This article focuses on the enchantment of the Harry Potter series in the development of gifted imagination, self-concept, and worldview in light of Bruno Bettelheim's work, "The Uses of Enchantment." As the processes are discussed, suggestions to guide parents and teachers in facilitating them are included. (Contains references.)…

Teaching the geography of the United States to gifted elementary-level children in a way that challenges preconceived ideas about people and places is the focus of this article. Detailed student instruction is described, including thinking and writing activities that enable students to compare preconceived notions and reality. (CR)

This article considers ways to keep a gifted student interested while teaching basic skills to others in an inclusive classroom setting. The challenges that an inclusive environment presents to the teacher are described. Strategies recommended to provide gifted students with a differentiated curriculum include curriculum compacting, independent…

The development of programming for the gifted in Lincolnshire (England) is traced. A collaborative approach to teaching the gifted is discussed, and current objectives of the Gifted and Able Pupils Support Service are listed. Organizational strategies to enhance services to the gifted are described. (CR)

The psychological autopsy and its use in studying the suicides of three adolescents at a school for gifted students are described in this article. Positive and negative effects of autopsy interviews are discussed, as is the importance of confidentiality. A sample interview protocol is provided for psychological autopsy researchers. (Author/PB)

The nonpathological personality characteristics of 44 high IQ/high achieving high school students were assessed using the Personal Styles Inventory (PSI) and the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF). Results found that basic personality characteristics of the students did not differ remarkably from typical students and that the PSI…

The 30-year history of the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education is reviewed. The article describes the partnership between the Council for Exceptional Children and ERIC, the broadened scope of ERIC in the 1980s, the Special Project to disseminate research funded by the Office of Special…

Explores special issues in counseling highly gifted students, including feelings of isolation, fear and guilt for being different, irritation with the pace of school, and other concerns. Offers guidelines for introducing such children to the subculture of intellectual achievement and how they can be effective self-advocates within the educational…

This essay proposes a model for providing alternative instruction to gifted learners, emphasizing development of independent, creative, abstract, complex, and transformational thinking skills. Essential commonalities and differences between good instruction in general and good instruction for the gifted are discussed, as are the model's…

Describes a range of summer programs for gifted or artistically talented students. Resources and guidelines for evaluating, selecting, and applying to such programs are discussed, as are safety concerns. The Pennsylvania Governor's school is also described in brief. (PB)

Examines the symptoms of self-reported internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety) of mid-elementary-age gifted students as compared to a control sample of non-gifted students. Results show that gifted students reported significantly fewer internalizing symptoms than did the comparison group. Findings are contrasted with previous…

Suggests the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) as an alternative secondary program for gifted youth. After tracing the history of the IB program, comparing the IB program to other programs, and outlining the curriculum and requirements, the article shows how the IB meets the needs of gifted students. (Author/CR)

Less than half the nation's gifted students are placed in appropriate educational settings. The Javits Gifted and Talented Students Act acknowledges the need for special programs for these children, but doesn't mandate their creation. The legal status of programs for the gifted contrasts sharply with those for children in special education. This…

This article describes Young Graduates, a program designed to enable academically gifted pupils get the best from their formal education and secure the best place available in higher education to support their career aspirations. The program provides intensive Saturday workshops followed by ongoing networking activities and contact with the…

In this article, parents of gifted children describe the issues that matter most to them. Parents want professional co-advocates to help them be heard; regular, clear, and open communication to promote understanding; and administrative help navigating the school system so that expressed need will be translated into identifiable improvements.…