The paper describes the identification process and procedures developed in a project for gifted/talented handicapped children (3 to 5 years old) in six talent areas: intellectual, academic, creative, social/leadership, visual and performing arts, and psychomotor. Characteristics of two approaches (the informal open classroom and an approach based…

A total of 446 children, 32 teachers, and 32 teacher aides participated in an evaluation of a program providing instruction to meet the needs of bright/talented/gifted Head Start children. Components of the program included (1) enrichment programing to enhance the critical thinking skills of all Head Start children, (2) identification of…

This paper reviews historical trends in provision of services to young gifted children, with particular emphasis on inhibiting factors preventing greater services. Work with young gifted children and their families is then discussed, focusing on children from upper- and middle-class backgrounds, with handicapping conditions, and from low-income…

Different populations of young gifted/talented children are being served by three programs at the University of Illinois: The University Primary School, the "Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Handicapped Talented" model program, and the "Bringing Out Head Start Talents" program. Research on the effectiveness of these…

A comparison of attitudes, values, and behavior of 39 parents of young gifted and nongifted children indicated that parents of the gifted spent more time with their child on school-related activities, were more likely to report unconditional love for their child, and were more willing to encourage independence. (Author)

The differentiated curriculum of the Univerisity of Illinois Preschool Program for the Gifted is based on two instructional models, the open classroom and an instructional model derived from Guilford's Structure of the Intellect. The article describes recruitment, identification, goals and objectives, and programing. (Author/CL)

Impact evaluation of Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Young Handicapped and Talented, a model program for gifted and talented handicapped preschoolers, revealed that 28 project children in three sites demonstrated statistically significant gains in self-esteem, purposiveness, creativity, and talent area functioning. (CL)

The paper delineates elements important in the development of ideal programs for the gifted/talented preschool child. The author emphasizes the following components of an exemplary program: (1) program advocates, (2) staff with expertise in the gifted and early childhood, (3) flexible administrative procedures, (4) well defined program goals and…

A program model for gifted preschool children incorporates a differentiated curriculum into an open classroom environment. The Structure of Intellect model serves as the basis for classroom activities (10 examples of which are provided) which stress creative and productive thinking. (CL)

The article describes the three-year development/demonstration phase of a project for gifted/talented handicapped children, known as RAPYHT (Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Young Handicapped and Talented). (Author/DLS)

The Retrieval and Acceleration of Promising Young Handicapped and Talented program, part of the Joint Early Education Program for the Handicapped, identifies and educates preschool children who are both handicapped and gifted or talented. (PHR)

Head Start children (n=446), divided into intervention and comparison groups, received programing to enhance thinking skills. Intervention group children identified as gifted also received programing in their talent area. Intervention group children, whether or not identified as gifted, made significant gains over the comparison group in cognitive…

Comparison of attitudes and practices among fathers of young gifted children (N=9) and fathers of young nongifted children (N=10) revealed differences in six thematic areas: general involvement; reading emphasis; oral language emphasis; psychomotor emphasis; concern for the child's self-esteem; and push for independence. (Author/CB)

Evaluated were the effects of three different instructional programs (open education, structure of the intellect, and conventional contrast) on 56 bright kindergarten children of either high or low socioeconomic status (SES). Recognized experts evaluated the open and structured classes giving them positive ratings as being representative of the…

Describes and evaluates a Head Start project, Bringing Out Head Start Talents, designed to train staff, parents, and volunteers to identify and develop appropriate programming for funtionally or potentially gifted children, and to develop procedures to ensure smooth transitions and appropriate programming in public schools. (BB)