Elementary Gifted Program for Paris Union School District No. 95

The purpose of this field experience was to develop an elementary gifted program to be implemented in Paris Union School District No. 95 in Paris, Illinois. In 1981 this writer began working with gifted students in one of the elementary schools in Paris Union School District No. 95. That first program was not considered successful, and the following year there was no gifted program. In 1983 this writer was hired as the teacher for the elementary gifted students in Paris Union School District No. 95. The program which was followed in 1983 was different than the first gifted program, but it also had many problems. This researcher believed that the education of gifted students in Paris Union School District No. 95 was an important issue that deserved extensive study and planning. Thus, this field experience was felt to be necessary and relevant. Although this field experience was developed for the elementary schools of Paris Union School District No. 95, this researcher believes it could easily be modified to fit the needs of any similar sized school district needing an elementary gifted program. It is divided into four chapters. Chapter one gives some background information on problems in gifted education. Chapter two reviews related literature on gifted education. The writer has divided this review into five sections: Identification and Definition, Characteristics of Gifted Children, Curriculum, Organizational Structure, and Evaluation. Chapter three presents the model for the elementary gifted program for Paris Union School District No. 95. This chapter gives a brief background of elementary gifted education in Paris prior to this program. Next follows the district philosophy, the program goals, and then a detailed program description. Chapter four includes the summary, conclusions, and the writer’s recommendations for implementing the gifted program