Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners

By Joyce VanTassel-Baska

The newly updated "Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners" provides a solid introduction to curriculum development in gifted and talented education. Written by experts in the field of gifted education, this text uses cutting-edge design techniques and aligns the core content with national and state standards. In addition to a revision of the original chapters, the second edition contains new chapters on topics such as teaching research skills to gifted students, second language learning, leadership, arts curriculum, and technology. The text is divided into three sections. The first section identifies the basic principles of curriculum development: accelerated learning within the core content areas, use of higher order process skills, development of creative student products, and concept development and learning. The second section incorporates these techniques into a chapter on each core content area: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The third section focuses on the roles of teachers, program coordinators, and administrators during curriculum design: selecting resources and materials, making appropriate instructional choices, and assessing student learning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Release date: Jul 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781593635282

Reviews for Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners

[lewie-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This work is aimed at those Educators who teach high-ability learners, whether in the elementary, middle, or high school level and also those learners which continue on into the college level. The main theme of the work is to put forth a understanding of the INTEGRATED CURRICULUM MODEL (ICM)which VanTassel-Baska and Little are the developers and strongest supporters of. The model is showed to educators in easy to understand chapters full of charts and examples to lay out the model and have the reader get a better understanding of the model. The work is broken down into six sections and each builds from those before it. Full of figures and tables to aid the reader get a better understanding along with several sample activity charts. Each chapter has at the end of it a section of the conclusion as well as a Key Points Summary and a complete reference section for that chapter. At the end of the work a section about each author of each chapter and also very good index. In the conclusion chapter that gives examples of the model in use for up to twenty-five years VanTassel-Baska and Little give what they call "Voices from the Field" where educators from across the nation give their personal stories of the success of the model from all levels of education for the high-ability learner. This work could easily be used as a text to teach courses for those educators who are or will be working with high-ability learners, but also as a guide for those who already work in the field as a new method of developing curriculum for their students using this model. School media centers from elementary to college should have this work available to educators to use as a reference also. The current price is in line of other text used in college courses at $120.00. Educators who teach high-ability learners might also consider this work for their personal library.

[annedenney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This collection of essays presents a thorough look at high-ability learners and their special needs. While sample lessons are included, the focus is primarily theoretical, in other words, more geared towards people learning about high-ability learners, i.e. students in the field of education, teachers who wish to/ need to specialize in this field, or those concerned with schoolbooks and other educational material for high ability learners. A good compendium, overall, from what I can tell.

[loveuga · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding curriculum/research based resource for the teaching of high-ability learners. The curriculum development information and the teaching techniques provided make this a book that could be used both by the classroom teacher and in courses for gifted education. The information on differentiation, one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of teaching advanced learners, is extremely helpful. Also the sections on the teaching of thinking are vital not only to beginning teachers but also to experienced teachers. I highly recommend this book for every teacher's professional library and/or for each school to house in the media center for teachers to use.

[janismin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A 2017 publication, this text is divided into 6 sections and 24 chapters in which high-ability students cal learn through curriculum models presented from various authors in the educational field. More useful as a professional development source, educators will find latest ideology in teaching advanced students while aligning with state and federal standards. Core content areas include: mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Teaching in other areas such as world languages or leadership skills are also addressed. More about philosophies for teaching gifted children, the models, theories, and curriculum offerings are intended as a springboard for development of curriculum for high-ability students. Black and white tables and figures and highlighted information boxes enhance data presentation.