A study of six gifted elementary students found that students in the homogeneous gifted class showed a greater increase in the number of control functions performed by the mind-machines they proposed, offered descriptions of their machines which were longer, more sophisticated, and more creative, and leap-frogged off of each others' ideas.…

Some of the problems and hazards associated with the use of standardized reading test scores in the formation and reformation of ability groups for reading instruction are discussed. (Author)

Observation of educational environments of 39 gifted students in primary and middle schools from a school district in England identified two methods of educational enrichment: circumstantial and specific. Teaching skills for the development of an individualized curriculum within the existing organizational structure are stressed. (Author/CB)

This literature review concerns the concept of alternative grade configurations at the elementary level, in which elementary schools are subdivided into primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5) units. Because of the paucity of literature on this concept, the major part of the report focuses on the reorganization of the elementary schools of the South…

A commentary precedes this previously published article that presents different perspectives on the inclusion of gifted students in the heterogeneously grouped classroom. A professor advocates homogeneous ability grouping, a teacher explains how inclusion can be impractical, and a parent describes the benefits of appropriate placement. (Contains 3…

The effects of "bona fide" homogeneous grouping of students in grades 4 through 8 in a southeastern school system on the students' subsequent academic achievement were studied. These effects were studied for black students as well as for all students regardless of race, across 2 years. The student population was composed of over 4,800…

An anxiety scale was administered to fifth- and eighth-grade students in West Germany immediately after and three years after placement in a high, low, or middle school track based on achievement. Findings from this investigation are related to reference group theory. (Authors/CJ)