This discussion uses student cases and a review of the literature to advocate for the development of individual student talent as a philosophical basis for accommodating the social and emotional needs of gifted secondary students with learning disabilities. Descriptions of several educational innovations and reform efforts likely to enhance talent…

This article provides a consistent framework through which educators may better identify and serve gifted and talented students by revisiting the dynamics of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) in relation to student achievement. Delivery and structural and organizational components of SEM are discussed, along with research supporting the model.…

The identification of students who are gifted traditionally has been grounded in criteria with an emphasis on unitary measures of intellectual ability. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the performance of elementary school children in a Southeastern state identified as gifted using an assessment process based on MI theory, the Problem…

The evolution of several interrelated myths reflects a combination of misinterpretation of statistics, the commendable intention of ensuring that bias and prejudice do not play roles in the provision of services to underrepresented populations of gifted students, and misapplication of programming options for gifted students. Separately, these…

InnerSpark is a residential summer arts training program for high school students established by the California State Legislature (California Education Code sections 8950-8957) in order to make it possible for "artistically gifted and talented students, broadly representative of the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of the state, to receive…

In this digest identification and development of leadership skills in gifted and talented students are examined. Leadership is analyzed and its scope expanded from qualities of one who leads to a more complex view of how a person exerts influence. Conceptions of task-oriented versus relationship-oriented leaders are considered. Ways in which…

This article cites the work of prominent life cycle theorists and gives brief summaries of the lives of several famous women and their accomplishments. With emphasis on particular attributes common to the creative, gifted, and talented female, a tentative life cycle model is formulated. (JDD)

A popular allegorical defense of special programs for gifted students is updated. The allegory expores issues of differences among students and implications for instruction. (CL)

Analyzes critical research and promotional literature on J. Guilford's Structure-of-Intellect (SOI) model as it relates to the cognitive functioning of gifted students, and evaluates implications for identification and programing of gifted students. It is concluded that the promotional literature promises more than it has delivered and that major…

Performance of 46 gifted and talented students (7-12 years old) on the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised was compared. Concurrent validity between the two full-scale measures was indicated. Scores on the alternative cluster of Broad Reasoning provided more accurate appraisal of…

Mentorships are co-learning partnerships that link adolescents with community members in real-life experiences that can support gifted adolescents' emerging selves through ideal adult role models and social interaction. Mentorship programs have three goals (reality, relationship and responsibility) and five organizational components (screening,…

The "Identi-Form," a system that includes defensible identification and prescriptive programing for gifted students, utilizes a holistic, multidimensional approach which incorporates test performance and ancedotal data in a total assessment package for each child. Sample case studies illustrate the approach. (Author/CL)

The author describes the concept of developmental potential that addresses the personality correlates of high ability and suggests an alternative to the IQ test method of identifying individuals with high potential. (CL)

Eight principles in effective advocacy for gifted students are offered, including statements that the make-up of an advocacy group is more important than its size; successful advocacy is hard, time consuming, costly work; and well-planned and organized group efforts are far more effective than isolated efforts by individuals. (CL)