Pros and Cons of Pull-Out Programs for Gifted Children

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Pros and Cons of Pull-Out Programs for Gifted Children

by Ted21

Apr 1, 2012

My school is looking at removing self-contained gifted in an effort to save money. Instead, we're probably going to have pull-out classes for gifted.

I found an article about pull-out programs,and it doesn't sound like this is the way to go. What do you think?

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GT Teacher On 4/01/12, Ted21 wrote: > My school is looking at removing self-contained gifted in an > effort to save money. Instead, we're probably going to have > pull-out classes for gifted. > > I found an article about pull-out programs,and it doesn't > sound like this is the way to go. What do you think?

You can easily find artic...See More

Apr 4, 2012

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Janette Here's something that very few people think of, but it's definitely reality and if you don't at least consider it your will probably suffer for it.

In a self-contained class, especially one that is held at another site, the "regular" kids don't see the gifted kids. And out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

In a pull-out situatio...See More

Apr 6, 2012

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Frustrated You know, I really don't get the whole "elitism" argument. I get frustrated when I hear it. Do we say this about a cheerleading squad? A football team? Not every student will make those teams, but I don't hear the elitist argument about it then. What about AP classes? Not every child is going to qualify for those either, and yet I don't even hear t...See More

Apr 17, 2012

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Sue On 4/17/12, Frustrated wrote: > You know, I really don't get the whole "elitism" argument. I get > frustrated when I hear it. Do we say this about a cheerleading > squad? A football team? Not every student will make those teams, > but I don't hear the elitist argument about it then.

You don't hear that argument but they are a k...See MoreOn 4/17/12, Frustrated wrote: > You know, I really don't get the whole "elitism" argument. I get > frustrated when I hear it. Do we say this about a cheerleading > squad? A football team? Not every student will make those teams, > but I don't hear the elitist argument about it then.

You don't hear that argument but they are a kind of elitism and they create a sense of an 'upper-class' in schools and then a group of also-rans. I don't know the solution to it but you're right in that it is a kind of elitism. I suppose in the ideal world or the ideal school we'd have enough specialized teams or clubs or programs that every student could find their niche. The small charter school I taught in for many years had an A team and a B team and the rule was - anybody who wanted to play the sport made the B team and that as coaches of the B team we were to give every kid play time on the field.

But that's only possible in a small school. In that same small school, every kid who came out for the play was given a part in the play - they couldn't all be lead parts but the drama teacher was to choose plays and rewrite plays if necessary to make sure there was a part for every kid who wanted to be in the play.

Yes, that's not real life but that's another story. But I agree with you that the cheerleading squad is definitely elitist and so is a gifted program (and my kids were in one too) I think it's easier for people to challenge the presence or need for a gifted program than it is for them to challenge the presence of a cheerleading squad. It's all but downright unAmerican for people to argue against the cheerleading squad.

But as a teacher I came to believe over the years that things like honor roll, student of the month, gifted programs and cheerleading squads and teams. etc. etc. do not create a sense of community in a school but rather do the opposite. Schools not only appreciate but can fawn over the students who are good students and who participate in the school's activites. But unless we really have some activities that are open to everybody, we end up creating a group of second- class citizens who get the message very young and then hear it consistently that they are not up to snuff. That has got to create apathy if not bitterness.

There's a school around here that doesn't do honor roll for that reason and the parents in that school have bumper stickers that say "The Greene Street School honors every student" instead of the traditional 'my kid is an honor student at Jackson Elementary.'

This was a long way of saying I agree with you.

What about > AP classes? Not every child is going to qualify for those either, > and yet I don't even hear the elitist argument there. > > I know with my program, the students NEED something else. If they > didn't have a chance to be creative, to break out of the > classroom each day, to do something challenging, they would be > miserable. I have a 3rd grader who just scored on a 12th grade > reading level. He is in a class with mostly below-average > students. In my class, yes, he is learning chess...because he > needs the challenge of chess. He is also creating new animals, > experimenting with physics, and much more. He gets to do the > things they don't have time for in his regular classroom but he > needs it. > > I don't think pull out is the BEST way to go. I think the > research has shown that gifted students should be grouped > together for maximum benefit. > > But my reality is pull out and it's not that bad. For my pros, my > program gets to focus on processing skills--critical thinking, > creativity, etc. I don't have a set curriculum, so I can let my > students tell me what they are interested in and build my units > around that. We have a flexibility that would be limited if it > were self-contained and the main focus was on the academics. > > My main cons are that I never have enough time, and while the > majority of my students are okay missing an hour here or there in > class, there are always a couple that struggle with missing > class. > > Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Apr 18, 2012

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el ed On 4/01/12, Ted21 wrote: > My school is looking at removing self-contained gifted in an > effort to save money. Instead, we're probably going to have > pull-out classes for gifted. > > I found an article about pull-out programs,and it doesn't > sound like this is the way to go. What do you think?

One argument I have heard...See More

May 9, 2012

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