Discusses the use of competitions to motivate scientifically gifted students to further develop their abilities. Before scheduling a competition, teachers are urged to consider the type of project, ability to work at home or at school, curriculum fit, and individual pace and style. Seven science competitions are profiled. (CR)

The nature of giftedness, talent, and creativity is examined, and implications for teaching are given. Problems with using IQ as a precondition for identification are considered, especially for creative individuals. Typical obstacles to creative thinking are outlined, including classroom atmospheres that do not welcome new ideas. The importance of…

Reviews this book, a critique of the values that underlie much current educational practice and that give rise to our traditional conceptions of excellence in higher education. (LHW)

This article reviews the historical development of female participation in sports, then identifies the unique issues associated with women's struggles for athletic acceptance and competitive excellence. Topics discussed include talent recognition and development, sex roles and socialization, physiology and maturation, coaching the female athlete,…

This paper calls for reconsideration of gifted education practices to expand acceptable definitions of "success" and allow students additional avenues to demonstrate their abilities. Suggestions for cultivating emotional talents in students including self-reflection, philosophy and its applications, and global perspectives on current events are…

Compares and contrasts the early years of the great polymath Henri Poincare (1854-1912) and the icon of 20th-century science, Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Similarities and dissimilarities are discussed in how both men related to their educational systems, and lessons are drawn for identification and support of gifted children. (CR)

Who are the people who become positive educational leaders? This essay presents WICS as a model of positive educational leadership. WICS stands for "w"isdom, "i"ntelligence, "c"reativity, "s"ynthesized. Each of these elements is asserted to constitute one of the elements of educational leadership. Regrettably, our society is organized around a…

For the gifted mathematics student, early mastery of concepts and skills in the mathematics curriculum usually results in getting more of the same work and/or moving through the curriculum at a faster pace. Testing, grades, and pacing overshadow the essential role of creativity involved in doing mathematics. Talent development requires creative…

The article reviews the literature on two questions: what is the normal course of creative development, and do peak periods exist during which people are most open to efforts to foster creative abilities. Six specific periods are identified as peak periods of creative growth. (DB)

This article explores the inner and outer forces that energized the lives of Charlotte Bronte and Virginia Woolf and influenced their talent development. Similarities in their lives, including adversity, autodidactism, practice of the writing craft, search for a mother figure, influence of place, loneliness, emotional support, and a philosophy of…

This paper combines Gardner's multiple intelligences theory with Bloom's conception of talent to provide a foundation for the practice of fostering students' specific talents as a primary goal of gifted education. Individualized personal and skills-based growth plans are seen as a medium for career-oriented education based on students' identified…

This article provides examples of ways to implement an arts program consistent with a model of talent development for diverse groups of students. The process-oriented approach emphasizes role modeling and the necessity for teachers who can function as artists themselves. Tips for class structure, curriculum, and scheduling are also provided. (PB)

Discusses the importance of mentoring programs for children, particularly for especially creative gifted children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It describes characteristics for a successful mentor relationship and ways mentors can help in the expression and development of positive creativity in children. (CR)

Various perspectives on scientific giftedness are analyzed that lead to a framework for understanding it. It is suggested that authentic scientific creativity is a meshing of artistic and scientific abilities. Implications for gifted educators include the provision for artistic activities as a contributory factor in successful gifted science…

This article presents eight passages from Rousseau's "Social Contract," followed by comments clarifying the pivotal concepts in this important and influential work and sketching typical responses to Rousseau as they have occurred in classrooms for gifted students. Strategies for integrating Rousseau's philosophy into the curriculum are…