This paper represents the first phase of a five-year study that will attempt to develop a culturally sensitive, comprehensive set of identification procedures to ensure that more gifted Deaf students are given opportunities to develop their potential. It discusses the overemphasis on language facility in the identification of giftedness and the…

Australian Aboriginal adults (n=74) and children (n=103) were interviewed regarding their perspectives on giftedness. Aboriginal culture was found to view giftedness as a consequence of individual ability, commitment, and environmental factors. Research is reported on the specific talents valued by the Aboriginal culture. Suggestions are given for…

This study examined use of Sternberg and Zhang's (1995) pentagonal implicit theory of giftedness by 189 preservice teachers in China. In making judgments about giftedness, study participants considered three of the models' five criteria: excellence, productivity, and value (but not rarity and demonstrability). Results are compared to similar…

A study investigated predictors of teachers' attitudes (Finland=147, Hong Kong=214, United States=160) toward gifted education. Attitudes depended on whether or not they believed that their school had gifted children, all children are gifted, gifted children should help others, parents have the major responsibility, and special classes best meet…

This article argues that issues in gifted education can be usefully categorized under three headings: definitions, ideologies, and hypotheses. Seven central issues are thus classified, including the gifted label; types of giftedness; individual versus societal perspectives on giftedness; giftedness in different ethnocultural backgrounds; origins…

In response to M. Kitano (EC 602 518), this article supports her pluralist orientation to gifted education of culturally diverse students and suggests that development of adequate identification procedures requires clarification of the gifted construct itself and examination of the relationship between socioeconomic status and being identified as…

Problems in identifying gifted students with cultural differences and language disadvantages are outlined, and vocabulary development of minority culture children is cited as one factor involved in failure to identify giftedness. Schools are encouraged to take aggressive measures in locating and identifying gifted disadvantaged students. (JDD)

This article describes a Spanish-speaking gifted child with limited English proficiency. The case study describes behaviors indicating giftedness, the importance of proper placement in school, home and cultural factors, identification of the culturally diverse student, and the development of a second language. (DB)

This article highlights problems inherent in traditional screening measures for giftedness and suggests the student portfolio as a promising alternative for the identification of gifted children, especially those from special populations. Examples of items to be included in portfolios include writing samples, journals, artwork, projects, class…

This article examines issues in multicultural education of culturally diverse gifted students noting two divergent philosophical frameworks (assimilationist and pluralist) and views on sources of ethnic student underachievement, the purpose of schooling, procedures for identification, instructional processes, and curriculum content. It supports a…

Project First Step serves potentially gifted student populations at 10 inner-city schools in southeast San Diego (California), in a community comprised of Latino, African-American, and Indo-Chinese families. The program's three components include student readiness, teacher training, and parent involvement. (JDD)

Suggests the ways in which teachers can structure their classrooms, provide a range of challenging activities, and develop their observational skills identify the intellectual strengths of their students, particularly through the use of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory as a framework for recognizing children's intellectual strengths.…

Two data collection activities focused on improvement in the identification of giftedness among Australian aboriginal children. Interviews with urban aboriginal community members were followed by a survey of aboriginal teachers in Queensland. Findings resulted in the modification of Frasier's model of identifying gifted minority and disadvantaged…

Gifted educators are being asked to do more and more with fewer and fewer resources. Among other responsibilities, there is a continued focus on equity and access to gifted programs for poor, minority, and culturally and/or linguistically diverse students. These are groups of students, among others, who have been historically excluded from gifted…

The American Indian Gifted and Talented Assessment Model has as its goal the appropriate, fair, and thorough assessment of gifted and talented Indian students. The model stresses the need to augment standardized instruments with measures that consider individual ability and needs. (CB)