Describes mentorship program offered to 32 eighth grade students enrolled in a gifted and talented program at a high school. Explains program's focus on careers and choice of mentors to work with students. Considers benefits of the program and possible changes in future program offerings. (NB)

Correlation of 82 academically gifted adolescents' personality scores with scores for identity exploration revealed that youth who were actively exploring (according to Erik Erikson's ego identity theory) exhibited the following psychological portrait: inner confusion, agitation, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, periodic spells of depression,…

This interview with Angela Goethals, a 14-year-old professional actress and academically gifted high school student, looks at her early acting experiences, her attitudes about acting, how she combines academic and acting responsibilities, and necessary sacrifices. (DB)

This study examined the precollege mathematics preparation of first-year college students (n-69) with very high mathematical aptitude. Despite most students' radical acceleration (as part of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth), achievement in coursework was high. Gender differences were found in degree of acceleration and choice of…

This article describes the accelerated college level curriculum at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, a residential school for academically or artistically talented eleventh and twelfth graders. The curriculum combines a required core curriculum with specialized focus areas. Student perceptions of the curriculum are also…

Fourteen male and 14 female gifted and 14 male and 14 female nongifted adolescents completed questionnaires about intimacy with the closest same-sex friend and attachment style. Results suggest that gifted adolescents may have a stronger instrumental orientation than others, something that does not give them an advantage in friendship in…

After participating in a 3-week individually paced precalculus or science course, 892 academically talented high school students were surveyed. Findings indicated that most students received credit or placement or both for their independent work. Placement/credit was related to Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, gender, type of school, and grade…

This study examined gender differences in course enrollment patterns, reasons for course choice, and enjoyment of course with 804 high school students attending a summer enrichment program for academically talented students. Gender and ethnic group differences were found in enrollment patterns, reasons (internal or external) for course choice, and…

Analysis by researchers of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) on Advanced Placement (AP) courses in California public high schools in the mid-1990s concluded that although high school AP programs offered talented youngsters the opportunity to stretch their mental horizons and preview the challenges of college-level coursework, the programs…

Findings of a follow-up study that examined the experiences of the 1987 and 1988 graduates of the Center for the Arts and Sciences (CAS) program in Saginaw, Michigan, are presented in this paper. A survey mailed to a total of 78 program graduates, 36 from 1987 and 42 from 1988, elicited 21 responses, the majority of whom were from white females.…

SUPERIOR STUDENTS IN RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE GIVEN PROGRAMED INSTRUCTION IN SELECTED SUBJECT AREAS TO DETERMINE IF A NONDIRECTIVE METHOD OF DIFFUSING AN INNOVATION, LIKE PROGRAMED INSTRUCTION, WAS APPROPRIATE FOR DISSEMINATION IN A RURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE EFFECTS OF THE COOPERATIVE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND HIGH…

Perceptions of experienced teachers (N=83) and junior and senior education majors (N=100) toward characteristics (athleticism, diligence, and academic brilliance) of hypothetical high school students indicated that both groups most highly rated (valued) athletic students, regardless of other attributes, and most lowly rated…

This paper discussed using vertical teaming as a way to organize multi-year curriculum planning for academically talented adolescents. Vertical teams include educators from different grade levels in a given discipline who work cooperatively to develop and implement a vertically aligned program aimed at helping students acquire the skills necessary…

Describes the origin and evolution of a course to meet the needs of gifted independent readers. (JL)

This action research study evaluated problem-based learning (PBL), traditional lecture, and a combination of PBL and lecture in an elective biochemistry course at a secondary school for gifted students. Lecture tended to wide content coverage, whereas understanding and retention was promoted by PBL. (Author/DB)