Author: Emma Riemenschneider | Major: Career and Technical Education

The research I conducted used data from teachers and students native to NWA to determine which instructional strategies are most engaging for students. Then, I used the analyzed data to compile a curriculum model that could be used in any classroom of any content area. The purpose of this created curriculum model is to provide teachers with instructional suggestions to enhance the learning experience of gifted and talented students. The curriculum model was used by five teachers at a different junior high school, and all of them had positive feedback about the curriculum model, its sustainability, and its manageability.

I come from a gifted and talented background, so I know what it is like to have different treatment from teachers. I witnessed my gifted peers in high school perform poorly in classes they were not passionate about. I decided to take these experiences and develop a way for teachers to engage gifted and talented students without leaving behind their peers. Dr. Betsy Orr is a faculty member that works in my CTE program with a business background, so being a Business Ed student, I chose her as my mentor.

I learned during this research that all students are equally important. This was reinforced during my teaching internship that I am completing this semester. This research wasn’t meant to be for the detriment of non-gifted and talented students, but for the benefit of gifted and talented students, whom in my experience are often underserved. I learned that I need to be more flexible to meet the needs of all types of students, too. My efforts were to engage gifted and talented students at all times, but that wasn’t always successful. Fortunately, they sometimes have productive ideas of their own about learning that I should consider. This flexibility was a challenge that I faced, but I had to think for my students, not for myself.

Dr. Betsy Orr, my faculty mentor, was great about scheduling when we were to meet, looking through my thesis edits, and providing me with suggestions on how to strengthen my writing and organize my research. Dr. Sheri Deaton, a professor of mine, was a committee member. She read through my thesis and provided suggestions as well.

I presented my research at the College of Education and Health Professions Honors Poster Symposium, and my poster was also featured at the Honors College Poster Competition, both in the month of April. It was awesome sharing with other faculty members and judges about the work that I have put into this research. I have since published my research on ScholarWorks.

Starting in the fall of 2022, I will be a classroom teacher in Northwest Arkansas. I will be 7-12 certified in Business Education, and I can’t wait to have my own classroom! I am so excited to start my teaching career. Eventually, I aspire to be a middle school principal, so I have applied to graduate school at the University of Arkansas. I intend to pursue a Masters in Educational Technology.