Regular classroom practices with gifted students in Grades 3 and 4 in New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

The Regular Classroom Practices Survey (RCPS) was conducted to determine the extent to which gifted and talented students received differentiated education in the regular classroom across New South Wales. This research paralleled work recently completed in the United States of America. The survey focused on information on the teachers, their classrooms and regions. Classroom practices, in relation to the curriculum modifications for gifted and average students, were analyzed. The survey sample was drawn from the three sectors of education, Government, Catholic and Independent schools, within the ten regions of New South Wales. This included 401 third and fourth grade teachers in government schools, 138 teachers in Catholic schools and 67 teachers in independent schools. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) Do teachers modify the curriculum content to meet the needs of gifted students? (2) Do teachers modify their instructional practices for gifted students? (3) Are there any organizational variations in planning to meet the educational needs of gifted children? (4) Are there differences in the types of regular classroom services provided for gifted students in relation to the type of school or region?