This manual is designed to help local school district personnel evaluate programs for gifted pupils. It is not intended to replace evaluation which relies on strict statistical analysis. It can, however, supplement the results of such evaluation or, in the absence of such evaluation, provide a picture of the coherence and consistency of the…

This pamphlet is designed to help parents lobby for state-level funding of gifted programs. Suggestions for making telephone calls and writing letters to representatives and senators are offered along with sample scripts for a telephone call and a letter. A description of the 15-step legislative process for gifted education bills in Illinois is…

To provide direction to school systems and individual schools as they plan, develop, and implement new programs, this guide sets forth criteria for curricula geared toward gifted and talented students. The criteria are also intended as a tool for schools to use in assessing and improving their current offerings for students. An introduction…

A Think Box is a collection of independent activities based on one theme and housed in an easily transportable container. It is intended to be used as enrichment for students who have already completed their assigned work. The activities are designed to develop higher level skills such as critical thinking or creative reading. They can be part of…

Overviews of two biology units for junior and senior high school gifted and talented students are presented. The Durham North Carolina City School units are entitled, "The Identification, Collection, and Control of the Japanese Beetle through the Growth of Roses and Lawn Care" and "Treasure along the Nantahala River." The first, an entomology unit…

This study investigated the extent to which school experience affects the perceptions and practices of teachers of gifted/talented children. A group of teachers with experience of school programs for gifted/talented children was compared with a group that had not been involved in any special programs. The experienced group showed greater…

This set of newsletters presents a developmental perspective on gifted students from preschoolers to adolescents. Included are such regular columns as "The Hidden Gifted Learner,""Parenting the Gifted,""Instructional Strategies,""Creative Ventures and Encounters,""The Reading Room" (a book review column), "Personality Plus,""Adolescent…

This review addresses the characteristics and needs of gifted learning disabled (GLD) and gifted underachieving (GUA) students and provides educational strategies for both groups. A section on the GUA describes these students' unique personal, social, and family characteristics and notes that underachievement is more prevalent among boys than…

An overview is presented of current issues in the assessment of gifted and talented persons, with an emphasis on generalizable and universal talents and the operational methods used in their identification. The Chinese were seeking out talented individuals through formal identification procedures as early as 2200 BC. In the Western world, the use…

The document reports findings of a 1988-89 survey of all school districts in New Jersey to determine the status of gifted education. Major findings included the following: a total of 122,626 New Jersey students were identified and served during the 1988-89 school year; a larger percentage (11.3%) of the total school population was served than in…

This study of 145 middle class first grade students investigated whether a relationship exists between early acquisition of Piagetian conservation tasks and gifted performance on a mental abilities test. Students were evaluated individually on tasks involving the conservation of number, of liquid quantity, and of mass. A moderate correlation was…

This digest offers guidelines in providing challenging reading opportunities for gifted students. Research findings concerning the characteristics of the gifted child as reader (e.g., they read earlier, better and more) are noted. Specific needs of gifted learners can be met by: using literature as a supplement to the readings in basal texts;…

The volume describes 26 innovative and exemplary projects, programs, and activities designed for limited English speaking students, students with handicaps, and students with special gifts and talents in grades K through 6. The projects have been implemented with personnel from former projects that were phased out in 1981. Information on the 26…