Gifted Education at theGifted Education at theMiddle School LevelMiddle School Level

2008-20092008-2009

Gifted Education at theGifted Education at theMiddle School LevelMiddle School Level

2008-20092008-2009

Gifted support is a service, not a place!

Gifted support is a service, not a place!

CHAPTER 16 – SPECIAL EDUCATION CHAPTER 16 – SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR GIFTED STUDENTSFOR GIFTED STUDENTS

CHAPTER 16 – SPECIAL EDUCATION CHAPTER 16 – SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR GIFTED STUDENTSFOR GIFTED STUDENTS

State law mandating special education services for students

Placement (16.41) should ensure that the student is able to benefit meaningfully from the rate,

level and manner of instruction should provide learning opportunities that go beyond the program the student

would receive as part of regular education does not require, but may include, the categorical grouping of students ensure that the student is able to benefit meaningfully from the rate, level and

manner of instruction provide opportunities to participate in acceleration or enrichment as

appropriate for the student’s needs Districts are free to group across grades, according to academic talent, or

based upon other performance characteristics

State law mandating special education services for students

Placement (16.41) should ensure that the student is able to benefit meaningfully from the rate,

level and manner of instruction should provide learning opportunities that go beyond the program the student

would receive as part of regular education does not require, but may include, the categorical grouping of students ensure that the student is able to benefit meaningfully from the rate, level and

manner of instruction provide opportunities to participate in acceleration or enrichment as

appropriate for the student’s needs Districts are free to group across grades, according to academic talent, or

based upon other performance characteristics

PROGRAMMING OPTIONS / CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

PROGRAMMING OPTIONS / CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Use of a varied approach and best practice strategies that address content, process, learning environment and product in response to a student’s interests, ability levels, readiness and learning needs

May be offered through a variety of settings and selections

Should feature enrichment, complexity, depth, challenge and creativity

Use of a varied approach and best practice strategies that address content, process, learning environment and product in response to a student’s interests, ability levels, readiness and learning needs

May be offered through a variety of settings and selections

Should feature enrichment, complexity, depth, challenge and creativity

Curricula should be an extension of core learning, using enrichment strategies

Should stress higher-level thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills

Should set high standards that demand rigorous expectations for student work and performance demonstration

Instruction should allow for the development and application of productive thinking skills to enable students to re-conceptualize existing knowledge and/or generate new understanding

Curricula should be an extension of core learning, using enrichment strategies

Should stress higher-level thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills

Should set high standards that demand rigorous expectations for student work and performance demonstration

Instruction should allow for the development and application of productive thinking skills to enable students to re-conceptualize existing knowledge and/or generate new understanding

Overview of ResearchOverview of ResearchSpecific to Gifted LearnersSpecific to Gifted Learners

Overview of ResearchOverview of ResearchSpecific to Gifted LearnersSpecific to Gifted Learners

Full-time Gifted Programs (Kulik, 1985; Kulik & Kulik, 1982, 1984, 1990)

Full-time Gifted Programs (Kulik, 1985; Kulik & Kulik, 1982, 1984, 1990)

• Marked academic achievement gain across all subject areas

• Moderate increase in attitude toward the subjects in which these students are grouped.

• Marked academic achievement gain across all subject areas

• Moderate increase in attitude toward the subjects in which these students are grouped.

Cluster Grouping Within Heterogeneous Classrooms (Kulik, 1985; Kulik & Kulik, 1982, 1984, 1990)

Cluster Grouping Within Heterogeneous Classrooms (Kulik, 1985; Kulik & Kulik, 1982, 1984, 1990)

• Sizeable academic gain across all academic areas was reported for this option.

• Greater gains reported than full-time grouping

• Sizeable academic gain across all academic areas was reported for this option.

• Greater gains reported than full-time grouping

Grouping for Acceleration of the Curriculum

(Kulik, 1985; Kulik & Kulik, 1982, 1984, 1990)

Grouping for Acceleration of the Curriculum

(Kulik, 1985; Kulik & Kulik, 1982, 1984, 1990)

• Gifted accelerates showed substantial achievement gains over their gifted counterparts who were not accelerated, and there was no difference in their performance from their equally gifted older-aged peers.

• Gifted accelerates showed substantial achievement gains over their gifted counterparts who were not accelerated, and there was no difference in their performance from their equally gifted older-aged peers.

Regrouping for Enriched Learning in Specific Subjects

Kulik and Kulik (1990)

Regrouping for Enriched Learning in Specific Subjects

Kulik and Kulik (1990)

• Substantially higher effects for gifted students when they are regrouped for specific instruction than for students at other ability or achievement levels.

• Substantially higher effects for gifted students when they are regrouped for specific instruction than for students at other ability or achievement levels.

Enrichment Pull-out Programs Vaughn, Feldhusen and Asher's (1991)

Enrichment Pull-out Programs Vaughn, Feldhusen and Asher's (1991)

• Produced substantial improvements in achievement, critical thinking, and creative thinking for gifted and talented learners.

• Gains appeared to be greatest for achievement when the pullout experience was an extension of the regular classroom curriculum.

• Produced substantial improvements in achievement, critical thinking, and creative thinking for gifted and talented learners.

• Gains appeared to be greatest for achievement when the pullout experience was an extension of the regular classroom curriculum.

Within-class Ability Grouping Kuliks (1982, 1984, 1990) and Vaughn et al. (1991) meta- analysis Within-class Ability Grouping Kuliks (1982, 1984, 1990) and Vaughn et al. (1991) meta- analysis

• There is every reason to believe that such forms of ability grouping, although short-term, are extremely beneficial to gifted learners when the materials for those groupings have been appropriately differentiated.

• There is every reason to believe that such forms of ability grouping, although short-term, are extremely beneficial to gifted learners when the materials for those groupings have been appropriately differentiated.

Cooperative Grouping for Regular Instruction

Robinson (1990)

Cooperative Grouping for Regular Instruction

Robinson (1990)

• Exhaustive search of the literature was unable to uncover any solid research to substantiate academic achievement gains for gifted learners when placed in cooperative settings with students of mixed ability.

• Exhaustive search of the literature was unable to uncover any solid research to substantiate academic achievement gains for gifted learners when placed in cooperative settings with students of mixed ability.

• Gifted learners need some form of grouping by ability to effectively and efficiently accomplish several educational goals, including appropriately broadened, extended, and accelerated curricula.

• They must be in groups so that their school curriculum may be appropriately broadened and extended.

• The pacing of instruction, the depth of content, and advancement in knowledge fields, which these students must have, cannot be effectively facilitated without a variety of ability-grouped arrangements.

Conclusion based on a meta-analysis by Karen B. Rogers from The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, University of Connecticut

• Gifted learners need some form of grouping by ability to effectively and efficiently accomplish several educational goals, including appropriately broadened, extended, and accelerated curricula.

• They must be in groups so that their school curriculum may be appropriately broadened and extended.

• The pacing of instruction, the depth of content, and advancement in knowledge fields, which these students must have, cannot be effectively facilitated without a variety of ability-grouped arrangements.

Conclusion based on a meta-analysis by Karen B. Rogers from The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, University of Connecticut

Research SummaryResearch Summary

MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL 2008-20092008-2009

MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL 2008-20092008-2009

Development of a Gifted / Talented section in each grade level

Identified as gifted or meet rigorous academic criteria

Maximum of 25 students in section / class Enriched curriculum in all major content

areas beyond attainment of proficiency in district written curriculum

Development of a Gifted / Talented section in each grade level

Identified as gifted or meet rigorous academic criteria

Maximum of 25 students in section / class Enriched curriculum in all major content

areas beyond attainment of proficiency in district written curriculum

GIEP’S & TEACHER TRAININGGIEP’S & TEACHER TRAININGGIEP’S & TEACHER TRAININGGIEP’S & TEACHER TRAINING

Teachers on team share responsibility for development of GIEP’s

Use of gifted survey for student and parent input on development of goals

Teacher training on development of GIEP’s Use of AP Vertical Teaming model Training on differentiation for enrichment Teacher attendance at IU Gifted conference in Fall,

2008

Teachers on team share responsibility for development of GIEP’s

Use of gifted survey for student and parent input on development of goals

Teacher training on development of GIEP’s Use of AP Vertical Teaming model Training on differentiation for enrichment Teacher attendance at IU Gifted conference in Fall,

2008

HOW DOES THIS HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT MY CHILD??BENEFIT MY CHILD??

HOW DOES THIS HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT MY CHILD??BENEFIT MY CHILD??

Gifted students will be clustered throughout a majority of the school day

Focus on enrichment for these clusters Research supports sizeable academic gains when such

clustering occurs Team approach to gifted education Parents / Student input through surveys for the development of the GIEP’s Vertical AP Teaming model supports and helps prepare

students for advanced (AP) high school classes Broadened and extended district curricula for students in

all four core subjects

Gifted students will be clustered throughout a majority of the school day

Focus on enrichment for these clusters Research supports sizeable academic gains when such

clustering occurs Team approach to gifted education Parents / Student input through surveys for the development of the GIEP’s Vertical AP Teaming model supports and helps prepare

students for advanced (AP) high school classes Broadened and extended district curricula for students in

all four core subjects