The article presents the sixth-year report of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth at John Hopkins University, which attempts to identify mathematical talent among junior high students in Maryland and develop that talent while fostering the students' acceleration through college. (DLS)

Describes how to identify gifted and talented children and develop programs for them. (DD)

The article describes development, testing, and use of a new instrument, Clark's Drawing Abilities Test, and its success in screening and/or identifying artistically gifted students. Significant correlations have been found between results from this test, the Children's Embedded Figures Test, and teachers' ratings of pupils. (Author/PB)

A critical analysis of 13 validation studies of the use of peer nomination forms to identify gifted students indicates methodological weaknesses. A four-step plan for research on the psychometric qualities of peer nomination forms is proposed. (Author/DB)

This study attempted to identify gifted child humorists among 1,204 children in grades 3-6. Final identification of 13 gifted child humorists was determined through application of such criteria as funniness, originality, and exemplary performance or product. The influence of intelligence, development, social factors, sex differences, family…

Describes a system of categories to subdivide the gifted and talented population into the following more homogeneous subgroups: mild, moderate, high, exceptional, and extreme. Based on the metric system, each of the five levels, including the minimum threshold, selects the top 10% of the previous level. (Author/CR)

While equality of eduation is an important value, the overriding quest for equity has jeopardized the pursuit of excellence in public schools. Without advanced or enriched programs, gifted students may fall short of their potential or lose interest in school. Since curricula have been "dumbed down" to help weaker students, gifted students perceive…

Robert Sternberg's WICS model for identifying gifted individuals broadens the standard conception of giftedness and makes many helpful suggestions on how to conceptualize and assess the relevant dimensions of giftedness. There is one area, however, where the authors would propose an alternate viewpoint. "In a sense, this essay is about how to…

Typical standardized achievement tests cannot provide accurate information about gifted students' abilities because they are not challenging enough for such students. Talent searches solve this problem through above-level testing--using tests designed for older students to raise the ceiling for younger, gifted students. Currently, talent search…

This paper contains a brief description of the founding and early years of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) from 1968 to the present. Several of the guiding principles behind SMPY are discussed. SMPY led to the formation of strong regional, state, and local centers that now blanket the United States with annual talent searches…

This paper examines issues in identifying visually gifted children, including artistic talent and its relationship to visual giftedness; the contexts in which visual giftedness represents a specific type of intelligence; the ability of classroom teachers to identify the visually gifted; resources that may help classroom teachers identify the…

The booklet contains a collection of separate short guidelines, checklists, and recommendations for parents and teachers of young gifted children and is divided into sections on characteristics/identification, parenting, and maximizing the child's potential. Titles of components include the following: "Characteristics of Advanced Abilities in…

This monograph reports on a study of six child prodigies whose talents are manifested in writing, music, and mathematics. The boys, aged 3.5-9 years, were observed in natural settings and while practicing their talent specialty, and interviews were conducted with the boys, their parents, and their teachers. The study concludes that prodigies focus…

The digest examines the range of traits that may be exhibited by intellectually gifted children. The characterisitcs are explained to be signals that a particular child might warrant closer observation and special educational attention. Characteristics are listed under three headings: general behavior (early reading, ability to detect and…

Program development in gifted and talented education is the focus of the digest. Elements of a successful program, including statements of support for differential education, staff orientation, and multiple appropriate screening and identification procedures are listed. Beginning steps for planning committees are noted. Identification approaches…