Because of these learners' potential as future leaders, it is imperative that educators develop gifted students' ability to identify and solve complex social justice problems. Nourishing students' affective traits, including empathy for others, understanding of themselves, and the ability to connect to others in local and global society, will help…

Does gifted education affect societal inequality, and does societal inequality suppress and/or distort the development of high ability? Drawing from several academic disciplines and current political discourse, a differentiated use of terms used to describe the highly able is explored in this article. A social evolutionary framework is proposed as…

Considering the benefits that accrue in countries having low levels of social inequality and the harm that accompanies wide disparities in income, it is important to examine any practices or traditions that contribute to inequality. Under some circumstances, gifted education does confer advantages that are not available to all students,…

This article provides further evidence of the often observed sensitive nature displayed by children who are gifted. It also addresses the positive and negative effects that this sensitivity can have on these individuals. Earlier, the authors explored this concept through an analysis of the works and life experiences of Geoffrey, aged 9, a prolific…

This article reviews seven different theories of giftedness that include creativity as a component, comparing and contrasting how each one conceptualizes creativity as a part of giftedness. The functions of creativity vary across the models, suggesting that while the field of gifted education often cites the importance of creativity, the…

The development of aesthetic sensitivity in creative students is discussed, and sample techniques are described. The importance of valuing the individuality and uniqueness of the artistically creative and aesthetically sensitive child is stressed. (CL)

Literature on qualifications for teachers of gifted and talented students is reviewed; and "andragogy", an approach to helping mature students learn, is described in terms of its implications for four basic characteristics of gifted students. (CL)

College practices such as acceleration, grouping, and enrichment are discussed regarding their effect on gifted students. Also considered are opening classes to high school students, conducting recruitment and remedial programs for minority students, and offering cross disciplinary courses and majors. (CL)

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,…

The importance of arts education for gifted students is discussed, and the terms creative, aesthetic, and artistic are defined. Four suggestions for encouraging artistic talent, including establishing a resource file of master artists and arts institutions, are presented. (CL)

This article describes cooperative-learning models, discusses adaptation of cooperative learning for gifted students, and outlines an appropriate curriculum for gifted students. The paper concludes that activities that allow gifted students to share knowledge and improve interaction skills are appropriate for heterogeneous groups, whereas…

A survey of 173 advocates of cooperative learning and 141 gifted education teachers revealed a wide chasm between the 2 groups on the issue of heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping for cooperative learning. Many educators linked cooperative learning with the antitracking movement. Both groups supported having more staff development and…

This article describes a teaching model, Process-Based Instruction (PBI), that is applicable to mainstream classrooms containing students with diverse abilities. PBI enables teachers to individualize instruction by involving all students in the development of plans for curriculum and learning activities. With PBI, gifted students work at their own…