INTEGRATING Gifted Education into the Total School Curriculum

School Administrator, April, 1995 by Carolyn R. Cooper

Engage gifted and talented students in high-level independent study and help them become autonomous learners.

Stress inquiry, problem solving, investigation, report writing, and product development in homework and assignment activity.

Identify and nurture special talents in artistic, vocational, and intellectual realms.

Organize opportunities for gifted and talented students to work together and opportunities to work with students of different abilities.

Provide opportunities to work with tutors and mentors.

Provide personal and career counseling to help talented youth.

Help youth with special talents develop personal and career goals.

John F. Feldhusen

Want to Learn More?

Here are some selected resource centers and publications relating to gifted education that would be helpful to school administrators.

Resource Centers

* Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. 21218, 410-338-8427. Works with mathematically precocious students and operates the nation's oldest "talent search" program.

* ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education, Council for Exceptional Children, 1920 Association Drive, Reston, Va. 22091, 703-264-9474. Provides digests and research briefs on aspects of gifted education and other subjects.

* Gifted Education Policy Studies Program, University of North Carolina, Suite 300, NCNB Plaza, Chapel Hill, N.C., 27514, 919-962-7374. Publishes studies of policies governing identification of gifted students and services provided them.

* National Association for Gifted Children, 1155 15th St., N.W., Suite 1002, Washington, D.C. 20005, 202-785-4268. Runs a national conference and provides resources for educators and parents.

* National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, University of Connecticut, Box U-7, Storrs, Conn. 06269, 203-486-4041. Produces executive summaries and full-length studies on current issues related to educating bright and talented students.

Publications/Articles

* National excellence: A case for developing America talent, by P. Ross, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402-9328.

* "Admiministrators' attitudes toward gifted programs based on the enrichment triad/revolving door identification model," by Carolyn Cooper, doctoral dissertation available from Dissertation Abstracts International (University Microfilms No. 8410816).

* Schools for talent development: A practical plan for total school improvement by Joseph S. Renzulli, available from Creative Learning Press,

Mansfield Center, Conn., 06520, 203-429-8118.

* "Lies we live by: Misapplication of tests in identifying the gifted," Gifted Child Quarterly, (Vol. 26, p. 157), available from National Association for Gifted Children (see address above under Resource Centers).

* Gifted Child Today Magazine, P.O. Box 8813, Waco, Texas 76714, 800-998-2208. A bimonthly magazine that features practical non-technical articles by noted authors in the field.