Presented are 15 ideas for projects which require gifted elementary or middle school students to study a topic in depth. Ideas are in an easy-to-use "reproduce, cut, and distribute" format. Ideas are intended to foster individual creativity and production and cover such topics as plantations, insects, stars, telephones, bridges, and space. (DB)

An emerging postpositivist paradigm for inquiry and research is outlined, based on recent thinking in philosophy, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The paper delineates the paradigm's basic beliefs, considers methodological implications, and suggests applications in the education of the gifted. (Author/JDD)

The author of EC 602 983 comments on his areas of research interest, speculates about the reasons why the social adjustment of kindergartners appears so different from that of older elementary school children, and examines the benefits of providing kindergarten experiences that maximize interactions among bright pupils. (JDD)

Middle-level educators can meet all students' needs by grouping students for appropriate instruction, rotating teachers, encouraging student-centered teaching, setting high academic expectations, developing advisory programs and activity groups, and scheduling heterogeneous classes where appropriate. Educators should not sacrifice balance and…

This paper reviews the school histories of five extremely gifted Australian children (IQs 160-200) who had been radically accelerated. A combination of grade skipping and radical subject matter acceleration gave the children access to curricula commensurate with their abilities as well as healthier levels of social self-esteem. (Author/DB)

The Mentorship Academy Program of Blue Valley Schools (Kansas) uses a schoolwide enrichment model emphasizing the need to provide high ability students with opportunities to work with professionals on meaningful projects related to their interests. This paper discusses mentor and student selection, role of the mentor, evaluation and monitoring of…

This study of mathematics and science attitudes of 117 African-American gifted middle grade students found significant gender differences in attitude toward success in mathematics and perceptions of mathematics as a male domain. No significant grade differences or interactions were found in any of the variables. (Author/JDD)

Eighty-five elementary and secondary teachers completed a questionnaire about the characteristics of gifted students. The perceptual differences identified were related to grade level taught and whether teachers had taken courses or workshops on gifted education. The paper concludes that teachers of the gifted need more grade-specific course work…

Five potential complications of being gifted include: a sophisticated ability to evaluate one's own performance; a tendency to search for ordered complexity; the possible presence of specific learning difficulties; incompatibility of intellectual and emotional developmental levels; and a relative lack of experience of failure. (DB)

This article identifies problems commonly attributed to acceleration for gifted students. Specific student concerns (such as friendships) and administrative concerns (such as difficulties in awarding course credits) are addressed. Five suggestions are made to help districts plan for providing accelerative options. (DB)

This article looks at decision factors in early admission or grade advancement for young gifted children. Specific criteria are offered for determining the appropriateness of both early admission and grade advancement. Special training for teachers and parents of gifted children is encouraged. (DB)

This article examines issues of student and program evaluation in determining the appropriateness of acceleration of gifted students. Intellective and nonintellective factors in identifying students for acceleration are discussed as are factors in monitoring student success. Specific program evaluation questions and design issues are also…

Comparison of the mental rotation skill of mathematically talented male (n=152) and female (n=143) high school juniors under both timed and extended time conditions showed higher performance by males under both conditions, but the male advantage decreased substantially when the effect of time was minimized. (Author/DB)

Businesses can utilize the concepts of multidimensionality and multipotentiality of gifted and talented young people in apprenticeship and vocational training programs. By considering dimensions of self-concept, abilities, work preferences, and personality, and by matching these with business trends and future needs, increased productivity can be…

Results of a nationwide survey of state definitions of giftedness are presented and compared with several federal definitions as well as with state definitions five years earlier (1985). Results indicated that most states use some modification of one of the federal definitions. (DB)