What are recommended curriculum elements for gifted students?
University School provides a variety of opportunities for students to conduct in-depth research into their own interests, to learn from a multiple discipline perspective, to develop productive thinking skills, and to use musical, dramatic and artistic talents. These aspects of the University School curriculum come directly recommended in gifted literature. Experts in gifted education advocate the following as appropriate curriculum elements for gifted education (Ganapole, 1989): 1. interdisciplinary approach to learning 2. independent investigations 3. development of higher order thinking skills, 4. dramatic and artistic interpretations 1. Interdisciplinary Approach to Learning. Caine and Caine (1991) found that learning was facilitated when connections are made among subjects, themes, the learners’ lives, and the world. Similarly Barbara Clark (1983) found that an integrative curriculum was a way to optimize learning. Other writers have voiced similar beliefs in the benefits of integr
