Using Differentiation Strategies for Gifted Pupils in Primary School Science Classes

  • Alena Letina University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education
Keywords: nadarjeno otroci, diferenciacija, začetno poučevanje naravoslovja, razvoj študentskih kompetenc

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which gifted pupils receive differentiated instruction in primary school science classes, which of the differentiated instruction strategies are used by teachers
and how often. The survey sample included 134 primary school teachers. The results show that teachers frequently use questioning and thinking activities but make only minor modifications in the regular curriculum to meet the needs of gifted pupils. Gifted pupils rarely engage in activities such as providing challenges and choices, differentiated reading and writing assignments, individually set work, activities involving curriculum modification, and enrichment centres.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ancrum, J. W., and Bean R. M. (2008). Differentiated Reading Instruction: What and How, Reading Horizons, 48(2), 133–146.

Archambault, F. X., Westberg, K. L., Brown, S. W., Hallmark, B. W., Emmons, C. L., and Zhang, W. (1993). Regular Classroom Practices with Gifted Pupils: Results of a National Survey of Classroom Teachers. The University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut.

Burstein, L., McDonnell, L. M., Van Winkle, J., Ormseth, T., Mirocha J., and Guitton G. (1995). Validating National Curriculum Indicators. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.

Chan, S. and Yuen, M. (2015). Teachers’ beliefs and practices for nurturing creativity in pupils: perspectives from teachers of gifted pupils in Hong Kong. Gifted Education International, 31(3), 200–213.

Cheung, H. Y. and Hui, S. K. F. (2011). Competencies and characteristics for teaching gifted pupils: a comparative study of Beijing and Hong Kong teachers. Gifted Child Quarterly, 55(2), 139–148.

Clay, M. (1991). Becoming Literate: The construction of inner control. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Colangelo, N., Assouline, S., and Gross, M. (Eds.) (2004). A Nation Deceived: How schools hold back America’s brightest pupils (pp. 109-117). Iowa City, IA: The University of Iowa Council of Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) (2006). Gifted and Talented Children in (and out) of the Classroom. Retrieved from https://giftedphoenix.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/gifted_children_060306.pdf (Accessed: 25. 5. 2020.)

Davidson, J., Davidson, B., and Vanderkam, L. (2004). Genius Denied: How to stop wasting our brightest young minds. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks

Davis. G. A., and Rimm, S. (2004). Education of the Gifted and Talented. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Gagné, F. (2004). Transforming gifts into talents: The DMGT as a developmental theory. High Ability Studies, 15, 119–147.

Hall, T., Strangman, N., and Meyer, A. (2007). Differentiated Instruction and Implications for UDL Implementation. NCAC Effective Classroom Practice Report.

Hawkins, V. J. (2009). Barriers to Implementing Differentiation: Lack of Confidence, efficacy and preserverance. NERA Journal, 44(2), 11–16.

Huebner, T. (2010). Differentiated Learning. Educational Leadership, 67, 79–81.

Hus, V., and Legvart., P. (2016). Using questions as a tool for encouraging higher thinking processes in a social science class, Školski vjesnik: časopis za pedagogijsku teoriju i praksu, 65(2), 211–226.

Kelemen, G. (2010). A personalized model design for gifted children’ education, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2, 3981–3987.

Kim, M. (2016). A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Enrichment Programs on Gifted Pupils, Gifted Child Quarterly, 60(2), 102–116.

Kukanja Gabrijelčič, M. (2014). Država, učitelj in delo z nadarjenimi učenci: med poslanstvom in odgovornostjo, Journal of Elementary Education, 7(1), 83–97.

Maker, C. J. (1982). Teaching Models in the Education of the Gifted, Pro-Ed, Austin, TX.

Matsko, V. and Thomas, J. (2014). The problem is the solution: Creating original problems in gifted mathematics classes. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 37(2), 153–170.

McQuarrie, L., McRae, P., and Stack-Cutler, H. (2008). Differentiated Instruction Provincial Research Review. University of Alberta. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/egovdocs/2008/aled/168784.pdf (Accessed: 25. 5. 2020.)

Morelock, M. J. (1996). On the nature of giftedness and talent: Imposing order on chaos, Roeper Review,19(1), 4-12. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/02783199609553774 (Accessed: 25. 5.2020.)

Mönks, F. J. (1992). Development of gifted children: The issue of identification and programming. In: F. J. Mönks and W. A. M. Peters (Eds.), Talent for the future. Proceedings of the ninth world conference on gifted and talented children (pp. 191–202). Assen: Van Gorcum.

Munro, J. (2012). Effective strategies for implementing differentiated instruction [Paper presentation]. 2012 - School Improvement: What does research tell us about effective strategies? Retrieved from https://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference/RC2012/27august/14 (Accessed: 7. 6. 2020.)

Pereira Da Costa, M. and Lubart, T. I. (2016). Gifted and talented children: Heterogeneity and individual differences, Anales de Psicología, 32(3), 662–671.

Petrovich, G. (2005). Gifted and Talented Education. University of Michigan.

Renzulli, J. S. (2012). Reexamining the role of gifted education and talent development for the 21st century: A four-part theoretical approach. Gifted Child Quarterly, 56(3), 150 159.

Rogers, K. (2002). Grouping the gifted and talented. Paper Review, 24, 103–107.

Rogers, K . B ., a nd S pan, P . ( 1993). A bility g rouping w ith g ifted a nd t alented p upils: research and guidelines. In: K. A. Heller, F. J. Monks, and A. H. Passow (Eds.), International Handbook of Research and Development of Giftedness and Talent (pp. 3–28). Oxford, Pergamon Press.

Schmitt, C., and Goebel, V. (2015). Experiences of high-ability high school students: A case study. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 38(4), 428–446.

Skribe Dimec, D. (2013). Diferenciacija pri poučevanju naravoslovja v prvem in drugem vzgojno izobraževalnem obdobju osnovne šole, Journal of Elementary Education, 6(2-3), 193–211.

Southern, W. T., Jones, E. D. (2004). Types of acceleration: Dimensions and issues. In Colangelo, N., Assouline, S. G., Gross, M. U. M. (Eds.), A nation deceived: How schools hold back America’s brightest pupils (Vol. 2, pp. 5–12). Retrieved from http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/Nat– ion_Deceived/ND_v2.pdf (Accessed: 25. 5. 2020.)

Stavroula, V. A., Leonidas, K., and Mary, K. (2011). Investigating the Impact of Differentiated Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms: It’s [sic] impact on the Quality and Equity Dimensions of Education Effectiveness. Paper presented at the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticschol–

ar.org/2105/2d28179d01df264cad4e9d015c19c6361256.pdf (Accessed: 10. 6. 2020.)

Taber, K.S. (2010). Challenging gifted learners: general principles for science educators; and exemplification in the context of teaching chemistry, Science Education International, 21(1), 5–30.

Taylor, B. M., Peardon, P. D., Peterson, D. S., Rodriguez, M. C. (2003). Reading Growth in High-Poverty Classrooms. The Influence of Teacher Practices that Encourage Cognitive Engagement in Literacy Learning. The Elementary School Journal, 104(1), 3–28.

Tomlinson, C. A. (2001). Differentiated Instruction in the Regular Classroom: What Does it Mean? How Does it Look? Understanding Our Gifted, 14(1), 3–6.

Tomlinson, C. A. and Imbeau, M. B. (2010). Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Tomlinson, C. A. and McTighe, J. (2006). Integrating Differentiated Instruction: Understanding by Design. ASCD.

Tomlinson, C. A. and Strickland, C. A. (2005). Differentiation in Practice: A resource guide for differentiating curriculum, grades 9–12. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Tomlinson, C. A., Callahan, C., Tomchin, E., Eiss, N., Imbeau, M., and Landrum, M. (1997). Becoming Architects of Communities of Learning. Exceptional Children, 63(2), 269–282.

Wallace, B., Bernardelli, A., and Molyneux, C. (2012). TASC: Thinking actively in a social context. A universal problem-solving process: a powerful tool to promote differentiated learning experiences. Gifted Education International, 28(1), 58–83.

Wan, S. W. Y. (2015). Differentiated instruction: Hong Kong prospective teachers’ teaching efficacy and beliefs. Teachers and Teaching, 22(2), 1–29.

Yuen, M., Westwood, P., and Wong, G. (2005). Meeting the needs of pupils with specific learning difficulties in mainstream classrooms. International Journal of Special Education, 20(1), 67–76.

Yuen, M., Chan, S., Chan, C., Fung, D. C. L., Cheung, W. M., Kwan, T., and Leung, F. K. S. (2016). Differentiation in key learning areas for gifted pupils in regular classes: A project for primary school teachers in Hong Kong. Gifted Education International, 34(1), 36–46.

Published
2021-10-26
How to Cite
Letina A. (2021). Using Differentiation Strategies for Gifted Pupils in Primary School Science Classes. Journal of Elementary Education, 14(3), 281-301. https://doi.org/10.18690/rei.14.3.281-301.2021
Section
Scientific Articles