Gifted kids are so much more than test scores and grades. Still, it's sometimes difficult to see past the potential to the child who may be anxious, lonely, confused, or unsure of what the future might bring. This book, now fully revised with updated information and new survey quotes, offers practical suggestions for addressing the social and…

This brief paper offers guidelines on recognizing giftedness in young children based on a study of the developmental characteristics of 77 gifted and average children as reported in parent questionnaires. The questionnaire asked parents to describe their children's development during the first 36 months. Major findings indicated that: parents of…

This article discusses hallmarks that can help educators identify gifted potential in young children, especially those from culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These hallmarks include: agency (the self in control of its environment), prospectivity (purposeful behavior seeking to accomplish goals) and affordance,…

The article examines ways to differentiate the material used in a reading program for gifted students (birth to age 9). Suggested books are provided for the following categories that correspond to recognized characteristics of gifted children: vocabulary (quality retellings of folk tales, word play, poetry, satire, and nuances of language);…

This article presents the "Piirto Pyramid" framework for identification of talent potential. It explains how the pyramid identifies influences that are significant in the development of talents, including genetics, personality attributes, cognitive ability, talent, vocational, and environmental. Examples using Roy Rogers and Michelangelo are…

The founder of the Lab School of Washington, a day school of 300 students for youngsters with severe learning disabilities discusses how negative behaviors of children with learning disabilities frequently turn into positive attitudes in adulthood. Examples of successful students are provided and lessons learned from working with such students are…

This paper uses a question-and-answer format to summarize information about Williams syndrome, a neurobehavioral congenital disorder which affects development in cognitive, behavioral, and motor areas. Questions address the following topics: characteristics of Williams syndrome; medical problems associated with Williams syndrome; characteristic…

This article discusses the role of temperament in the development of young children with disabilities and the five dimensions of temperament: activity level, intensity, mood, persistence, and reaction to new experiences. Types of behavioral tendencies that exemplify each temperament dimension are described, along with interaction adaptation…

This guide provides a practical explanation of cognitive type theory and learning style that will help teachers meet students' needs and discover their own strengths as teachers and colleagues. The introduction provides an overview of the book from the perspective of a high school classroom teacher. Part One introduces the theory of psychological…

In 1986, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) published a new learning style instrument, the NASSP Learning Style Profile (LSP). The LSP offers educators a well-validated and easy to use instrument for diagnosing the cognitive styles, perceptual response tendencies, and study and instructional preferences of middle level…

Physical educators have the opportunity and responsibility to create situations that will enhance the character development of their students. This paper examines theories of character development, then describes character development in elementary school physical education, in summer physical education settings, and among at-risk populations.…

This text offers a comprehensive introduction to major topics and issues in gifted and talented education. The 28 chapters are grouped into four sections on the general nature of giftedness, program development, organization of curriculum and instruction, and excellence in education of these students. Chapters include the following titles and…

This book integrates what is known about how adults learn and the principles of instructional design into a practical, yet theoretically based guide for planning instruction. The following are among the specific topics discussed: (1) the theoretical framework of instructional design in adult education (lifelong and experiential learning;…