The author describes key issues and uncommon concerns about the Common Core State Standards that fit within two categories: philosophical and pedagogical. Philosophically, Common Core State K-12 Standards should not be expected to be mastered at a specific grade level but based on developmental readiness. Pedagogically, Common Core State Standards…

The relationship between collaboration and gifted and talented students often is assumed to be an easy and successful learning experience. However, the transition from working alone to working with others necessitates an understanding of issues related to ability, sociability, and mobility. Collaboration has been identified as both an asset and a…

The concept of school choices has been historically referenced as options in educational philosophies, learning theories, curriculum designs, and program structures. Throughout time, "schools of choice" were defined by areas such as the Three Rs, the progressive movement of student-centered self-selected interest topics of study, classical…

This article focuses on the concept of diversity in educational decision making. It is noted that the differences that distinguish the needs, interests and abilities are identified by educators. It lists misconceptions resulting from not attending to within-group diversity, and states that a "loss of self" for individual members of…

Alternative routes to teacher preparation that have been advocated by reformers have ramifications for gifted education. Issues such as recruitment, assignment, support, and mentoring also have been discussed with regard to educating teachers of the gifted. The article illustrates how general and gifted education share common concerns and pathways…

As the current issues about the nature and quality of education are disseminated through the media, gifted students are privy to these issues and educators should be concerned about the intellectual and affective consequences they might have on this population of students. Teaching gifted students to become politically savvy enables them to…

The importance of putting theory into practice can be addressed and advocated to educators and gifted students through the presentation of a Continuum of Practice. Articulating the sequence and phases of practice can underscore how practice can take place; it also can change the perspective and meaning of practice.

Basically, the socialization process is the means by which newly identified gifted students are helped to recognize why they are members of the gifted culture and what they are going to experience as members of this cultural group. The introduction to the nature and scope of the gifted culture is a means of eradicating the misconceptions that…

Gifted students sometimes have been the recipients of a differentiated curriculum that is responsive to their needs, interests, and abilities without the concomitant understandings of the ramifications of learning that same curriculum. However, teaching gifted students the skills and content of a curriculum without helping them realize that the…

In this article, the author talks about the need to challenge the academic and personal consequences of teaching all students, and particularly gifted students, to believe that seeking the right answer is the only purpose of an education and the most significant means to achieve success at school. While educators continuously advocate for the need…

While the attention of the country is focused on the global and national war on terrorism, the war on academic terrorism is being waged in classrooms, infiltrating the gifted programs, and altering the outcomes derived for students participating in gifted programs. The war on academic terrorism is related to the broad areas of curriculum and…

It is not difficult in today's political climate to understand that good campaigning is redefining the common language of the times for your own political benefits. There are common threads that weave through political arguments. These common threads are the terms and phrases that take on different meaning for each candidate. They entice the…

The spill-over effect is intended to gather support for gifted education by illustrating where and when it can provide meaningfully and successfully for the education of students in other programs. Germane to the spill-over effect is the concept of reciprocity among educational programs or the means by which one program can share content and…

This article explores the teacher's role as an advocate for gifted education. It discusses applying the principles of learning to the process of advocacy, including using motivational strategies, scaffolding, and metacognitive skills to advocate. The importance of facilitating the transfer of knowledge is stressed and an advocacy checklist is…

This article discusses differentiating social studies curricula and instruction for gifted students. It explains the following variables of differentiation: open-ended structure, development and presentation of separate lessons rather than units, the teaching of universal social studies concepts, motivational segments, and use of appropriate…