Why do gifted and talented culturally and linguistically diverse students opt out of gifted and talented programs?
Abstract
This study analyzes why gifted and talented culturally and linguistically diverse students opt out of gifted and talented programs. The participants were all 8th grade students in the Frontera School District (a pseudonym) in West Texas who chose to exit a gifted and talented classroom sometime during the 2003–2004 school year or the 2004–2005 school year. Participants were asked why they entered the gifted program in the first place, how they felt during their participation, and why they decided to leave. This qualitative multiple case found that students left the gifted and talented program for many reasons. The type of work, the amount of time, teacher conflicts, peer pressure, and a lack of resources were major factors in students' decisions to leave. The data strongly suggest that alternative gifted programs, emphasizing other intelligences besides verbal ability, should be created. In addition, the curriculum must become more multicultural and teachers should attend more diversity training to make teachers aware of the culturally and linguistically diverse students' needs.
Subject Area
Curricula|Teaching|Bilingual education|Multicultural education|Special education
Recommended Citation
Keton, Amanda Maureen, "Why do gifted and talented culturally and linguistically diverse students opt out of gifted and talented programs?" (2005). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1430951.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1430951