ABSTRACT
The principal and teacher were embarrassed for not recognizing Jack’s abilities and were surprised at how much his parents knew about the optimal learning environment for Jack. Because of Jack’s inattentiveness to tasks and behavioral challenges, this teacher assumed he was not a very bright student and was disinterested in learning. The greatest challenge for the classroom teacher is to provide appropriate and challenging academic experiences, differentiating for students who have mastered the basic curriculum. Although there is no universal blueprint for differentiating to adjust or modify the regular curriculum for proficient students, teachers should be expected to design instruction that advances children beyond their current performance level. Teachers and students should collaboratively design purposeful acceleration or enrichment activities for students who are eligible for compacting. Curriculum compacting is a strategy with a philosophical heart about how people allow students to use learning time.
