Survey responses of 33 gifted coordinators in Minnesota school districts indicated that gifted education is not firmly entrenched at the kindergarten level. Few children are involved, classroom teachers attempt to instruct subpopulation with little differentiation made from the regular curriculum, and parent and community resources are not used to…

An example of the use of the cluster approach in a reading/language arts program for gifted first-graders (in a classroom with peers of varying ability) illustrates how this approach allows gifted students to work with others who have similar abilities and provides time-saving opportunities for teachers and modeling opportunities for non-gifted…

The third-grade classroom teacher can identify mathematically gifted students and can provide them with opportunities for extending their understanding and enjoyment of mathematics through use of such techniques as content sophistication, enrichment, peer tutoring, curriculum compacting, puzzles, and math centers. (Author/JDD)

Three gifted students (ages 7 to 8 years) with reading problems experienced more difficulty than their peers in science. Incorporating the science inquiry approach into their reading program helped them realize that reading was not a separate activity and improved their reading skills. (Author JDD)

The article describes why the Enrichment Triad Model needs to be adapted for a preschool/primary setting and provides suggestions on how to do this. A real-life example of a five-year-old who successfully completed a Type III project is presented. (Author)

A learning styles inventory listing 27 different classroom tasks in nine categories (including projects, acting, drill, and peer teaching) was administered to primary and intermediate students. Ss designated by their teachers as gifted indicated definite preferences different from nongifted students. (CL)

Children who are reading well as they enter first grade usually have extensive vocabularies and good retention. Teachers should assess the students' various levels of reading ability (word recognition and comprehension) to plan a program with differentiated methods. (CL)

Reading for primary level gifted children should provide for more appropriate experiences than by mere adaptations of the regular reading program. Early identification should be followed by small group instruction in which gifted students are encouraged to read widely, creatively, and critically. (CL)

The article examines a language arts course for gifted six- and seven-year-old children. After exploring some characteristics of giftedness, the author discusses the course, which incorporates reading, literary awareness, and creative writing. (PHR)

Activities for the development of creative and critical reading skills for gifted primary students are outlined. Among the suggestions are dramatization of a story and discussion of the connotative meaning of words. (PHR)

The article describes the development of creative writing ability in the three- to seven-year-old gifted child. Examples of the writing of this age group are used to illustrate the stages in the development of writing ability. (PHR)

Describes an integrated-thematic curriculum for gifted students in the context of assumptions about learning and characteristics of gifted learners. Specific strategies and steps in curriculum development are explained and applied to a year-long focus on the theme of "evidence" in a multiaged primary classroom with curriculum units on dinosaurs,…

This article analyzes why schools fail to provide for early admission of intellectually advanced children. Reasons cited include misinterpretation of research findings, bias of school personnel, expense of screening, convenience of administering a uniform entrance age procedure, etc. Benefits accruing from early admission are discussed. (JDD)

This article examines findings from a project to create and implement a model to assess exceptional potential in primary-level students. The article discusses the project's impact on the first cohort of 33 classroom teachers' attitudes and behaviors toward the identification of and programming for young minority and/or economically disadvantaged…

The mother of an exceptionally gifted six-year-old boy describes her frustrating experiences attempting to obtain appropriate education for her son. Minnesota's failure to commit resources to support gifted students is criticized, and the boy's problems with self-esteem, a different learning style, and distractibility are examined. (JDD)