Federal attention is focused currently on investing and improving the quality of early childhood education, so that children's potential and talent development can be used as a natural resource for the future of our country. This article engages readers in transitioning their thinking about early childhood gifted education from a traditional…

There are two major hypotheses concerning the developmental trends of processing speeds. These hypotheses explore both local and global trends. The study presented here investigates the effects of people's different knowledge on the speed with which they are able to process information. The participants in this study are gifted children aged 9,…

The paper reviews definitions of differentiated curricula for gifted students and considers approaches for differentiation. Curriculum content can be modified by making it more abstract, more complex, more varied, and organized differently from the regular curriculum. Process modification can be accomplished through higher level thinking,…

Observation of academic instruction in regular classes revealed that even though teachers were aware of the presence of gifted and/or highly intelligent students in their classes, they did not use questioning to provide cognitive stimulation for them. It was concluded that improving questioning techniques can enhance student learning and…

Gaming (the use of formal games for specific academic purposes) is a method for teaching formal thinking processes that is particularly suited to the gifted student. Various games can be used to develop deductive reasoning, the concept of subsets, inductive reasoning, and attention to detail. (Author/SW)

The study was conducted to determine if the cognitive environment of the child from a high ability family could be classified as expansive or restrictive. It was concluded that mothers of gifted children have both styles available to them. The individual orientation of the high ability mother dictates the s tructure utilized. (CD)

The synectics model is an exciting strategy for development of thinking skills for gifted and creative children. The three-phase strategy teaches about direct analogy, personal analogy, and symbolic analogy. (CB)

This paper defines and discusses the term "differentiation" as it is applied in gifted and talented education programs. It begins by describing three components that are most notably associated with differentiation: content (what is being taught); process (how it is being taught); and product (tangible results produced that are based on…

Data on the development of intelligence and the concept of giftedness are interpreted for use in the classroom and are applied to the development of strategies to optimize learning. The Integrative Education Model is introduced, with its purpose of empowering the learner physically, emotionally, cognitively, and intuitively. The teacher's role is…

Intended for gifted/talented staff members, the document provides a collection of curriculum ideas and suggestions for activities, books, and articles related to education of gifted and talented children. Included are materials (outlines, tables, diagrams, and articles) on the following topics: facts about famous individuals; introduction of…

This article describes the use of problem-based learning (PBL) with gifted students, in which the focus of the curriculum is "ill-structured" problems. Particular advantages of PBL with these students include effectiveness in teaching the art of problem finding and solving, active learning, higher order thinking skills, and using interdisciplinary…

The goals and activities of the Orff-Schulwerk Approach and the Kodaly Method of music therapy are described; and the usefulness of each approach to develop creativity, social development, and cognitive ability in normal, gifted, and handicapped elementary level students is discussed. (SBH)

A review of research on Direct Instruction in the United States and Australia indicates that the model consistently extends skills across the range of gifted to severely retarded learners. The demonstrated effectiveness of the model provides educators with a body of empirical data on which effective teaching strategies can be based. (Author/CB)

The study examined methods of mathematical problem solving with 34 gifted and 34 average Dutch 10 year olds. Typical questioning protocols are diagrammed and results tabulated. Preliminary findings suggest the potential value of explicit teaching of advanced mathematical problem-solving skills to pupils of average ability. (DB)

An instrument to measure teachers' instructional practices, the Instructional Practice Questionnaire, was developed and validated in three phases. The questionnaires focused on three domains of instructional practices: cognitive, interpersonal, and interpersonal. First, an initial questionnaire was developed for a pilot study, and data were…