Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
School
Education
Advisor
Glenn Penny
Abstract
The research problem this study addressed was that general education teachers are struggling to meet the needs of gifted students with differentiated instruction at the middle school level. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate middle school teachers’ perceptions of differentiating instruction for gifted learners and any challenges or barriers the teachers may experience. Tomlinson’s theory of differentiation was the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions addressed teachers’ understanding of giftedness, preparedness to differentiate instruction for gifted students, strategies used for differentiating instruction for gifted students, and perceived barriers or challenges to differentiating instruction for gifted students. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and sentence completion with eight middle school teachers. Key thematic findings from the coding analysis included the participants’ reports of understanding gifted learners’ needs, varying levels of preparedness to differentiate, limited resources and strategies to differentiate, and the necessity for professional support to differentiate for gifted learners. These results informed the research questions by identifying the participants’ understanding of characteristics of gifted learners and the specific needs a gifted learner might have. Most participants described their preparedness to differentiate as inadequate with little to no coursework during preservice training. The participants employed differentiation strategies based on the resources and experiences they have. Lastly, the participants reported a lack of materials, time, and professional development as barriers to implementing differentiation. Social change may be promoted by increasing teachers’ knowledge and use of differentiation as a strategy to improve the educational experiences of gifted learners at the middle school level.
Recommended Citation
Belzic, Christine, "Teachers’ Perceptions of Differentiated Instruction for Gifted Students in the Middle School General Classroom" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12268.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12268
