View in EDS

Exceptional Spaces: Diverse Learning Environments in a Public High School

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Exceptional Spaces: Diverse Learning Environments in a Public High School
Language: English
Authors: Karlyn J. Gorski (ORCID 0000-0002-8327-6250)
Source: American Educational Research Journal. 2026 63(3):575-610.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 36
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305B140048
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Public Schools, High Schools, High School Students, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Special Education, Gifted Education, Advanced Placement Programs, Classroom Environment, Teacher Student Relationship, Student Experience, Teaching Styles, Labeling (of Persons), Environmental Influences, Classroom Communication
Geographic Terms: Illinois (Chicago)
DOI: 10.3102/00028312261423530
ISSN: 0002-8312
1935-1011
Abstract: Across differentiated course levels, teachers create distinct learning environments through their interactional dynamics, rule enforcement, and pedagogical techniques. In this study, I compared students' experiences in "regular" classes with those geared toward "exceptional learners" in a large public high school. I found that teachers emphasized rigid rule enforcement and rote learning in regular classes while creating spaces characterized by flexibility, collaboration, and permissiveness in classes intended for exceptional learners. These patterns held both in classes intended for students perceived to have exceptional academic abilities (Advanced Placement classes) and in those perceived to have exceptional social needs (a grouping known as "the Block"). These findings show how labeling shapes the organization of work in schools, demonstrating the sociospatial dimensions of academic differentiation.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505176
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1505176
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Exceptional Spaces: Diverse Learning Environments in a Public High School
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karlyn+J%2E+Gorski%22">Karlyn J. Gorski</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8327-6250">0000-0002-8327-6250</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22American+Educational+Research+Journal%22"><i>American Educational Research Journal</i></searchLink>. 2026 63(3):575-610.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 36
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
– Name: NumberContract
  Label: Contract Number
  Group: NumCntrct
  Data: R305B140048
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Regular+and+Special+Education+Relationship%22">Regular and Special Education Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Education%22">Special Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gifted+Education%22">Gifted Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Advanced+Placement+Programs%22">Advanced Placement Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Classroom+Environment%22">Classroom Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Student+Relationship%22">Teacher Student Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Styles%22">Teaching Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labeling+%28of+Persons%29%22">Labeling (of Persons)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+Influences%22">Environmental Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Classroom+Communication%22">Classroom Communication</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Illinois+%28Chicago%29%22">Illinois (Chicago)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.3102/00028312261423530
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0002-8312<br />1935-1011
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Across differentiated course levels, teachers create distinct learning environments through their interactional dynamics, rule enforcement, and pedagogical techniques. In this study, I compared students' experiences in "regular" classes with those geared toward "exceptional learners" in a large public high school. I found that teachers emphasized rigid rule enforcement and rote learning in regular classes while creating spaces characterized by flexibility, collaboration, and permissiveness in classes intended for exceptional learners. These patterns held both in classes intended for students perceived to have exceptional academic abilities (Advanced Placement classes) and in those perceived to have exceptional social needs (a grouping known as "the Block"). These findings show how labeling shapes the organization of work in schools, demonstrating the sociospatial dimensions of academic differentiation.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: CodeSource
  Label: IES Funded
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Yes
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1505176
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1505176
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3102/00028312261423530
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 36
        StartPage: 575
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Regular and Special Education Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gifted Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Advanced Placement Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Classroom Environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Student Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Styles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labeling (of Persons)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Classroom Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Illinois (Chicago)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Exceptional Spaces: Diverse Learning Environments in a Public High School
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Karlyn J. Gorski
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0002-8312
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1935-1011
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 63
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: American Educational Research Journal
              Type: main
ResultId 1