Biographies are an important resource for extending and differentiating the curriculum for high-ability learners. To include biography in curriculum, educators need answers to the following four questions: (1) How are commercially available biographies located?; (2) What criteria are useful in selecting biographies for high-ability learners?; (3)…

The field of gifted education has done an admirable job of raising awareness about underrepresentation and unique needs of gifted students from culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The efforts of the National Association for Gifted Children to reach out to teachers through the "Javits-Frasier Teacher Scholarship for Diverse…

The Region IV Education Service Center (ESC) in Texas has been delivering G/T professional development for almost two decades, and it has a great plan. Texas is one of 27 states that mandate full or partial gifted education. Accountability is provided through standards for professional development, which are outlined in the Texas State Plan for…

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)

Talent searches are discussed in this journal theme issue, with two feature articles and several recurring columns. "Talent Search: A Driving Force in Gifted Education," by Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, defines what a talent search is, how the Talent Search was developed by Dr. Julian Stanley at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, the…

This article discusses how regular classroom teachers can use high level curriculum as a catalyst for identifying and nurturing gifted students. It describes the characteristics of a differentiated classroom, how differentiation might look for advanced learners, why differentiated instruction is needed for advanced learners, and how parents can…

River Oaks Elementary is a public school in Houston Independent School District's Vanguard Magnet Program. Magnet programs are one of the district's ways of providing parents with choice in public education. The Vanguard program serves students who have been identified as potentially gifted and talented in intellectual ability, creativity, or…

During the summer and on weekends, it is not unusual to see many children, the youngest holding their parents' hands, walking to classes amongst the beautiful landscaping and old buildings of Northwestern University on Lake Michigan's shores in Evanston, Illinois. The Center for Talent Development (CTD) has been offering services and programs to…

This article features the Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, and describes how the University of Iowa College of Education offers teacher education through the Belin-Blank dynamic model of professional development. As a part of the University of Iowa College of Education, the…

This article presents four strategies for identifying young gifted children: recognize the limits of testing; network with parents; consider new ways of thinking about and observing giftedness, including incorporating different learning styles in teaching; and use portfolios to collect actual samples of children's work. Advantages of portfolio…

This article discusses the effects on gifted education of standards-based education, inclusive education, statewide assessment, including underrepresented students in gifted programs, and reaching different levels of giftedness in a classroom. It argues that educators of the gifted have become distracted and off-task in meeting the needs of gifted…

This article describes Camp Invention, a summer one-week day camp program for students in grades 2-6 that is designed to develop creativity in gifted students. The curriculum of the camp features hands-on, interactive activities in science, history, math, and the arts. Examples of activities undertaken in 2001 are provided. (Contains one…

In this article, the author discusses how Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) seeks and nurtures students with high academic talents in Baltimore. The mission of CTY, since its founding in 1979, has been to identify students with high academic abilities and to provide challenging and innovative programs that are appropriate…

A talented child's motivation and artistic gift can suffer when the environment at home and at school are inadequately supportive. It's crucial, therefore, for parents and teachers to understand that any child's involvement in the arts can enhance overall success in academics and in later life. It's just as important to learn about the many ways…

This article discusses teacher misconceptions of gifted students and gifted programs and the effects of a postgraduate teacher education program in Australia called the Certificate of Gifted Education. Results of the program indicate powerful changes in teachers' attitudes and support the need to provide every teacher with training in gifted…