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Twice-exceptional learners experience giftedness and a disability. Because of unique challenges from either exceptionality, they often struggle with academic and social issues when transitioning from high school to higher education. The purpose of this study was to answer the following research question: What experiences facilitated academic and social success for twice-exceptional students transitioning into higher education? Using the qualitative method of narrative, four current twice-exceptional college students shared their experiences about what assisted them and hindered them as they transitioned into higher education. Using the theoretical lens of Schlossberg's transition theory, students' personal journeys were explored and common themes emerged: the uniqueness of the twice-exceptional learner; the importance of resiliency; support roles of family, friends, and teachers; and the value of multiple strategies for academic and social success. The results of this study inform policy makers, teachers, parents, disability resource specialists, counselors, and students about highly personalized transitional plans that would best serve this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

There is little research focused on the curriculum of graduate education programs with a gifted education concentration. In order to gain a greater understanding of the graduate gifted education curriculum, the researcher conducted a qualitative study to examine how faculty describe and structure the learning experiences for their graduate students who are enrolled in gifted education concentration as part of their graduate programs. The researcher examined the learning experiences through an analysis of syllabi and interviews with relevant program administrators and faculty who taught in the program. The participants in this study were five graduate department chairs or program directors of gifted education programs and five adjunct instructors at five colleges or universities. Participants were located throughout the United States due to the small amount of schools offering a Master's Degree in Education with a concentration in gifted education. The researcher investigated three different research areas focused on how faculty aligned their learning outcomes with intended program outcomes, the types of instructional strategies faculty use to teach graduate educators about the needs of gifted students, and how assignments align with learning outcomes. The researcher created four instruments to use for the current study to investigate the curriculum of gifted education master's degree programs. These instruments included a preliminary interview protocol, an in-depth interview protocol, a protocol for review of concentration information, and a syllabus protocol for individual courses. The researcher coded the data for emergent themes and reported the results. The researcher found that, across the five case studies, all course learning outcomes were stated and aligned with the concentration learning outcomes. The researcher found that all five case studies had the most cognitive learning outcomes within the "applying" level under Bloom's Cognitive Taxonomy (2002) and three out of the five case studies had the most affective learning outcomes within the "organization" domain of Krathwohl's Affective Domain (2013). Faculty members utilized a variety of instructional strategies consistent with Pascarella and Terenzini (2005) to teach graduate students about the needs of gifted students. In four of the five case studies, faculty reported using collaboration as an instructional strategy. Faculty members in all five programs required graduate students to complete between 22 to 82 assignments throughout the program. In all five case studies, instructors required students to complete assignments that were primarily low problem-based learning and low context (Pierce & Jones, 1998). The researcher found at least 80% of assignments were aligned with the course learning outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Algebra is considered a gateway course that helps to close the achievement gap between ethnic and socioeconomic subgroups. Using a predictive correlational design, this research investigated whether demographic, school-related, and previous test score variables could be used to predict Algebra I and Algebra II success. Demographic predictor variables included age, gender, ethnicity, and status regarding disability, giftedness, retention, suspension, and mobility. School predictor variables included Title I status and school grade. Test scores included seventh grade reading and mathematics state assessment scores. Univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) were computed to determine significance and effect size (eta squared value). Multiple regression analyses were used to determine prediction models for both the Algebra I and II end of course assessment scores. Finally, standardized beta coefficients were plotted to determine the effect of the variables on Algebra I and Algebra II success over time. The demographic and school-related variables in isolation were not strong enough to predict Algebra I and Algebra II success; however, in combination, the demographic, school-related, and previous test score variables did produce a significant prediction model that was stronger than prediction by test score alone. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This manuscript-styled dissertation embodies the theoretical and methodological framework of authentic inquiry (Tobin, 2006). In the holistic context of this dissertation, authentic inquiry as a theoretical framework encompasses deep epistemological and ontological questions such as: What is knowledge and how is it informed by research? Who may engage in research? How does positivism compare to authentic inquiry? What are thorny issues and how do they relate to authentic inquiry? How do we research thorny issues in classrooms? What mindfulness practices may be used to research emotions when discussing thorny issues? How do we nuance "safety" in learning spaces where emotions are problematized? How do we push peer-reviewed, academic writing to be more inclusive of authors' emotions in the science of teaching and learning? Authentic inquiry, as a methodological framework, probes the knowledge making (research) process through the lens of critical hermeneutic phenomenology. The trajectory of questioning, in the scope of teaching and learning, is contingent and emergent on what is being problematized and the dialectal relationship of researcher | researched. The theoretical and methodological underpinnings of authentic inquiry, as it relates to my development as an emerging teacher | researcher, amalgamate in Chapter 1 as a multilevel and interpretive bricolage to contextualize sociocultural and educational phenomena in my everyday life. Authentic inquiry, adopted by Kenneth Tobin from the works on authenticity by Egon Guba and Yvonna Lincoln (1989), hinges on four methodological criterion: all participants are open to change their worldviews based on what they learn from each other, there is an obligation for participants to understand and learn from each other, there is an expectation to catalyze improvements as a result of the research, and disadvantages or power structures are addressed so that all participants | researchers are considered stakeholders. In the series of published works, Chapter 2 was the first to be peer-reviewed in 2014. While grappling with imposter syndrome and what it means for me to become a teacher | researcher, Chapter 2 shares my teaching- and learning-informed stories (vignettes and narratives), as well as that of my students attending a New York City Specialized High School. This chapter deconstructs the complexities surrounding the notion of "giftedness": first from the author's own experiences as a female scientist and person of color and second from the narratives of high school students. Considering the theoretical framework of mindsets, fixed and growth, I use learning stories to shed light on the events that emerge when an individual takes ownership of their learning. This chapter is significant in that I propose the incorporation of learning stories as an inquiry tool to explore co-teacher | learner mindsets. In terms of the chronological history of my development as a teacher | researcher, this article was the first to be self -authored, peer-reviewed, and published while I was a doctoral student. The opportunity was pivotal and helped to re-frame how I viewed myself as an academician: moving further away from a self-imposed imposter identity to that of an empowered researcher with a burden to give voice to co-participants | co-researchers. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 of the dissertation were birthed out of my participation as a co-participant | researcher in a teacher preparation program at Brooklyn College of The City University of New York. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

A lack of proper assessment is proven to cause either a misrepresentation or lack of representation for children of culturally diverse and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition, there can be delays in authorization of early intervention services for children of unique populations who need such services. Alternative assessment contributes to sociocultural theory in that it demonstrates that children perform in changing environments, with different styles and approaches and with different types of measurement tools. The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive multiple case study was to provide explored feedback of licensed clinicians concerning the administering of the Developmental Assessment of Younger Children-2 (DAYC-2) and whether or not they determined the DAYC-2 to be an appropriate instrument to assess children aged of zero to four years for developmental delays, and giftedness. A purposive sampling was used to select a sample of three licensed pediatric occupational therapists/clinicians having had at least six years of experience working directly with children of such a population, that were located in the Los Angeles County, CA area. The qualitative data were gathered simultaneously through detailed and organized open-ended questions during interviews with licensed clinicians. The data were transcribed and open coding system similar to NVIVO coding procedures was applied to assist with organizing specific themes and categories. Three themes emerged from the perspectives of licensed clinicians: (a) appropriateness of the DAYC-2, (b) children's culture and socioeconomic level, and (c) experience of clinicians. A cross-case analysis was also used in order to identify possible similarities related to each participant's perception. Recommendations for future research were suggested increase the demand for more developmentally appropriate assessments for children ages zero to four with developmental delays and possible signs of giftedness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

In American schools, African American students are underrepresented in gifted education programs while White students are overrepresented. School-based gifted identification referrals are primarily initiated by teacher nomination. However, many characteristics or attributes perceived as gifted by the African American cultural group are often not recognized under mainstream definitions of giftedness and by extension teachers who nominate students for gifted education. Teachers often attribute giftedness to very narrow and specific abilities used in mainstream definitions of giftedness such as IQ and academic achievement, and may subsequently overlook African American students who demonstrate non-traditional attributes of giftedness (i.e., creativity, leadership ability, strong social skills). Given evidence that attributions of giftedness may vary by culture, an evaluation of ways in which teachers and parents perceive giftedness is important. The current study aimed to (a) develop and validate a questionnaire to assess parent and teacher perceived attributes of giftedness in an African American and White sample of students; (b) examine parent and teacher perceptions of giftedness as a function of student culture; (c) examine teacher perceptions of which student attributes they are more or less likely to endorse when nominating African American and White students; and (d) examine differences between parent perceptions of gifted attributes and teacher perceptions of nomination for African American and White students. The study was conducted in two phases. In phase I, the researcher-developed Attributions of Giftedness Survey (AGS) was found to be psychometrically valid and reliable. In phase II, significant and non-significant findings emerged. Specifically, (a) parent perceptions of giftedness significantly differed between African American and White students, (b) teacher perceptions of giftedness significantly differed between African American and White students, and (c) parent perceptions of giftedness significantly differed from teacher perceptions depending on the student's culture. While teacher perceptions of nomination did not differ significantly between the two cultural groups, teacher perceptions of nomination were found to differ from parent perceptions of giftedness depending on the student's culture. Future directions regarding policy and procedural implications such as a comprehensive definition of giftedness and revisions to the nomination and identification procedure are discussed. Study results also indicated teacher training is warranted to facilitate teacher knowledge of culturally-bound expressions of giftedness that is unique to the African American cultural group to improve nomination rates of gifted African American students and support subsequent greater representation of African American students in gifted education programs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

This thesis argues for and provides a model for the full inclusion of individuals with special needs as co-laborers in the worship ministry of churches. Full inclusion means moving beyond simply accommodating ministries and facilities to minister to individuals with special needs. Full inclusion is encouraging each regenerate individual to use their own giftedness to minister to the body of Christ. As the church and world see individuals with varying abilities, both the outcast and the privileged serving Christ along side one another, the church will be edified, God will be glorified, and gospel of Jesus Christ will be proclaimed. Chapter 2 traces the history of disability in America. Discrimination is found in early immigration laws as well as in citizenship and voting rights. The cultural response vacillated between a desire to care for and protect those with disabilities and a movement to protect society from people with disabilities. Eugenics in America was a movement to prohibit reproduction and ultimately remove people with disabilities from society. Eventually, legal reforms were enacted which slowly created opportunities and granted civil rights to people with disabilities. The ADA and IDEA mandated equal access in public and in education. These laws were the catalyst of a seismic cultural shift in public education which itself transformed from an institution of exclusion and segregation to a place of full inclusion and acceptance. Chapter 3 examines the church's response to disability and outlines a biblical support for inclusion. Multiple surveys are cited which reveal a participation gap in church involvement between those with disabilities and those who have no disability. A lack of hospitality and a lack of theological understanding of disability are recognized as continuing issues in the church. Biblical warrant for inclusion is established through the doctrines of imago Dei and spiritual gifts as well as the Great Commission. People with disabilities are made in the image of God and those who are regenerate are given gifts for ministry to edify the church. The call to go and make disciples is a call inclusive of those with disabilities. Chapter 4 offers practical suggestions for engaging people with disabilities in the corporate worship gathering of the church. A model worship is designed, and appropriate accommodations based upon best practices from public education are suggested. Specific accommodations for both physical and cognitive disabilities are offered. Chapter 5 expands the scope of accessibility in worship to include worship leadership. Similar accommodations employed for accessibility in worship participation are proposed for accessibility in worship leadership. Chapter 5 concludes with a call for full inclusion in worship ministry. Chapter 6 summarizes the previous chapters, draws implications, and suggests areas for further research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The growing concern for the disproportionality of White students identified as gifted compared to other student populations challenges school districts to provide equitable opportunities for all students. Underrepresented student populations include socio-economically disadvantaged students, English learners, Black, and Hispanic students. Title I schools often reflect larger numbers of one or more of the underrepresented student populations. Federally funded supplemental instruction and support focused on remediation and reteaching to ensure academic success are expected while enrichment and nurture of gifted attributes may not be emphasized. Various theories of giftedness have been established through research identifying criteria for gifted identification based on intelligence and specific skills such as linguistic, musical, logical or mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal intelligences. This study used data from one school district's Title I schools to examine the extent enrichment and nurture opportunities have been made available to students. The study also examined students' strengths as indicated on the Gifted Rating Scale categories of intellectual, academic, creativity, artistic, leadership, and motivation. These findings suggest a relationship between the effective nurturing of students' strengths and gifted identification outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This dissertation was designed to explore the link between epistemic curiosity and giftedness, in order to provide an additional potentially non-biased assessment to contribute to gifted identification "body of evidence" files for underrepresented and underserved populations. Students of color and students of lower socio-economic status are less likely to be placed into gifted and talented enrichment programs (Donovan & Cross, 2002). If a significant relationship is found between high curiosity and students who benefit from gifted education, psychometric instruments used for measuring curiosity could be invaluable in placing students in appropriate educational environments. The study used a mixed methods design to measure epistemic curiosity in gifted and nongifted populations for comparison, as well as conducted interviews to better understand perspectives of curiosity in both populations. If a strong difference between curiosity by giftedness was identified, and no mitigating factors found that might adversely change the reliability of the data, then the author can propose the recommendation that curiosity surveys be included in gifted identification "body of evidence" (BOE) portfolios nationwide. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The disproportionality of culturally and linguistically diverse learners in exceptional education is an ongoing issue (Bernal, 2002; Ford, 2012). One of these special populations is that of English learners (ELs), who are overrepresented in special education programs and underrepresented in gifted and talented programs (Ford, 2012).The extant literature suggests that a rapid rate of growth in English language proficiency (ELP) may be one of the characteristics used to indicate giftedness in English learners (Brulles, Castellano, & Laing, 2011; Harris, Plucker, Rapp, & Martinez, 2009). However, no studies have analyzed English Language proficiency (ELP) growth trajectories of gifted ELs. This study explored the growth in English language proficiency of 4,558 ELs, of which 118 were identified as gifted. Scores from the Comprehensive English Language Learning Assessment (CELLA), were used to determine their typical English language proficiency growth trajectories of ELs. This was done using latent growth curve modeling. The growth trajectories were then analyzed to determine if differences existed in the trajectories of ELs identified as gifted. The findings were that differences did exist in the English language proficiency growth of ELs identified as gifted, particularly in the areas of listening/speaking and writing, where gifted ELs seem to grow at a more rapid rate than their non-identified peers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

This dissertation employs a series of literary genres to navigate the reader through the importance of complicating normalized notions of giftedness and Latina identity as well as the interrogating the complexity of subjectivities. Using post qualitative inquiry (St. Pierre, 2014), I blend writing practices typically used in fiction and in theoretical inquiry. Fiction writing such as narratives, scriptwriting, poetry, visual-art, journaling, and poetry are implemented to analyze and represent the individuals in this inquiry. This dissertation consists of three Acts and an Intermission to carry the reader through the various stages of my inquiry. Through writing the dissertation in this manner, I highlight the discursive, cultural, and political structures that construct subjectivity and dismantle the modes of representation utilized in research. I employ Judith Butler (1990) to undo giftedness and reimagine the field of gifted and talented education. This inquiry highlights the means through which Latina identity is discursively constructed through sociocultural and political norms within gifted and talented classrooms and exposes how these learners disrupt ready-made constructions of Latina identity through subversive acts. Constructing a collective identity for these learners is problematic as the complexity of individual subjectivity makes it impossible to envision the Latina population as a homogenous group. Additionally, although the norms for giftedness that are embedded in the US school system possess a shaping impact on student subjectivity, giftedness ought to be viewed as a discursive construction. As these students reveal and have constructed through their experiences both inside and outside of the classroom, giftedness stretches beyond our normative perceptions within the United States. Through cultural translation (Butler, 2004), educators and curriculum theorists can begin to rethink static notions of giftedness by creating a new lexicon to dismantle the dominant discourses and hegemony of gifted education. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine gifted adolescents' perspectives on motivation in regard to academic learning experiences. Participants were selected based on having at least one year of attendance at a midwestern private school for the gifted, having a full-scale IQ of at least 125, and being between the ages of 11--17. This study focused on six gifted adolescents who committed to participating in one personal interview, completing two student response journals, and submitting work samples with reflection tags that were found to be examples of motivational academic learning experiences. Data from the interviews, student response journals, and student work samples with tags were analyzed using qualitative methods and through the theoretical framework of Gagne's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent as well as expectancy-value theory. From the triangulation of data, three major findings emerged. The first indicated that standard, mass-produced basal curricula does not meet the needs of gifted adolescent learners without additional modifications, indicating a need for specialized gifted curricula. The second focused on the need for ongoing training for educators who work with gifted adolescents, including instructional strategies and models of gifted education proven effective with gifted learners as well as how to provide meaningful and responsive feedback to gifted adolescents. Finally, the need for gifted adolescents to personally value and connect academic learning experiences to the real world also emerged. Implications and recommendations for the field and for future research primarily include the need for increased awareness and increased funding in the field of gifted education to combat a lack of motivation and underachievement from gifted adolescent learners. Subsequently, recommendations for the field include raising awareness of the unique learning needs of gifted adolescents, creating meaningful professional development for gifted educators, and instituting greater levels of pre-service training in the areas of gifted education and differentiation for all educators. Areas for future research include further examination of educational policy regarding gifted education, how to increase gifted adolescents' valuation of academic learning experiences, and an examination of preparation requirements for teachers of the gifted, as well as how to write, market, and support specialized gifted curricula. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Identifying gifted students early is important so they may receive adaptations in their learning environment including admittance into gifted programs (Subotnik, Olszweski-Kubilius, & Worrell, 2012). An effective method to increase the likelihood of identifying gifted students is needed (Pfeiffer, 2003). Admission at the elementary level primarily uses the individually-administered intelligence test; yet, the test is only administered to students nominated to the gifted program. The purpose of this study was to determine if individually-administered IQ test scores were related to specific information available to the elementary school counselor to aid in the determination of unidentified gifted elementary school students who would benefit from participating in the school district's gifted program. This study examined whether an individually-administered IQ score on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) was accurately estimated by a function of the national percentile achievement test scores in total reading, total mathematics, language, spelling, science/environment, and listening, verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities, gender, or grade. The data were split into two equal samples of 107, one used for development of the regression model and one for validation of the regression model. A significant model emerged for the model sample (n = 107) explaining 46.3% of the variance, when all 10 independent variables were entered as predictors into a simultaneous multiple regression. Total mathematics, science/environment, listening, nonverbal cognitive ability, and grade were the significant predictors. The revised regression equation with only the five significant contributing independent variables explained 45.9% of the variance in the WASI score; yet, it only had a correlation of .27 between the actual WASI score and the estimated WASI score from the revised model using the validation sample and has a weak correlation of 7.3% of the variance explained. Future research is needed to investigate these findings before the model is used in practice. Research on identifying gifted students; characteristics of giftedness; implications for counselors in the areas of counseling, school, and career development; and the role of the school counselor in advocacy and action research were discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Parenting stress (PS) is a phenomenon experienced by all parents to varying degrees due to the demands of meeting a child's needs. This distinct type of stress is caused by an imbalance between the perceived demands of parenting and the perceived coping resources available to parents. The construct of twice-exceptionality (2E) is defined as the co-occurrence of giftedness and disability or possessing both high cognitive abilities and at least 1 of 13 potential disabilities identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. The purpose of this study was to understand how PS is experienced by parents of children who have been identified with 2E. The theoretical perspectives of stress appraisal, coping, and attribution guided this study and provided a framework for understanding the lived experiences of parents and the meaning they ascribe to these experiences. The goals of the study were accomplished through in-depth interviews with 13 participants, an extensive literature review, and reflective journaling. Interview data were analyzed using the phenomenological techniques of epoche, bracketing, horizontalization, and imaginative variation, and several relevant themes and subthemes were developed. High levels of PS described by the parents in this study indicate that further research is indicated for better understanding and serving the significant needs of this population. The social implications of this research include raising awareness of PS and 2E; increasing the potential for positive outcomes for children and families; and addressing misconceptions concerning giftedness, gender bias in the perceptions of parental roles, and the impact of PS on family systems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

This study focuses on developing teaching strategies for teachers who teach in classes for students identified as Gifted and Talented with Special Learning Disabilities situated in Israeli secondary schools. The focus is on the challenges teachers meet while teaching Humanities Subjects (HS) to these students and the strategies they need in addressing their dual exceptionalities. The main purpose of this study is to examine how specific strategies may contribute towards both to quality of teaching and to a better learning environment. Research has shown that gifted students who are diagnosed with learning disabilities in writing skills (2ELs) have difficulties especially in HS and achieve less academically than may suggest their high abilities. The combination of giftedness with learning disabilities and underachievement creates special challenges for their teachers to counter, and for which they need specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes. In my study, I developed a model of teaching strategies which combines three strategies from the field of teaching gifted students and from the field of special education which are helpful in the humanities disciplines. I created a manual for teachers' CPD that includes this model and I conducted a seminar using this manual for the participant teachers in my research. This was followed by an implementation of the manual by these teachers in their classrooms that includes 2ELs. My qualitative research was based on the case studies of two teachers teaching HS in two high school classrooms, totalling sixty 2ELs. The information was collected through observations, interviews, and open questionnaires. I then analysed the information using an inductive approach as pattern recognition and inclusion into categories. The research findings of this study describe the difficulties that teachers may face with 2ELs and my claim to knowledge is the AAA Model of Strategies and the manual for teachers and their contribution to teachers of 2Els and their students. The recent research fills this particular gap in the literature, in the Israeli context, and the findings of this study bear policy implications and indicate the need for the tailoring of relevant teachers' CPD' programmes to include strategies to better address the needs of 2ELs for optimal success in fulfilling their potential and overcoming their difficulties. Future research may achieve a deeper understanding of how to prepare teachers to use adjusted strategies that meet 2Els teachers in various disciplines in order to improve learning environment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)