This chapter examines how adolescents' self-concept beliefs are powerfully influenced by frame of reference effects, which involve students comparisons of their ability levels with those of other students in the immediate context as well as assessments of their own ability and academic accomplishments. Noting that academic self-concept is…

The journey for children who are gifted and talented can be exciting and challenging. There are so many twists and turns, detours, and confusing signs that many parents feel they need some sort of road map to guide their children on this journey. Because each child is different, there is no one road map to follow. What this handbook can offer…

This proceedings from the annual conference of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education includes the following topics and authors: area measurement (C. B. Beattys, C. A. Maher); error patterns (H. C. Bebout); formative evaluation (J. C. Bergeron, N. Herscovics, N. Nantais); interactive…

Screening and identification for gifted services is frequently dependent on the students displaying certain typical behaviors associated with gifted learners as well as strong test taking skills. Children with backgrounds that differ from the mainstream are not well-represented in gifted programs because they never even get to, much less through,…

This study followed up gifted Finnish students who participated in Olympiad mathematics and scientific competitions during the years 1965-1997. Survey responses were received from 158 former Olympians (150 males, 8 females) and 169 of their parents. The responding Olympians had competed in mathematics (N=73), physics (N=50), and chemistry (N=35)…

The National School-to-Work Office in collaboration with the National Association for Gifted Children, the Council for Exceptional Children, the Association for the Gifted, and the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted have identified 11 gifted education/school-to-work (GT/STW) models that are either best practices or unique…

This collection of papers presents a historical account of how Latino students experience the U.S. school system from a Latino perspective. The 11 papers are: (1) "Contested Learning: Latino Education in the United States from the 1500s to the Present" (Guadalupe San Miguel, Jr.); (2) "Faces of the Future: Latino Children in Early Childhood…

Describes a six-week organic chemistry course developed for gifted elementary students. Includes discussion of course activities and syllabus of course experiments and demonstrations. An informal evaluation and exam results indicate that the course was successful. (JN)

Six public specialized schools for high ability (gifted and talented) students that provide the opportunity to develop a particular skill or intellectual bent are described. Special attention is focused on philosophical concerns, problems, and benefits of the specialized school, along with student identification and admission, curricula, and…

The academic and emotional needs of students who enter college early are discussed, based on studies done of students at Simon's Rock College. The concept of early college admission is defended on the grounds that some students are emotionally and academically ready for college after only two years of high school. (JSR)

Suggests ways to desegregate education programs for the gifted and to redress inequities in gifted education. The usefulness of contemporary definitions of giftedness, theories of intelligence, and assessment practices in identifying gifted students are discussed. Retaining African Americans in gifted programs is also considered. (SLD)

The Hunter Javits Collaborative Project to identify and support mathematics talent of urban students is described. Program components include weekly seminars for students with teacher mentors, a summer institute, teacher professional development, and parent involvement. Characteristics and outcomes for the 45 elementary and high school student…

Identified by a study of mathematically precocious youth, 107 academically accelerated gifted students were compared with 107 nonacademically accelerated gifted students. At age 23-25 years, the 2 subject groups exhibited few significant differences, and no evidence of harmful effects of academic acceleration were found. (SLD)

This study quantified possible changes in the classroom learning experiences of high- and low-ability pupils, which might accompany an organizational change from streamed to mixed-ability classes for science learning in secondary schools. Deteriorations in the quality of the classroom interactions of both high- and low-ability pupils were found.…

Jacksonville State University's Teaching/Learning Center is an on-campus tutoring program that works cooperatively with area schools to serve at-risk and gifted students. Preservice teachers provide one-on-one tutoring and receive hands-on teaching experience, practice with computers, experience working with parents and teachers; they fulfill…