Parental Evaluation of the Socio-Personal Adjustment of High Ability Students in a Cluster Grouping Program

High ability students have differential cognitive characteristics that require a specific educational response to develop their full potential. Cluster ability grouping is one of the available approaches to respond to their training. One of the main criticisms of this teaching method, also supported by the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE), is that high ability students may show a decrease in their self-concept. The aim of this research is to present the evaluation carried out by parents of primary school high ability students on the effect of an educational cluster grouping program on their personal and social adjustment, comparing these variables before the beginning of the school year and at the end of it. Approximately 100 students’ parents of the Educational Centre for Highly Ability Pupils participated in the evaluation. The instrument used for the evaluation was the Socialization Battery (BAS-2) for parents. The results showed that parents observed some improvements, either due to an increase in the scales measuring positive socialization variables or a decrease in the scales measuring negative socialization variables. The most substantial improvements are found in the second and third grades. We conclude that the results do not support the big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE).

From Managing Stigma to Forming Friendships: Introducing a Model of Friendship Development

Parents, teachers, counselors, and others are rightfully concerned about how to support students with gifts and talents in making friends while maintaining their interest in learning. Building on decades of research, the authors describe the model of High-Ability Students' Friendship Development Process. This process is described in a flowchart and clarifies points of intervention. When those who work with students with gifts and talents are aware of the importance that differences in ability make in their friendships, they can guide them toward building healthy relationships.

Making 20% Matter Most: Meeting the Needs of Gifted and High Ability Students Through Type III 20Time (T4) Projects

A 9th grade Honors English class creates and publishes original poems, art, fiction, and nonfiction products through an activity called “Type Three – Twenty Time = T4.” The instructional method merges elements from Renzulli’s Type III process with elements from Brookhouser’s 20Time Project-based learning model. Each student researches an interest passion topic and creates a related original product or service for a real audience. Upon reflection on the experience, the author identifies evidence-based practices including compacting ELA course content to create time for the T4 process; enhanced student engagement; active learning versus passive learning; improved writing skills; quality presentation skills; higher level creative and critical thinking; and upgraded 21st Century skills.

Identification of Understanding Student in Solving Integral Calculus Based on Mathematical Ability

The purpose of this study was to identify students' lack of understanding in completing integral calculus based on students' mathematical abilities. Integral calculus material here focuses on the material integration techniques. This material is important to identify the lack of understanding experienced by prospective mathematics teacher students because they muhs be able to mahser this material because this material is found at the secondary school level where they will teach. The research method used is descriptive qualitative method. The results of the study are described in a narrative manner based on the data obtained. The subjects in this study were two people with high abilities, two people with moderate abilities, and two people with low abilities. Each ability identified their lack of understanding of integral calculus, especially material on integration techniques. Based on the research that has been done, it is concluded that the identification of students' misunderstandings in solving integral calculus problems, especially the material for integration techniques. High ability students can understand the concept of integration techniques. students with moderate abilities can claMSify integration techniques but do not understand the rational function integral techniques. Low-ability students can only understand the basic concepts of integrals but cannot understand the concepts of integration techniques.

Differences in learners’ critical thinking by ability level in conventional, NHT, PBL, and integrated NHT-PBL classrooms

<span>This study aimed to analyze the effect of conventional, Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Numbered-Head Together (NHT), and integrated PBL-NHT learning models on the low- and high-ability students’ critical thinking. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-post-test nonequivalent control group design with a four-by-two factorial pattern. The analysis results showed that learners’ critical thinking was impacted by learning models implemented in the classroom and influenced by the interaction between the learning models and learners’ academic abilities. There was no difference in critical thinking among low-ability students who were taught with PBL, conventional, and integrated PBL-NHT, but a difference was found in students taught using NHT. There was no difference in critical thinking between high-ability students taught with conventional and NHT instruction, but there was a difference between students taught with PBL and integrated PBL-NHT instruction. To foster critical thinking, pupils with low academic ability should be taught using NHT, whereas those with high academic ability should be taught using PBL or an integrated PBL-NHT approach.</span>

Critical Connections: High-Ability Students Perceptions of Factors that Influence NZQA Scholarship - a Mixed Method Study

<p>This mixed methods study involved 332 high school students and investigated those factors that students perceived as having facilitated their success in New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Scholarship. A key finding from this study suggests that New Zealand Scholarship students form a connection with at least one teacher and consider this relationship to be a catalyst in their success. Family, peers and friends play a lesser but still important role in the student's success, providing support for the student. These successful students reported reduced time spent in extracurricular activities in order to prepare for subjects in which they believed they would be successful. Students related experiences where teachers, schools and some learning communities were not supportive of their aspirations for high academic achievement, and described the impact of this on their quest for Scholarship success. This research has identified a number of aspects relating to high academic achievement and New Zealand secondary education that require further investigation. These include an investigation into those practices of teachers who work with high-ability students to yield greater understanding of the beliefs that teachers hold about teaching high-ability students and the ways in which these beliefs affect student outcomes.</p>

Critical Connections: High-Ability Students Perceptions of Factors that Influence NZQA Scholarship - a Mixed Method Study

<p>This mixed methods study involved 332 high school students and investigated those factors that students perceived as having facilitated their success in New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Scholarship. A key finding from this study suggests that New Zealand Scholarship students form a connection with at least one teacher and consider this relationship to be a catalyst in their success. Family, peers and friends play a lesser but still important role in the student's success, providing support for the student. These successful students reported reduced time spent in extracurricular activities in order to prepare for subjects in which they believed they would be successful. Students related experiences where teachers, schools and some learning communities were not supportive of their aspirations for high academic achievement, and described the impact of this on their quest for Scholarship success. This research has identified a number of aspects relating to high academic achievement and New Zealand secondary education that require further investigation. These include an investigation into those practices of teachers who work with high-ability students to yield greater understanding of the beliefs that teachers hold about teaching high-ability students and the ways in which these beliefs affect student outcomes.</p>

Analysis of students' thinking level in solving Pythagoras' theorem problems based on Van hiele's theory

The aims of this analysis are to explain the level of thinking of grade VIII students at SMP Negeri 1 Talang Ubi in solving Pythagorean Theorem questions based on Van Hiele's theory. The research approach used in this analysis is descriptive qualitative case study research. The subjects of this research were three students of grade VIII of SMP Negeri 1 Talang Ubi, South Sumatera Indonesia. The three students were chosen based on their test answers on the Pythagorean Theorem material, with one being a high-ability student, one being a medium-ability student, and one being a low-ability student. The study's data collection techniques included assessments, interviews, and documentation. Techniques for data processing include data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The findings revealed that high-ability students could complete all four stages of Van Hiele's thinking: imagination, interpretation, informal deduction, and deduction. Moderate students achieved three levels of Van Hiele's thinking, including visualization, analysis, and informal deduction, while low-ability students achieved only one level of Van Hiele's thinking, visualization.