Gifted Education Commons^™

The Impact And Legacy Of The Kaplans, Craig Daniels

Journal of Math Circles

As we conclude this special issue on the Kaplans, we want to leave you with some reflections on their legacy. Craig Daniels attended seven week-long Math Circle Institutes organized by Bob and Ellen Kaplan at Notre Dame between 2009 and 2016, and was inspired to lead his own Math Circles for many years. Craig collected comments from many people who knew the Kaplans.

Bob And Ellen Kaplan's Brazilian Adventure: O Círculo Da Matemática Do Brasil, Angels Varea

Journal of Math Circles

Bob and Ellen Kaplan deployed their boundless energy to spread The Math Circle word in Brazil in what they called their “Brazilian adventure.” They are the inspiration for the project O Círculo da Matemática do Brasil and participated wholeheartedly in its implementation, travelling to Brazil six times over five years to train teams of young Math Circle leaders that taught over twenty-seven thousand underprivileged children within the framework of the project.

Bringing Math Circles Into New Mexico Classrooms: An Interview With James Taylor, Amanda Serenevy

Journal of Math Circles

In this interview, conducted on December 14th, 2022, James described his math outreach journey and the many members of the Math Circle community who helped him along the way.

Corresponding With The Kaplans, Rodi Steinig

Journal of Math Circles

Readers of this journal have asked to hear the Kaplans’ voices: their tone, the way they were able to contextualize math questions, their generosity, and their joy. We think it’s important to share a few of these hundred-plus emails so that readers can feel that tone.

The Kaplans’ Math Circle Method, Amanda Serenevy

Journal of Math Circles

This essay explores what is meant by "The Socratic Method" in classical and modern times and examines the extent to which the Kaplans employed it in their Math Circles. We offer an imagined dialogue between the Kaplans and their students on the same mathematical subject explored by Socrates and the slave boy in Plato's dialogue \emph{Meno} to illustrate how the Kaplans might have handled that topic

The Joy Of Participatory Learning: The Math Circle, Peter Flom

Journal of Math Circles

Peter Flom was inspired to write this blog post after visiting the Kaplans' Math Circle in Boston.

The Pedagogical Lineage Of The Kaplans And Its Future, Taylor Yeracaris

Journal of Math Circles

This article describes the origins of Bob and Ellen Kaplan's Math Circle, one of the first Math Circles in the U.S. It covers Bob and Ellen's personal histories and some of the wide-ranging impact of their work and philosophy of teaching. It also discusses how the current form of their organization, The Global Math Circle, is working to carry forward their legacy, including building community and supporting Math Circle leaders with the Nexus project.

Introduction To The Special Issue Honoring Bob And Ellen Kaplan, Amanda Serenevy, Rodi Steinig

Journal of Math Circles

In 1994, Bob and Ellen Kaplan embarked together with other friends and colleagues on a wonderful adventure. Friends had lamented that there was a lack of high-quality math learning experiences for kids along the lines of the Math Circles offered in the former Soviet Union, so the Kaplans decided to do something about it. This special issue is dedicated to a remembrance of that adventure and its impact on the mathematical and personal development of many people.

Creative Multi-Disciplinary Learning Incorporating Da Vinci-Style Thinking For Gifted Students, Amelia Melissa Ferrell

All Graduate Projects

This project reviews the merits of interdisciplinary study with a focus on creative thinking, using the foundational knowledge of the life studies of Leonardo da Vinci to teach students concepts in math, science, art, and social studies. From these learnings, students will develop projects of interest that show their basic learning extended into creative student-developed projects.

Race, Class, And Whiteness In Gifted And Talented Identification: A Case Study, Kathleen Barlow, C. Elaine Dunbar

Anthropology and Museum Studies Faculty Scholarship

What began fifteen years ago as a volunteer effort to promote desegregation via a gifted and talented magnet school has become a case study analyzing inequalities in the identification of young children for gifted and talented services. We use Cheryl Harris’ (1993) argument that “whiteness” is a form of property that creates and maintains inequalities through the conjoining of race and class. We show how gifted and talented status meets the criteria of white property interests and is defended by recourse to law and policy. Efforts to improve identification of students for gifted services reveal that the implicit operation of …

Enrichment Curriculum For Third Grade Mathematically Gifted Students, Brooke Anne Mcallister

All Graduate Projects

Research shows that mathematically gifted students learn differently from their same age group peers. They require curriculum to be differentiated to meet their specific learning styles (Johnson, 2006). Studies have shown that formal instruction in elementary school classrooms often lacks challenge for the gifted learner since courses in regular classrooms sometimes have a relatively narrow range of topics, minimal investigation of concepts, repeated drill and practice, and yearly repetition (Fello, 2004). This project consists of curriculum for third grade gifted math students which takes the regular classroom curriculum to a more contextual level. This unit provides inquiry-based, discovery learning approaches …

Problem-Based Learning In A Fourth Grade Gifted And Honors Mathematics Class, Barbara J. Barr

All Graduate Projects

Problem-based learning was used to deliver math instruction on three different occasions. Thirty-two fourth-grade students were involved in the project. The purpose was to investigate students' attitudes towards word problems and the development of their confidence with problem-solving skills by providing differentiation through Problem-based learning. The results showed that the majority of the students perceived themselves as good problem solvers and that math in school was related to real life.

A Practical Guide Using A Variety Of Instructional Methods For Teaching Reading To Gifted Students, Melissa Caveness

All Graduate Projects

Gifted students spend most of their school day, if not all, learning in the regular classroom. Often, this environment is not conducive to their learning needs, and there is a lack of readily available supplemental materials that teachers can use to meet the needs of the gifted students. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to create a handbook that provides different strategies for teachers to use when teaching gifted students in the regular classroom. The project contains five thematic units that incorporate and utilize literature and comprehension strategies. This project first focuses definitions and identifiers of gifted students academically …

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 …

Teaching Strategies And Resources For Gifted Middle School Student In Regular Education Classrooms, Meena Thukral

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of the project was to develop a resource and strategies manual that could equip middle school regular education teachers to teach gifted students in their classrooms. The resource manual includes various instructional strategies that address learning styles, differentiated curriculum, enrichment in the regular education classrooms, and thinking skills. It also includes a list of published books and Internet sites for teachers to share with other teachers, parents, and gifted students.

A Language Arts Based Curriculum Model For The Talented- Grade 6, Bruce Edward Holway

All Graduate Projects

An investigation into the cognitive and affective characteristics and needs of talented students has resulted in the creation of a working model for a language arts based curriculum for students in grade six. This project identifies the essential components of programs for the education of the academically talented and demonstrates how these ingredients interact in practice. The process for selecting concepts and related content in English, reading and social studies is explained. Suggestions for designing materials and for utilizing commercially prepared lessons are provided.

Developing A Guide To Implement A Program Through The Library Resource Center For Academically Talented At The Elementary Level, Linda Rash

All Graduate Projects

To provide for the unmet needs of the academically talented at Southgate Elementary School in Kennewick, Washington, a pull-out program was written and implemented through the library resource center. Research related to gifted/talented characteristics, identification and selection techniques, curriculum development, and teachers of the gifted was evaluated and applied to the program organization. Benefits of the program to students, parents, staff, and the cormnunity were numerous. Suggestions were made for application in other school settings using the developed guide as a resource.

Pattern And Mathematics: Math Enrichment Activities For Gifted Fourth, Fifth And Sixth Grade Children, Janet K. Zuber

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide assistance to the elementary math teacher in meeting the needs of the student gifted in the area of math. A collection of activities is provided to use with gifted intermediate students and should serve as an example of the type of activities appropriate for the gifted student. These activities would be most appropriately used with gifted students in grades four through six. The activities would be of greatest benefit if students were grouped in a homogeneous manner with one teacher taking responsibility for their math needs, Homogeneous grouping would allow for faster-paced …

Native American Handbook For Gifted Education, Karlene Rae George

All Graduate Projects

The author reviews the key problems associated with generally accepted practices for identifying, and providing programs, for the gifted Native American student. Culturally appropriate behavior of the Native American gifted is discussed and an outline for securing tribal input to the development of an identification process is suggested. The importance of using culture based definitions of giftedness and goals in the education of students so identified is stressed. Program options and models are presented which address the central issue of self-concept.

A Handbook Developed To Create A Better Understanding Of The Gifted, Nan M. Hake

All Graduate Projects

The problems encountered by gifted students when integrating into the regular self-contained classroom were studied. Parents and peers display their misunderstanding of gifted students by their innocent remarks that adversely affect them. Teachers unwittingly cause discomfort by the unchallenging tasks gifted children are expected to perform. Sixty children from the Wenatchee School District's Gifted Pull-out Program were asked to share some of their concerns pertaining to these problems. Based upon their responses and a survey of the literature, a handbook was compiled to help prevent parents, teachers and peers from misunderstanding the gifted student.

A Four-Stage Program Of Enrichment In Reading For Gifted Junior High School Students, Mina Winifred Welch

All Graduate Projects

The needs of gifted students and strategies for meeting those needs were studied. A four- stage enrichment model was designed, accompanied by a teacher's guide for implementation of a sample application of the model at the seventh grade level. The four stages of enrichment activities included in the model were (1) exploratory activities beyond the regular curriculum, (2) activities to develop critical reading and thinking skills, (3) activities for improvement of information-gathering skills, and (4) a mentorship phase.

Academic Performance And Social Participation Of Gifted And Talented Humanities Program Students, Hyak Junior High School, Bellevue, Washington, Eileen Casey Herling

All Master's Theses

This investigation focused upon the academic and social achievement of identified gifted and talented students who participated in a special humanities program conducted within a traditional junior high school environment. Eighty-two students, ranging from the seventh grade through their sophomore year in college, returned questionnaires lending credence to the hypothesis that these youngsters generally continue to sustain their achievement level as they progress through life. Students' attitudes regarding gifted identification, motivation, peer relationships, and program preparation were discussed.

Reading Enrichment Activities For Gifted First, Second, And Third Grade Children, Beverly Staneart Doleac

All Graduate Projects

A teacher's manual of reading enrichment activities was developed for use by reading specialists. The manual contains activities geared towards primary-aged children reading at least two years above grade level. It is divided into four focal units, each based on a different area of children's literature. Bloom's Taxonomy at the higher levels is used to classify the specific learning activities suggested in the focal units. A children's bibliography is included for each unit. Teacher resources on the gifted are also listed.

Enrichment Materials In Reading Designed For The Gifted First Grade Child, Virginia Ann Burke

All Graduate Projects

This project provides enrichment reading materials for the first grade child who is designated as gifted and is reading beyond the preprimer and primer levels at the beginning of the school year. The materials are divided into four areas; (1) word recognition, (2) comprehension, (3) vocabulary, and (4) study skills. In each of these areas, enrichment activities have been prepared with the most emphasis given to comprehension. Although originally designed to be used independently, the materials can be used as skill teaching devices. The difficulty of the materials varies; therefore, the materials have been sequenced according to difficulty.

The Effects Of Contingent And Non-Contingent Reinforcers On Intelligence Quotients, Donald T. Edwards

All Master's Theses

Eighty Caucasian fourth and fifth grade boys and girls were matched according to grade, sex and Total IQ on the California Short-Form Test of Mental Maturity. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Children was then given under four randomly assigned incentive conditions: 1) Tokens contingent upon correct responses, 2) Praise contingent upon correct responses, 3) Non-Contingent Tokens and 4) Non-Contingent Praise.

An analysis of variance of the Verbal, Performance and Full Scall IQs showed no significant differences between incentives. Similarly, comparisons by grade and sex indicated no significant differences.

A Study Of Child Rearing Attitudes Of Mothers Of Gifted Children, Kemme Lynne Caldwell

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not any differences exist between the attitudes toward child rearing and family life of mothers of gifted children and the attitudes toward child rearing and family life of mothers of non-gifted children of the same age, living in the same community, and attending the same schools.

A Survey Comparing Aspects Of Programs For The Able Student At Lochburn Junior High School In The Clover-Park School District To Selected Junior High Schools From Throughout The United States, Larry Allen Carlson

All Master's Theses

Even though programs for the talented have been expanding in this country for the last thirty years, the "knowledge explosion" currently being experienced in the United States suggests that even more must be done to fully develop the potential of the highly able student.

An Enrichment Program In Science For Gifted Children In Grades One And Two, Margery Alice Skeen

All Master's Theses

This paper is a review of the literature and presents a number of suggested concepts that could serve as an enrichment program in science for the gifted child in grades one and two.

A Study Of The Creative Thinking Abilities Of Teachers And The Tested Creativity Of Their Pupils, Florine Creekmore

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the creative thinking abilities of teachers and the tested creativity of their pupils.

A Summary Of The Traits Of Mentally Superior Children And The School Programs For Their Education, Ann M. Hall

Graduate Student Research Papers

This paper is an attempt (1) to enumerate some of the physical, social, intellectual, and personality traits of the mentally superior child with the hope that it might help the classroom teacher to understand him as a whole person; (2) to trace the highlights in the development of the research on the mentally superior child through the review of the literature; and (3) to Smmarize and describe some of the educational programs that have been set up to meet the educational needs of the mentally superior child.