Fifty junior high school students were compared on achievement subtests requiring either analytic/convergent or holistic/divergent cognitive processing. Underachievers performed as well as achievers on tasks requiring holistic processing but did not perform as well on detailed or computational tasks requiring precision, attention to detail, and/or…

The article evaluates student science projects encouraged by a South African Science Exposition using the criteria of secondary science educator, J.R. Campbell, and the task descriptors of the educator of the gifted, J.S. Renzulli. It is concluded the preparation of such projects meets the educational standards cited. (DB)

Twelve students (ages 13-18) who attended a Purdue University (Indiana) summer residential program for gifted students for at least 3 years were interviewed, along with their parents, concerning their views on the programs. Students appreciated the challenging coursework, teacher quality, living on a university campus, making friends, and gaining…

Surveyed schools to determine the relationships between honors and advanced placement (AP) science courses. Concludes that, once AP classes are established, honors classes typically undergo a period of redefinition and are either eliminated or assume subservient roles. (Contains 21 references.) (MDH)

Asserts that science instruction should have students behaving as real scientists. Discusses benefits of high school science research programs for precocious youths. (PR)

Demands for a differentiated curriculum for gifted students raise implementation and evaluation issues. One approach is to change both content and learned thinking strategies. There are four methods of content differentiation: acceleration, enrichment, sophistication, and novelty. To determine a program's effectiveness, there must be evidence of…

Many colleges have summer academic programs for high school students; some design special courses, while others admit the students to regular college courses. Some target gifted students. While participation in the programs, which are easy to get into, does not assure later entry to the institution, many parents have that expectation. The programs…

Presents a lesson plan that uses a constructivist approach for developing and challenging students' different thinking strengths. In the context of musical and bodily-kinesthetic thinking, elementary school students interpret the sounds and movements the dinosaurs made as they negotiated their primitive environments. (CR)

Traces the rationale for the development of unique talents to William James (1902) and suggests a relationship between this process and the maturity of one's ethos. Curricular opportunities to stimulate gifted students to use their creativity productively to make their world a better place are discussed. (Author/CR)

Reviews how educational reforms and changes in political viewpoints have influenced gifted education in Britain, ways in which the National Curriculum support the educational experiences of all children, and teachers' perceptions of the role of the National Curriculum in both identifying and providing for gifted students. (CR)

As part of a national study, measures of intrinsic motivation, perceived competence, and academic achievement were administered to 949 academically gifted second and third graders at the beginning and end of the school year. Structural equation modeling indicated that intrinsic motivation influenced perceived competence and that perceived…

Examines the reflexive self, defined as the ability to reflect and consider who one is in relation to others, with examples from the experiences of gifted children and adolescents. Concepts of self-efficacy, self-image, self-concept, self-esteem, self-deception, and self-discrepancy are explored. (DB)

Describes the characteristics of gifted students with learning disabilities and discusses how teachers can rethink the classroom environment and provide enrichment, structure, and remediation to address the needs of these twice exceptional learners. The need for collaboration among professionals with varied expertise is emphasized. (Author/CR)

Examines the role of theory in gifted education and argues that the most important educational value should be child-centeredness, with theories serving as ways to understand the gifted child's perspective. However, many theories are seen as focusing overly much on achievement to the detriment of the child's inner life and emotional well-being.…

This study investigated influences on achievement motivation with nine rural, black, female high-school honor graduates. Participants reported and exhibited adaptive-achievement-motivation patterns that were mastery-oriented. Being black was a significant factor that was manifested though the goal of disproving incompetence and peer support that…