In October 1992 issue of "Educational Leadership," Marian Matthews communicates several misunderstandings about cooperative learning. Interview data from 15 middle schoolers in a wealthy district are not generalizable to all cooperative-learning situations. A cooperative-learning group is neither a seating arrangement nor individualistic learning…

This article discusses the importance of conducting an initial needs assessment as part of gifted program development. The paper describes data collection concerning the general student body, gifted population, school district personnel, school and school district, physical setting, economic factors, community, and national and state gifted…

This paper presents a rationale for adopting the new form of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales for use with gifted children, based on its more recent norms, its factorial structure, its less restrictive emphasis on g-factor intelligence and verbal reasoning, and its evenness in content from one age to another. (JDD)

This article provides bibliographic information and annotations for 13 folk tales, fables, and spoofs of folk tales. The items are felt to appeal to the quick wit of bright young students, and the adaptations of tales to other times and places acquaint students with history and culture. (JDD)

As classrooms are restructured, practitioners must consider the short- and long-term effects of grouping decisions. All children need to be with children of the same interests and abilities during part of every school day. Mixed ability groups are most suitable for projects that cut across curricular areas. (LB)

Examined college choice of 92 academically talented students selected as 1987 Wisconsin All State Academic Scholars. Explored student characteristics and motivation; the influence of individuals, parents, friends, and high school personnel; and university influences. Findings led to recommendations for states wishing to attract and retain their…

Explores school counselor's role in helping gifted students develop effective strategies to reduce desire to underachieve or overextend. Examines how self-inflicted stress can lead gifted students to invoke either copout behavior (overt reduction in achievement) or burnout behavior (maintaining facade of high achieving while succumbing to physical…

A 3-year study involved having 19 fifth and sixth grade students attend school with Russian peers for 10 days and, later, having Russian students attend U.S. schools. Findings indicated that the Russian students perceived greater difficulty in a differentiated curriculum for gifted students than did the U.S. sample. (DB)

Historical trends and current policy toward education for gifted students in Australia is reviewed. Current efforts in each of the Australian states are summarized. (DB)

This article examines recent trends and the literature on grouping with emphasis on possible negative effects of heterogeneous grouping on gifted students. Guidelines from three recent publications all supporting some level of grouping are listed. (DB)

Before arranging mentor relationships for gifted students, other available resources should be exhausted and the need for a mentor should be analyzed. This article provides a chart listing resources and ideas to enrich the student, discusses ways to identify and use the suggested resources, and notes ways to identify the need for a mentor. (JDD)

Identified 68 potentially gifted children (aged 4-8) from minority and low-income backgrounds for participation in a summer institute. Instruction for the students was complemented by a learning component for their parents. Describes the results of a Parent as Teacher Inventory, comparing Hispanic and Anglo parents. Outlines the parent curriculum.…

This article overviews existing approaches to the evaluation of programs for gifted youth in the United States. A literature review found definitions, implementations, and consequence evaluations of gifted programs to be very diverse, resulting from lack of central planning, low social priority, and scanty conceptual organization. Possible…

This case study describes emotional problems experienced by two gifted children as they grew to adulthood. The children were from a minority immigrant family background and suffered from parental pressure to excel, conflicting cultural demands, and family problems as well as lack of acceptance. (DB)

Guidelines are given for how experts in the education of gifted students can best interact with the media, in the context of the renewed emphasis on excellence in education. Suggestions include preparing for an interview, avoiding being misquoted, and preparing written materials. (DB)