Publication Date

1969

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Foster, Walter S.||Jacobs, Norman C.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Elementary Education

LCSH

Gifted children; Education--Curricula

Abstract

It was the purpose of this study to: (1) Investigate the characteristics of gifted children and the multiple techniques used in their identification; (2) Investigate the various activities that have been used in the regular classroom in teaching gifted children; and (3) determine by means of an opinionnaire some activities which most adequately provide curriculum enrichment for gifted children in a regular classroom at the second grade level. A survey of the literature failed to disclose any studies similar to this research; therefore the enrichment activities listed on the opinionnaire may have had certain limitations for gathering the data effectively. The opinionnaire was sent to a limited number of teachers so the area of use for the study should not be overestimated. Since even gifted students differ both in experience and ability, an ideal activity for one student may not have been as effective for another. Although teachers have indicated that these activities adequately provide curriculum enrichment, there is no way to evaluate their effectiveness. This study is of a descriptive nature with an opinionnaire used as the data-compiling agent. Sixty-nine second grade teachers were used as the subject population. The opinionnaire consisted of twenty-one activities that the literature recommended for use with gifted children. Teachers were asked to include additional activities they had used that they felt were of significance. The teachers were asked to rank each activity they had used in the order of its importance. Results indicated that teachers have definite opinions about activities for enriching the curriculum for gifted children. The activities which the teachers seen to feel most adequately provide curriculum enrichment are: 1. Reading a variety of library books on levels above the rest of the class. 2. Looking up information in reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc. 3. Helping other children in the class understand an idea or a process. 4. Starting independent research. 5. Working as a leader or coordinator of a group. 6. Taking trips or excursions beyond the school. 7. Constructing or arranging a bulletin board or display using their own ideas. 8. Sharing creative writing. 9. Building models and sharing them with the class. 10. Heading extensively on a particular subject. This should be significant to the classroom teacher in providing a greater level of confidence in using these activities. It is recommended that this type of study be carried out at other levels of the elementary school to see which activities would be most beneficial at those levels. Since the sample used for this study was relatively small and since very little research has been done to determine which activities most adequately provide curriculum enrichment for the gifted, further investigation using a larger sample seems desirable.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

vi, 45 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS