Analysis of both cross-sectional and longitudinal data from five studies on the academic achievement and cognitive abilities of the top 10% and the most average 10% of students in grades 1, 5, and 11 found high-ability Asian students outperformed high-ability U.S. students in mathematics but not in reading. (DB)

This literature review found little information on the marital status of parents of gifted children and widespread perceptions that most gifted children live in intact, middle to upper-middle class families. The need for data on possible under-nomination of children of divorce in programs for the gifted and on the validity of current…

Review of solicited gifted program evaluation reports and the literature found a relative paucity of such reports as well as a lack of methodological sophistication, reporting, and utility concerns. Promising practices were seen in some evaluations conducted for program improvement, which employed multiple methodologies, sources, analysis…

Examination of social status, peer liking and knowing, and reciprocal friendships of 202 students (learning disabled, low achieving, average achieving, and high achieving) in grades 3-10 found that only low achieving students were less well liked and less well known by classmates. All groups showed a high relationship between knowing and liking.…

The reactions of 60 gifted students and 60 regular students in grades 4, 6, and 8 to an audiotape of age-appropriate riddles, jokes, puns, satire, and nonhumorous items were compared. Results indicated that gifted subjects performed significantly higher in spontaneous mirth response and comprehension of verbal humor than the general population…

A Lake Forest College (Illinois) program involved college faculty participation in a local high school's interdisciplinary course for gifted students. The course, which focused on how myths, theories, and other reflections on time have entered into cultures, science, literature, and visual art, illustrates how small-scale collaboration can…

This article identifies flaws within current writing programs for gifted and talented students and lists necessary content, process, and product modifications, all of which can be implemented in either pull-out programs or regular classrooms. Recent literature on writing instruction reform is reviewed. (Author/PB)

The examination of the attitudes of 100 Australian teachers and 100 English teachers found both groups favored integrated programs for the academically gifted, opposed programs that might be interpreted as elitist, and recommended that inservice training in teaching methods for gifted education be provided to all teachers. (DB)

Eleven suggestions are provided for implementation of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model to meet students' needs for enriched learning opportunities. Suggestions include respect the individual interests and styles of faculty; don't waste time trying to convince everyone; and be careful not to take credit for what others do. (JDD)

Comparison of problem preferences of six meaning-oriented and five number-oriented junior high school students found that the successful meaning-oriented students preferred solving multistep and nonroutine problems, whereas the less successful number-oriented students preferred simple routine problems. However, in graded situations all students…

Traditionally, gifted programs have focused only on students deemed academically gifted, excluding those with vocational/technical, artistic, or personal/social talents. Article suggests it is immoral to identify 5% of the student population as "gifted" and the rest as "ungifted." Since all students have relative talent…

Shows applications of the Talent Identification and Development in Education (TIDE) model in two suburban Midwestern school districts. In both large and small districts, TIDE changes the way school communities view gifted and talented education. A broader understanding emerges that recognizes nurturing of strengths, interests, and talents in every…

Illustrates how Harry Passow's views on curriculum and talent development are similar to those of Howard Gardner and how both theorists' views were used to develop a student-centered curriculum planning model. Describes how the model creates a stimulating learning environment to nurture students' talents. (Author/CR)

This study examined above-grade-level abstract reasoning abilities of 150 students (grades 2-6). Understanding of abstract concepts varied by age for only four of eight subscales or concepts: probability, proportion, momentum, and frames of reference. Performance varied widely within age level for the understanding of volume, correlation,…

Many schools and other organizations use the quiz show format to showcase their students' academic talents. Except for national championships, most school-level competitions are held in classrooms. "It's Academic," a Washington, D.C., quiz show with 81 competing schools, allows bright kids to be on television--something athletes might…