After 30 years in the field of gifted education, and, more specifically, 30 years of studying the psychology of gifted students, author Tracy Cross has come to believe that the single greatest threat to the psychological well-being of gifted students is the mismatch between the school's curriculum and the student's needs. Cross argues in…

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…

The purpose of this article is to provide a rationale for using iPad technology with young students. Various inexpensive apps are described that parents and educators will find useful. (Contains 9 figures.)

In this column, the author uses the analogy of baseball to describe the lives of gifted children as a vehicle to think about similarities and differences. The author states that he has experienced how educators often gloss over the powerful and all-inclusive living conditions of high-ability students from financially impoverished backgrounds. In…

In this article, the author takes a critical look at what counts as literacy for preadolescent and adolescent talented boys. Arguably, there exists a population of boys who demonstrate strong verbal abilities, as measured by standardized verbal assessments and classroom performance, yet indicate a lack of enthusiasm when encountering print-based…

A "flash mob" is defined by Wikipedia as "a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse." Fueled by social media and Smartphones, flash mobs have been used, primarily, as entertaining diversions by addicted techies with (apparently) tons of time on their hands.…

The author's introductory course, "Nature and Needs of the Gifted," was unusual in the Fall semester this year because for the first time in a long time, most of her students had no background at all in gifted education. Teachers in her class were highly motivated and wanted to learn. They seemed to care about meeting the needs of the gifted, but…

This article presents an interview with Rena Subotnik. Dr. Subotnik brings a unique and wonderful perspective to the field of gifted education: as a gifted student, classroom teacher, writer, professor, consultant, and internationally known researcher. She has inspired thousands of people through her teaching and writing, and through her guidance…

In this article, the authors share their experiences and reflections on their trip to Saudi Arabia as participants of a 3-day workshop on giftedness sponsored by King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba). Delisle states that the trip to Saudi Arabia made him realize the importance of firsthand knowledge…

It is believed by many that unsophisticated notions of elitism are the bane of the field of gifted education. Some claims of elitism are based on an interpretation of the founding of their country as inherently egalitarian. Educational opportunities that are tailored to student abilities are determined to be inherently elitist and therefore…

This article presents an interview with Barry Shauck, currently head of art education and professor at Boston University and the incoming president of the National Art Education Association. In this interview, Shauck discusses the identification process, curriculum, instruction, and programs designed for the gifted. Shauck also relates how he…

Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska is the Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Education at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She is the current president of the National Association for Gifted Children. Prior to coming to William & Mary, Dr. VanTassel-Baska founded and directed the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern…

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…

Using movies to guide gifted students toward self-understanding provides them with numerous benefits. Movies have the potential to enrich and influence the lives of gifted students in constructive ways. A good movie, for example, can become a meaningful metaphor that explains the essence of a young person's dilemma. When an appropriate movie is…

This article describes the components of a scholar identity and sets forth two propositions: (1) Black and Hispanic males are more likely to achieve academically when they have a scholar identity; and (2) Black and Hispanic males are more likely to be viewed as gifted if they achieve at higher levels. Both of these propositions have clear…