Designed for use with gifted students in grades 6 through 8, the unit deals with suggestions for developing creativity through writing poetry. It is explained that the focus is on helping students recognize their own creativity before teaching poetry skills. Information on objectives, materials, and presentation methods is presented for the…

Independent study for gifted and talented middle-level students progresses through five stages, from the affective sensing of a problem to be solved through assessing both product and process. J. Renzulli's Enrichment Triad model can serve as a framework for independent study, which must be carefully structured and guided. (CL)

The responses of gifted (N=65) and nongifted (N=65) fifth- through eighth-graders to a questionnaire indicated that the groups differed significantly in terms of television viewing habits, family rules about television viewing, reading grades, television heroes, and out-of-school activities, suggesting the importance of family influence on viewing…

Analysis of scores of 391 gifted students (grades 6-8) on the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale found females expressed more concern than males about organization, while males reported stronger parental expectations. First born children reported higher parental criticism and expectations than youngest children. Females' concerns about making…

Describes how gifted middle school students have turned the tragedy of a college student's death into a positive opportunity to advocate for victim's rights and to help provide funding for educational programs on personal safety and violence prevention. The activities of the class and the benefits to students are described. (CR)

Middle schools are uniquely able to help early adolescents develop healthy, positive identities. Youngsters should expect to achieve school success and recognition. To develop and recognize individual expertise, schools must expand areas expertise is recognized, valued, and developed; become aware of students' interests and goals; create a…

Middle-level educators can meet all students' needs by grouping students for appropriate instruction, rotating teachers, encouraging student-centered teaching, setting high academic expectations, developing advisory programs and activity groups, and scheduling heterogeneous classes where appropriate. Educators should not sacrifice balance and…

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…

The Paula Program in music for gifted girls in middle schools, developed by St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, is described. How the program was designed is discussed and activities and materials selected for classroom use are briefly described. (RM)

The Students Teaching Students cooperative learning method for gifted middle school students has four components: research, team work, presentation, and evaluation. During the presentation phase, students are required to incorporate three basic learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) and be sensitive to their audience's response.…

A Western Kentucky University Javits project focuses on ways to extend educational opportunities for gifted middle school students, through the involvement of teachers, teacher educators, and parents. Teachers' views of talents were broadened via staff development and involvement with gifted students in summer experiences, and curriculum…

Presents a lesson plan for teaching abstract science concepts to gifted middle school students. The lesson integrates a physical education component into science instruction to reinforce the abstract notion that electrons emit energy in the form of visible light. (CR)

This article explores similarities in the educational philosophies and goals of middle education and gifted education, notes the concerns raised by educators of the gifted, and describes various service delivery options for gifted students within the middle school format including pullout variations, advanced classes, cluster grouping, mentor…

Results of this study of 30 middle school students with learning disabilities indicated that, despite a positive attitude toward mathematics, subjects differed from average-achieving and gifted students in general mathematical achievement and problem-solving ability. Mathematical problem solving was related to ability to represent problems and…

Discusses the different learning styles of gifted middle-school males and females in single-sex algebra classes. Discusses the barriers faced by girls in mathematics courses and the benefits of providing girls with opportunities to think and problem solve in an environment less permeated with societal expectations of femininity. (CR)