The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) believes it is essential to define giftedness in a way that both reflects best thinking in the field and moves beyond a focus on identification criteria to a deeper understanding of the complex nature of giftedness and the multi-faceted approach to services required to appropriately serve…

In this interview, Dr Munro discusses his research and provides insights into gifted learning and talent development in the classroom. He describes how teachers can develop productive classroom environments to thrive and use experiential memory to cultivate teaching expertise. According to Dr Munro, talented outcomes are more likely when teachers…

In "A Quality of Giftedness," Professor Joan Freeman reflects upon her long career working as a psychologist in England with gifted children. She gives particular attention to observations gained during the most recent analysis of her longitudinal study that was published in 2010 as Gifted Lives. This work provides an in-depth look at 20…

Our article describing the characteristics of gifted students with a specific learning disability (SLD) in written language was criticized for emphasizing an ability achievement discrepancy as an indication of a written language disability and for not ruling out alternative explanations for the observed difficulties. The three primary alternative…

Six profiles of theoretical types of gifted and talented children are offered including (1) the successful gifted, (2) the divergently gifted, (3) the "underground" gifted (who want to hide their giftedness), (4) the dropouts, (5) the double-labeled (with physical or emotional handicaps) gifted student, and (6) the autonomous learner. (DB)

In this article, the author describes how he was baffled with one of his students' blatant display of nonconforming attitude. Keenan is a student most loathed by his classmates. He didn't give a damn if the other students liked him. He scratched his crotch as he walked, and his unshampooed hair resembled a ragged carpet swatch. When he sneezed…

Educators can provide sound interventions for gifted students if they carefully consider their special needs, based on their characteristics. The learning needs of gifted students are delineated, based on their characteristics, and curriculum implications are derived. (TE)

This article questions whether current practices in gifted education are excluding groups of natural learners who don't fit our vision of giftedness or standards of high ability. It urges gifted education programs to reach out to different learners who live on the outskirts of the circle of academically gifted learners. (CR)

Describes the characteristics of the visually gifted student, comparing and contrasting this type of youngster to the academically gifted student. Part of a theme issue on art education for students with special needs. (SJL)

Considers characteristics of rural gifted students, rural family and community attitudes and school conditions relevant to rural gifted students' underachievement. Recommends active administrator support for gifted programs, and the use of acceleration as an equitable, effective, and cost-efficient strategy for rural gifted education. 41…

The author refutes the myth that gifted students comprise a single, homogeneous group. She cites the wide variety of characteristics and notes the influence of environment upon the individual, all of which supports the need for multicomponent programs. (CL)

Six personality types are characteristic of gifted children: the perfectionist, the child/adult (with a need to be in charge), the winner of the competition, the exception, the self-critic, and finally, the well-integrated child. The gifted child's emotional development should be considered in his/her education. (CL)

Old stereotypes of the gifted student as well-rounded achiever, easily identified by self-confidence and history of success, must be replaced by serious efforts to arrive at a definition of giftedness that will include all gifted students, the nonachieving as well as those who are achieving. (JHZ)

This issue of a research journal on gifted education explores issues surrounding gifted children who also have learning disabilities. Specific articles include: (1) "Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes" (Francis Cartier); (2) "Gifted Children with Learning Disabilities: A Review of the Issues" (Linda E. Brody and Carol J. Mills), which examines current…

This article discusses the plight of the gifted child who has a disability, society's ambivalence towards double-labeled students, and the need to ensure children be allowed and assisted to develop to their full potential. The story of a young boy who is both intellectually gifted and physically disabled is told. (Contains 1 reference.) (CR)