A multicultural curriculum affirms and includes all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, language, religion, physical ability, or mental ability. The goal is to reduce prejudice and bias by discussing these issues. The Bloom/Banks curriculum framework was developed as a model for creating multicultural gifted…

Following on the heels of charter schools, virtual high schools have gradually become more common. Typically, they are technology-driven magnet schools with competitive admission. Many are free and actively recruit traditionally underserved students. Parents of highly gifted children often cobble together academic solutions--a college class here,…

With the evolution of technology, students can now take online classes that may not be offered in their home schools. While online courses are commonly found in many high schools, WebQuests are used more commonly in elementary schools. Through the exploration of WebQuests, students are able to integrate the Internet into classroom activities. The…

"Fast Track" is a pseudonym for an accelerated, advanced language arts program for verbally gifted and high potential students in grades 6-8. The critical thinking model used for "Fast Track" was gleaned from Coalition of Essential Schools founder Ted Sizer's Habits of Mind: significance, evidence, connections, perspective, and supposition, as…

"Hard Science" is designed to teach 1st grade gifted students accurate and high level science concepts. It is based upon their experience of the world and attempts to build a foundation for continued love and enjoyment of science. "Hard Science" provides field experiences and opportunities for hands-on discovery working beside experts in the field…

Discussion of the "gifted" label notes continuing social prejudice against academic talent and the concept of "demonstrability" applied to special talents. It concludes that the problem occurs when the label is not applied as an adjective to describe demonstrated productivity, past or present, but as a noun, as if it is a global static feature of…

Discussion of the label "gifted" notes negative connotations in society in general and among educators, recent definitions of "gifted," and the contrast of these attitudes with the admiration given star athletes or performing artists. It concludes that the field of gifted education needs to provide convincing, research-based information and…

Gifted students tend to be drawn to summer gifted programs because of their high level of motivation and their drive to experience an academic challenge (Olszewski-Kubilius & Lee, 2004). Concurrently, academic summer programs yield numerous social-emotional, educational, and family benefits for gifted young people. One of the most beneficial…

Distance learning has been around for a long time and can be defined as any situation in which the teacher and the student are separated by geographical space. Over the years, a variety of tools have been used to bridge that distance between teacher and students, but today, the term "distance learning" almost always implies the use of the Internet…

The parent of an extremely intelligent child discusses what it is like to live with a child who exhibits a different web of cognition, perception, intuition, and mental processing; the necessity of educational acceleration for learning to achieve and develop self-esteem; and the importance of challenging material in learning the satisfaction of…

More than eight years ago, the Internet was a new frontier with a limited number of visitors. Websites on gifted topics were few and far between. With a new interest in the world of gifted children, the author needed more, and it seemed that others did, too. So, to serve her own needs, she created "Hoagies' Gifted Education Page." During this…

Many gifted children and teens live with the same sorts of family factors that place the general population at risk. These include chronic illness, substance abuse, significant academic underachievement of parents/guardians, low socioeconomic status, teen pregnancy, and teen parenthood. Another predictor of risk for gifted kids may be the…

This article describes a literature-based unit on mythology taught to 85 gifted middle school students. It identifies project objectives, gives examples of the grouping of myths according to broad themes, and provides more detail about one of the themes, assessment activities, and long-term effects of the project. (Contains six references.) (DB)

This article discusses the importance of advocacy for gifted education programs, identifies some basic truths in gifted education (such as the reality of giftedness and the demands it makes on children and parents), considers some controversial issues (such as the notion that "all children are gifted"), and examines current threats to funding of…

The Region IV Education Service Center (ESC) in Texas has been delivering G/T professional development for almost two decades, and it has a great plan. Texas is one of 27 states that mandate full or partial gifted education. Accountability is provided through standards for professional development, which are outlined in the Texas State Plan for…