yet, these youngsters still feel alone in the classroom. Moreover, their academic limitations often mask enormous talent, which seldom has an opportunity to surface. Thus, gifted learning-disabled students require curriculum that develops their special talents and provides them strategies to compensate for problematic weaknesses. This article discusses the dual characteristics of gifted learning-disabled students and suggests a unique curriculum that integrates both through talent development. Developed through Project HIGH HOPES, funded federally by the …

The Underserved: Primary Grade Gifted, Michelle Sturtz

Graduate Research Papers

Gifted primary grade students, those in grades one through three, have interests and abilities similar to their age mates. The main difference is the depth to which they want to learn and explore these interests. However, due to the lack of programming for this age group, untrained teachers, and parents who are uncertain of their role, these children are underserved when it comes to meeting their needs. There are three issues that contribute to the primary grade gifted student being underserved. The first issue is lack of programming. The majority of educational programs for gifted students are designed for students …

Howard Gardner's Theory Of Multiple Intelligence And The Implications For Gifted Education, Cynthia Fell

Graduate Research Papers

This article, to be submitted to the national journal, Gifted Child Today, explores how Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory (MI) specifically affects the development and delivery of gifted education. Included are discussions of the definitions on MI and giftedness programming and how each approach identification, curriculum and instruction. Three popular gifted education models are viewed through the lens of MI are Autonomous Learner Model (ALM), Talent Identification and Development in Education (TIDE) and Three Ring Conception of Giftedness.

Alternate Curriculum In Reading For Grade 4, Carolyn M. Wiezorek

Graduate Research Papers

Academically gifted students are in every classroom. They have a right to be challenged all day, every day. Most curriculum is aimed at the average student, leaving gifted students bored and unchallenged. It is the school's responsibility to meet the needs of these academically gifted students. By differentiating content, process, product and learning environment, teachers can enrich, challenge and better meet the needs of all students. Our district is in the process of creating alternate units for our elementary language arts program. The sixth grade is complete and a team is working on the fifth grade units. Two other teachers …

West Delaware County Community School District Talented And Gifted Program Handbook, Mary Quinlan-Kelley

Graduate Research Papers

Every district should have a program handbook that describes its talented and gifted program. The West Delaware School District especially needed such a document because of the many requests for information from faculty, administration, and parents concerning such areas as identification, organization, and purpose of the talented and gifted program that arise year after year.

Program handbook development began by sending out a needs assessment to parents, teachers, administration, and students. Based on the discovery of the needs of our district, a new philosophy, format, and identification process were constructed. In addition, the development of written goals and a yearly …

Alternate Curriculum In Reading For Grade Four, Julie A. Schmit

Graduate Research Papers

Julie A. Schmit, a fourth grade teacher, specifically designed the two reading alternate units. These units were designed to provide challenging reading and learning experiences for talented and gifted students in grade four. These units provide challenging, above grade level materials and activities for the students whose reading, vocabulary, and language skills are advanced to such a degree that they would derive greater educational benefit from working with alternate materials.

Cooperative Learning And Academically Gifted Students, John Joynt

Graduate Research Papers

This article examines the complexity of cooperative learning as an instructional strategy and discusses its positive effects for all students. The writer then defends cooperative learning as a classroom strategy for the academically gifted, even though gifted education practitioners frequently criticize it. He cites current research that identifies cooperative learning as an appropriate general education classroom strategy for all learners, as well as studies that criticize its effectiveness. After reviewing both positive and negative research related to cooperative learning and academically gifted students, the writer concludes that cooperative learning can be a positive instructional strategy if implemented according to the …

Differentiating The Curriculum For Gifted Young Adolescents In The Middle School Classroom, Eileen M. Boggess

Graduate Research Papers

Academically gifted students exist in every classroom and in all segments of the population. Rather than ignore their gifts and assume that a pull-out program for gifted students will satisfy their educational needs, schools need to accept the fact that gifted students are gifted all day, every day. Intellectually gifted young adolescents are prisoners of time in the classroom. Most of the material covered in a regular classroom is review or aimed at lower cognitive ability students. This leaves gifted young adolescents bored, restless, or hostile to their education. By differentiating the content, process, products, or learning environment of the …

Ua64/2 The Challenge: The Newsletter Of The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 4, Winter 1999), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

The Arctic And Antarctic: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades K-2, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Africa: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Grades 2-4, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Ua64/2 The Challenge: The Newsletter Of The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 3, Spring 1999), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

School Violence And Its Implications For Gifted Children, Nancy Schuldt

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this article is to review the research of school violence, the emotional needs of gifted and talented students, and the implications of school violence for gifted students. The violence which has occurred during the past two years in the United States, not only in the high schools but also the middle and elementary schools, has been widely publicized in current periodicals, television, radio and newspapers.

The questions I have addressed in this article include: What is violence? What is school violence? What does research say about the emotional needs of gifted students? What are the implications of …

Project High Hopes Summer Institute: Curriculum For Developing Talent In Students With Special Needs, Marcia Gentry, Terry W. Neu

Education Faculty Publications

This article examines a summer institute curriculum that was developed for and used with handicapped students who were identified as gifted in the area(s) of visual arts, performing arts, engineering, or life sciences. The students and the summer institute were part of a federally funded Javits program, Project High Hopes. The curriculum was real world, multi-disciplinary and problem based in that it used a decaying water feature on the school grounds as its focus. Using a creative problem solving process, students identified problems with the water feature, developed solutions, created presentations, and presented their solutions to the school board. Student …

Ua64/2 The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 1, Spring 1998)), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman Editor, Marcus Duke, Designer

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

Ua64/2 The Challenge: The Newsletter Of The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 2, Winter 1998), Center For Gifted Studies, Tracy Inman

Gifted Studies Publications

No abstract provided.

Creating Conditions For Developing And Nurturing Talent: The Work Of School Leaders, Stephanie Pace Marshall, Martin Ramirez, Kathy Plinske, Catherine C. Veal

Publications & Research

In 1993, two decades after the 1972 U.S. Office of Education Report on the status of gifted and talented programs (the Marland Report), U. S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley issued a report stating that gifted education is essential to our nation’s future and documenting the “quiet risk” faced by gifted children and gifted education programs in the United States.

Meeting The Needs Of Gifted Adolescent Girls, Marcia Schrader Hoffman

Graduate Research Papers

Guiding high ability girls during their middle school and high school years has been as complex and enigmatic as the subjects themselves. This review attempted to synthesize information concerning characteristics and needs of adolescent girls, gifted adolescents, and gifted adolescent girls. Those specific needs would help determine what programming options could be implemented in the secondary schools to help gifted females reach their potential. The conclusions drawn from the literature point to a smorgasbord of programming options that can be implemented through collaboration among talented and gifted programs, school-wide efforts, and community-wide strategies.

Environments that provide encouragement and opportunities may …

Differentiated Educational Programming And Educational Strategies For The Highly Gifted In The Elementary Schools Of Malaysia, Norridah Katun

Graduate Research Papers

Highly gifted children, due.to their unique attributes, need a differentiated program and educational strategies that are commensurate with their abilities. As a part of the educational reform movement, the country of Malaysia has committed itself to the implementation of innovative strategies for developing the potential of its children and youth. This review of literature focused on that commitment.

First of all, the need for differentiated programming and educational strategies for the highly gifted was reaffirmed. Then, from the reviewed literature, the qualities of successful differentiated programming/strategies were established for highly gifted children in the elementary schools of Malaysia. Third, six …

Underachievement In Gifted Students, Deborah Langenderfer Nagle

Graduate Research Papers

This study reflected on literature concerning gifted students who underachieve in school. Its purpose was to review the literature to examine the various definitions of underachievement, the characteristics of gifted underachievers, the risk factors for underachievement related to gifted students and the existence of promising interventions to ameliorate underachievement. The writer concluded that underachievement is a discrepancy related to performance behaviors that can be changed. She found that positive change can best be accomplished by the use of individualized interventions involving both the school and the family.

Extended Learning Program Evaluation, Linda S. Keegan

Graduate Research Papers

The rationale for the development of this project is to improve the quality of education for the gifted education program at the Marion Independent School District. The project was based upon the evaluation instruments employed to parents, students, and teachers effected by the ELP in the grades kindergarten through third grade. Parents were given a survey regarding the ELP program goals and objectives, communication, and satisfaction of the program. Students were given surveys regarding their learning and feelings about the program. Teachers were given surveys discussing a variety of topics dealing with parents, students, and services provided in the program.

Bibliotherapy : A Technique To Meet The Social And Emotional Needs Of Gifted Adolescents, Carlotta Paul

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of developmental bibliotherapy as an instructional technique for resolving social and emotional problems of gifted adolescents. By means of a review of educational and psychological literature, the writer gathered data about the effectiveness of developmental bibliotherapy in treating the social and emotional problems of the gifted described by Delisle and others.

The lack of bibliotherapeutic empirical studies using gifted adolescents as subjects and conflicting studies on the effectiveness of bibliotherapy to alter social and personality problems led the author to conclude that developmental bibliotherapy is still an experimental technique. However, …

Integrated Humanities: A Content Model For Senior High School Gifted, Jolene Kay Teske

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to develop an integrated humanities content model for senior high school gifted students. It began as a vision and has developed into a clear content model that will be piloted at the writer's school in the fall of 1999. Through the literature review and working revisions, the writer has become convinced that this type of model is one viable and defensible option for programming for intellectually gifted students at the senior high school level.

Barriers To Effective Programming Of Rural Gifted And Talented Students, Linda K. Moehring

Graduate Research Papers

Gifted and talented students in rural areas have barriers that are specific to them. Through a review of literature on gifted and talented students in rural schools this writer has determined five barriers to effective educational programming: (1) Anti-intellectualism as a societal attitude; (2) isolation of rural gifted students; (3) the all-encompassing role of the gifted and talented teacher; (4) inadequate curricular or programming opportunities; and (5) lack of funding.

The review and analysis of literature on the rural gifted and talented include the recommendation that much more research needs to be conducted in the area of service to rural …