Using assessment data to determine student growth has become an integral part of the accountability movement, and researchers and educators are currently examining how new rules impact the academic assessment of gifted learners. In 2008, the Association for the Gifted's Annual Symposium at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention…

Women are making progress in many areas of science, but a gender gap still remains, especially in physics, computer science, and engineering, and at advanced levels of academic and career achievement. Today's teachers can help narrow this gap by instilling a love for science in their female students and by helping them to understand and develop…

This article presents the author's experiences during a 5-day tour at Reggio Emilia, Italy, that is well known for the phrase, "the hundred languages of children" (Edwards, Gandini, & Forman, 1993). The author saw the infinite ways that children expressed their ideas in each Reggio school being visited. The author found three means by which Reggio…

This paper presents two separate and contrasting "opinion pieces" on the subject of multiple intelligence. Over the past few years, James Delisle has become more and more bold in his attacks on Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) and Joseph Renzulli's Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM). He has made numerous presentations at state…

Discussion of the use of creative dramatics with gifted students considers the value of creative dramatics; components of creative dramatics (structure, open-endedness, a safe environment, and feedback); the actor's elements (voice, body, character or imagination, and group work). Specific exercises to develop the actor's elements are described.…

Discussion of the need to include affective components in the education of gifted students considers: development of interpersonal and emotional intelligence, the need for an affective curriculum component, the role of the teacher to address the social and emotional needs of gifted students, and inclusion of affective learning in multidisciplinary…

Discusses the types of problems faced by talented adolescents, including family and peer relations, biological and developmental issues, negative and harmful school culture, drug and alcohol abuse, inappropriate academic curriculum, underachievement, perfectionism, and stress. Strategies teachers can use to meet the socio-emotional needs of gifted…

Seven suggestions for meeting the social/emotional needs of gifted students include encourage controlled risk taking; provide myriad social experiences; inventory family similarities and differences; encourage biography reading; provide mentorship opportunities; love and respect students as individuals; and encourage a self-concept that extends…

Describes the physical education curriculum for gifted students at the Center for Creative Learning (Missouri). Emphasis is on integration of "body and brain" learning activities in an interdisciplinary thematic format. Examples of the authentic skills emphasized in the kinesthetic curriculum are offered as are ideas for coordination across…

A teacher of an advanced placement English class of over-stressed, over-busy, and rebellious gifted seniors describes how she used Kafka's "Metamorphosis" to help them adjust to this transitional period in their lives while keeping all reading and assignments within the class period. (DB)

This article discusses the need for competitions and contests in schools to develop and enhance talents in academics, fine and performing arts, leadership, and service learning. An academic contest school assessment checklist is included. Information on several national contests for children and youth is presented. (CR)

This article describes common student traits found from analysis of self-reported experiences of six radically accelerated gifted youths. It concludes that intellectual ability far above the average and student eagerness to accelerate are prerequisites for successful radical acceleration. Descriptions by two students of their accelerated programs…

This article favors providing both gifted and advanced placement programs for students. Three components of a unique gifted program are identified: (1) interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary courses; (2) character development; and (3) independent study. Advanced placement program objectives can be added to gifted programs but should not replace…

This article offers an abbreviated curriculum to help middle school students learn to use humorous strategies to cope with stress. An introductory discussion reviews the literature on coping and the benefits of humor. Outlined for the curriculum are student goals, unit concepts and generalizations, differentiated learner objectives, differentiated…

This article describes three very different family environments that nurtured highly gifted children: the Brontes, George Washington Carver, and a group of contemporary siblings in Wales. All cases illustrate the importance of early stimulating environments, including the dynamic interaction of children with nurturing adults, development of the…