The purpose of this qualitative research, using narrative inquiry, was to describe, illuminate, and analyze the perspectives of a unique population - six high performing adolescents - who reflected on their educational experiences in Vermont. With input from their parent/guardians, their educators and the students themselves, this study was intended to shine a light on the experience of each of these participants. “The central idea of narrative analysis is that stories and narratives offer translucent windows into cultural and social meanings” (Patton, 2002, p. 116). This study is framed in their first-person voices to reveal the perspectives of students, parents, and teachers related to the education that these talented learners encountered in Vermont. As the starting point, my research questions related to perceptions of the students‟ educational experience and those factors leading to success as well as those which inhibited their learning. To provide an understanding of their educational experiences, I focused on first-person narratives from students, their parents, and an educator the students nominated as having made a significant positive contribution to their education. Next, I present a collective case study including the perspectives of the students, family members and teachers illuminating the essential elements of each group as culled from their descriptions. Drawing upon these descriptions, I describe the successes and challenges from the perspective of the student, family, and teachers. Findings suggest these participants hold stories similar to one another. Students, parents, and educators related experiences that resonated with one another in their commonalities. Generally, the findings point to the importance of parents, teachers, and opportunities to learn with academic and artistic peers as being significant. These high performing students also valued independent learning experiences, flexible scheduling, and higher level reading experiences. Using their first-person accounts as the basis of this study, I conclude with a discussion of the implications of my findings and recommendations for the education community involved with high performing students.

The exponential growth of the Hispanic student population and the controversial educational issue surrounding the assessment of English language learners are the two fundamental topics of this study. Due to the uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding the assessment of the escalating Hispanic student population, the underrepresentation of Hispanics in gifted and talented (GT) programs has developed into a critical educational concern (Bernal, 2002; Irby & Lara-Alecio, 1996; Ortiz & Gonzalez, 1998). The research questions that guided this study focused on finding validated assessments for early identification of the gifted Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) in kindergarten. The first research question aimed to determine the concurrent validity of the Hispanic Bilingual Gifted Screening Instrument (HBGSI) using the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT) and Wookcock Language Proficient Battery-Revised (WLPB-R) selected three subtests, administered in English and Spanish. This study found a positive statistically significant correlation between the HBGSI, the NNAT, and WLPB-R subtests. The second question focused on the correlation between language proficiency as measured by the WLPB-R subtests and nonverbal intelligence measured using the NNAT. This analysis found that there was a statistically significant correlation between the NNAT and the WLPB-R subtests. The third question concentrated on the difference in performance on the NNAT and WLPB-R subtests by two student groups, those identified and those not identified GT using the HBGSI. The study determined that the students identified GT performed statistically significantly different on the NNAT than those not identified GT. The fourth question centered on the difference in performance on the HBGSI of students enrolled in a transitional bilingual education (TBE) and those enrolled in an English as a second language (ESL) classroom. The results of my study showed that students in a TBE classroom performed statistically significantly different on five HBGSI clusters (Social & Academic Language, Familial, Collaboration, Imagery, and Creative Performance) than students in ESL classroom. The study’s results were analyzed, interpreted and discussed in this dissertation.

The exponential growth of the Hispanic student population and the controversial educational issue surrounding the assessment of English language learners are the two fundamental topics of this study. Due to the uncertainty and ambiguity surrounding the assessment of the escalating Hispanic student population, the underrepresentation of Hispanics in gifted and talented (GT) programs has developed into a critical educational concern (Bernal, 2002; Irby & Lara-Alecio, 1996; Ortiz & Gonzalez, 1998). The research questions that guided this study focused on finding validated assessments for early identification of the gifted Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) in kindergarten. The first research question aimed to determine the concurrent validity of the Hispanic Bilingual Gifted Screening Instrument (HBGSI) using the Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test (NNAT) and Wookcock Language Proficient Battery-Revised (WLPB-R) selected three subtests, administered in English and Spanish. This study found a positive statistically significant correlation between the HBGSI, the NNAT, and WLPB-R subtests. The second question focused on the correlation between language proficiency as measured by the WLPB-R subtests and nonverbal intelligence measured using the NNAT. This analysis found that there was a statistically significant correlation between the NNAT and the WLPB-R subtests. The third question concentrated on the difference in performance on the NNAT and WLPB-R subtests by two student groups, those identified and those not identified GT using the HBGSI. The study determined that the students identified GT performed statistically significantly different on the NNAT than those not identified GT. The fourth question centered on the difference in performance on the HBGSI of students enrolled in a transitional bilingual education (TBE) and those enrolled in an English as a second language (ESL) classroom. The results of my study showed that students in a TBE classroom performed statistically significantly different on five HBGSI clusters (Social & Academic Language, Familial, Collaboration, Imagery, and Creative Performance) than students in ESL classroom. The study’s results were analyzed, interpreted and discussed in this dissertation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1985. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-121).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1963. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

M.A. (Psychology) / One of the oldest problems in psychology, dating back to Galton in the 19th century, is the phenomenon of observed variations in intellectual performance. According to Messick (1973) over half a century of empirical research has uncovered a vast array of dimensions relating to aspects of cognitive functioning. buring this period intellectual giftedness was not the prime objective of theorists, with little attention being paid to this aspect of intellectual functioning. Research into intellectual giftedness is furthermore widely diversified with regard ~o conceptual definitions and methodology (Anastasi, 1965). In South Africa the emphasis has been placed on studies conducted at secondary school level (Coetzee, 19751 Duminy, 1960, Roos, 1983). As a result the cognitive and personality structure of the gifted adult is incomplete regarding theoretical and empirical aspects. The primary objective of the present study was to ascertain whether the cognitive and personality structure of intellectually gifted students differed from the cognitive and personality structure of intellectually average students. In order to investigate the problem a random sample was drawn of registered students (both past and present) at the Rand Afrikaans University. These students were allocated to one of five categories according to their score (I.Q) on the New South Africa.n Group Test of Intelligence •

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Little, if any, research exists that provides guidance for educators on the use of a dynamic assessment as a tool for better identifying Latinx students for gifted programs. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of campus principals and elementary teachers as dynamic assessment was being considered as part of the gifted and talented identification protocol. Data were collected through teacher and principal interviews and focus groups, along with an analysis of current practices and protocols within the studied district. The findings revealed several key themes that emerged from educator perspectives on the ability of emergent bilingual students to be placed in gifted programs and how dynamic assessment could or could not play a part in the assessment process. The study provides support and context for future research about dynamic assessment as applied to gifted and talented identification of Latinx students, including (a) the development of a dynamic assessment, (b) the implementation of a dynamic assessment with presentation of data that supports or do not support its use, (c) training to support the implementation of a dynamic assessment, (d) the human capital and time associated with implementing a dynamic assessment, and (e) educator mindset associated with the implementation of a dynamic assessment for students who do not speak English in the home.