Reviews examples of projects, thematic units, and specific activities that preschool teachers can use to enhance the educational opportunities of gifted and talented students in their classrooms. (MDM)

This article briefly describes research and authentic assessment and outlines methods for developing rubrics which offer a more authentic approach to assessment. It offers a rubric for assessing secondary students' original research, along with benchmarks showing examples for each criterion. It also suggests ways to translate rubric assessments…

This study delineates modes of thinking that differentiate exceptionally gifted children from more moderately gifted peers. Cognitive differences include viewing the simple as complex, a need for precision, viewing the complex as simple, abstract reasoning ability, early grasp of essential elements of an issue, high capacity for empathy,…

This paper discusses the recent controversy over outcome-based education (OBE), arguing that while OBE may be correct in establishing high standards for student learning, its implementation has tended to establish rigid "assembly line" approaches to teaching. A call is made for more flexible and individualized systems that respond to…

This paper argues that the Attention Deficit Disorder/Gifted (ADD/Gifted) label is both unfair and overused, discounts the possibility of natural developmental lags, and focuses on the child's weaknesses. A call is made for seeking a full understanding of contextual, curricular, and environmental factors outside the child before labeling students.…

The longitudinal stability of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised was examined for consistency in determining eligibility for gifted programs among 66 elementary children. All subtest scales except one remained extremely stable, producing less than one scale score point difference across three test administrations. Children…

Notes that dual identity of artist and therapist can be particularly problematic for art therapist and that transference and countertransference issues are complicated by these roles. Presents theoretical review and case study in which adolescent client was motivated, prolific, talented, and dramatically improving behaviorally as result of art…

Participants (n=50) in a Mississippi leadership program for female high school juniors and seniors reported that family members provided the greatest influence, student government provided the greatest opportunities, shyness was the biggest obstacle, and Jesus Christ was the greatest leader. They did not believe that popularity was a prerequisite…

This interview with Oleg Davydenko, a geneticist in Belarus who also runs a club for adolescents interested in genetics, addresses his work, the origins of the club, self-selection by students, characteristics of the best student members, the club's financial support, his own development as a youth, and the role of contests like the Olympiads. (DB)

Twelve "best practices" guidelines are offered to provide truly differentiated instruction for gifted students. Guidelines are based on theory, research, and experience and, taken together, result in appropriate differentiated service options. (DB)

Performance-based assessment is recommended for gifted students. In this approach, the students participate in planning the assessment and establishing the criteria by which their work is judged. Guidelines for implementing performance-based assessment and classroom examples are offered. (DB)

A community resource program, Minds in the Making, was designed to expand the existing elementary program for gifted and talented students in an urban district to include typically underserved populations. Qualitative assessment by students, teachers, and the community indicated the program met its goals. The program was also successfully…

A total of 159 parents of gifted students from Georgia responded to a survey of their parent education needs. Nearly half the parents indicated they wanted training in using a microcomputer with their child. Other topics desired included promoting motivation, responsibility, and social growth in the child. Most preferred a printed material format.…

This paper describes programs, research, and competitions being carried out in the field of gifted and talented education in the People's Republic of China. The need to make these programs available to more students is stressed, along with other suggestions on expanding work in gifted education. (JDD)

This interview, with an administrator and an evaluator of the Summer Career Institute of Gifted Minority Students and Females held at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, addresses the topics of making career choices, prejudice of school personnel toward gifted minority students, identification procedures, cultural influences, and the role of…