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The use of teacher lesson plans as a tool to measure program effectiveness was explored as a part of an overall evaluation of a gifted program in grades 1 to 6. A Lesson Plan Evaluation Form (LPEF) was developed to provide systematic quantitative data about classroom functioning that are usually obtained only through attitudinal surveys. One hundred thirty-seven plans from 15 teachers were analyzed. The lesson plan analysis yielded useful information about program functioning in a cost-effective manner. Data from the LPEF were consistent with data from more traditional evaluation tools. The use of lesson plan analysis as a tool to measure program effectiveness should be further investigated.

The characteristics of teachers in a full day program for the gifted were compared with those of teachers in the regular program using the Teacher Perceiver Interview, a structured interview technique which measures 12 characteristics of outstanding teachers. Six of the themes differentiated between the two groups. In comparing the six themes to characteristics of teachers of the gifted found in the literature, some traits which had previously been suggested to be characteristics of gifted teachers were confirmed, some were found not to be different from good teachers in general, and some characteristics not previously noted were found to differentiate teachers of the gifted.