Search Database

For Educators: Curriculum Related

• Developmental: Twice Exceptional

  Special Education Process: IEP vs. 504 Plan

  This article provides information on both the IEP and 504 plans, as well as who qualifies for each of them.

  Specific Writing Disabilities in Intellectually Gifted Children

  This article discusses writing disabilities in detail. Specific studies are explained as they relate to comparisons between gifted students and average students in numerous areas of writing skills. Authored by Cheryl Yates, Virginia Berninger and Robert Abbott from the University of Washington.

• Educational Options: Acceleration

  Meeting the needs of the gifted in rural areas through acceleration

  This article discusses different ways rural areas can educate their gifted students. Acceleration is suggested as an option that rural schools can easily use. Options and explanations are offered throughout the article. Authored by Camilla Benbow, Teresa Argo and Lynn Glass.

  Project M3: Mentoring Mathematical Minds — A Research-Based Curriculum for Talented Elementary Students

  This study is a research grant project designed to create an enriched and accelerated curriculum for mathematically talented elementary students.

  Types of Acceleration

  This excerpt from A Nation Empowered lists 20 different types of acceleration.

• Educational Options: Educational Planning

  Changing Views on Educating Gifted Students

  This article by Dr. James J. Gallagher discusses changing views in how giftedness is created and changing views in how these children should be educated.

  Curriculum for Highly Able Learners That Conforms to General Education and Gifted Education Quality Indicators

  Curriculum for Highly Able Learners That
  Conforms to General Education and Gifted Education Quality Indicators

  The Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans

  This article compares and contrasts IEPs and 504 Plans.

• Educational Options: Tips for Teachers

  Creating a virtual learning environment for gifted and talented learners

  This article offers a plethora of online resources and examples of how teachers can create a virtual learning environment (VLE) using a computer for gifted students in regular classrooms. Creating a virtual learning environment is a way to differentiate instruction by merging the fields of gifted and talented education and information technology.

  Differentiating curriculum for gifted students

  This article by Sandra L. Berger discusses how gifted students "need an appropriately differentiated curriculum designed to address their individual characteristics, needs, abilities, and interests. It is difficult to generalize about students who are gifted because their characteristics and needs are so personal and unique. However, as a group they comprehend complex ideas quickly, learn more rapidly and in greater depth than their age peers, and may exhibit interests that differ from those of their peers. They need time for in-depth exploration, they manipulate ideas and draw generalizations about seemingly unconnected concepts, and they ask provocative questions."

  Differentiation tips for teachers: Practical strategies for the classroom

  This article, by Jana Kirchner & Tracy Inman, discusses the issue of differentiation and "why it is important" to educators. "Using differentiation in the classroom means designing and implementing curriculum, teaching strategies, and assessments to meet the needs, interests, and abilities of all students."

  Gifted learners and the middle school: Problem or promise?

  Historically, tension has existed between gifted education and middle school education (Tomlinson, 1992), leaving some advocates of each educational practice suspicious of the other, and leaving middle school students who are advanced in one or more dimensions of learning in a sort of educational no-man's-land. While some legitimate areas of disagreement are likely to persist, there are enough areas of shared belief to bridge the practice between gifted education and middle school education. This digest provides an overview of (1) some areas of agreement between the fields, (2) some areas of tension, and (3) some promising directions that could engage educators in mutual planning of appropriate services for all middle school students, including those we sometimes call "gifted."

  Individual instruction plan menu for the gifted child

  This article by Joyce VanTassel-Baska offers more than 100 curriculum ideas for gifted children. Ideas are geared for educators and organized by subject. In addition to academic subjects, there are suggestions for developing creatvity as well as social skills and leadership.

  Philosophy in the Gifted Curriculum

  Current pedagogy emphasizes the importance of "critical thinking." However, as this article points out, K-12 classrooms are typically lacking in the very fields that foster critical thinking; specifically philosophy. The author highlights possible reasons philosophy is not taught in the classroom, and recommends philoshopy resources available on the web.

  Planning Effective Curriculum Experiences for Gifted Learners

  This article by Joyce Van Tassel-Baska discusses tips for planning quality curriculum for gifted students. She suggests four roles that should be performed, She also proposes seven premises upon which the curriculum should be based.

  Planning science programs for high-ability learners

  This article by Joyce VanTassel-Baska offers teachers many suggestions on how to improve science curriculum. It explains what should be included in a good science education and numerous ways of achieving these goals. Also included is a checklist of classrooom indicators for curriculum reform.

  Stretching Young Gifted Children’s Abilities: The Tiger Woods Approach

  This article by Carolyn R. Cooper explores Stretching children’s strengths, enabling curriculum and Administrators for young gifted children.

• Support Materials: Book Reviews

  Designing Services and Programs for High-Ability Learners: A Guidebook for Gifted Education

  BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - This book is a joint publication between Corwin Press and the National Association for Gifted Children NAGC. It is edited by Jeanne H. Purcell & Rebecca D. Eckert.

  Units of Instruction for Gifted Learners

  BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - This teaching unit, which covers aspects from the language arts, math, science and social studies disciplines, is an excellent resource for teachers interested in a constructivist interdisciplinary approach. There is a clear focus on active learning, that children should be taught to learn in a deeper context. Units of Instruction for Gifted Learners is designed for students in grades 2-8.

  Wrightslaw: All About IEPs

  BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - The book provides practical advice on implementing effective strategies for the best possible IEP outcomes.

• Support Materials: Interviews

  Interview with Tamra Stambaugh on the Common Core and Its Impact on Gifted Education

  The following Q&A on the common core and its impact on gifted education was written by Tamra Stambaugh, an assistant research professor in special education and executive director of Programs for Talented Youth at Vanderbilt University.

• Talent Development: Distance Learning

  Conversations with Teachers on the Benefits and Challenges of Online Learning for Gifted Students

  This article provides research involving the role of student-student interaction and the use of multimedia and technological tools in effective online education for gifted students.

• Talent Development: General Talent Development

  The best educational YouTube channels for kids

  In this article, Michael J. Petrilli offers his thoughts on the best YouTube channels for learning for tweens and teens, circa the summer of 2018.

• Talent Development: Strategies & Tools

  Appropriate Content for Gifted Readers

  This article is a useful tool for determining material for gifted students that is appropriate both in challenge and in content.

  Creating useful individualized education programs (IEPs)

  This article by Stephen Smith is tailored more to the learning disabled child, but the information on IEPs provided is still valuable. Working together, schools, teachers and parents can create an IEP that will help the child in question to be challenged at his or her level. The author specifically addresses making the transition from IEP to classroom practice.

  The spill-over effect: An advocacy strategy

  This article is excerpted from Gifted Child Today. Author Sandra N. Kaplan walks you through the steps of an advocacy strategy known as the "spill-over effect." This strategy advocates for gifted education by demonstrating how gifted curriculum can add to the education of students in other programs. The spill-over effect focuses on how gifted programs can enhance and coexist with other educational programs.