Motivated dogmatism and the high ability student

This title looks at the dogmatism that limits the perspectives of professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders in gifted education. In a field where concepts and definitions surrounding high ability have been contested for many years, there is increasing interest in clarifying these notions today. This book offers such clarity, searching outside of the predominant conceptual frameworks that dominate thinking about giftedness and talent, and examining ways in which this conceptual fog stunts and warps the development of gifted minds and limits the effectiveness of curriculum development and instruction. The book directly addresses the connection between dogmatism and high ability, exploring ways in which otherwise bright individuals can make unintelligent decisions.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/educationbookchapters/1014/thumbnail.jp

An Analysis of Most Important Values Among Low-Income, High-Ability Middle School Students

Value orientations, based on Schwartz’s theory of human values, were collected from low-income, high-ability middle school students (N = 215; 87.4% Black, Hispanic, or Mixed) through a values affirmation activity in the 7th and again in the 8th grade. Students ranked “Being successful” highest in 7th grade, “Being safe and secure” highest in 8thgrade. Most important values in the Conservation and Self-Transcendent quadrants predominated and were most stable from 7th to 8th grade. Analysis of essays on their most important values identified the significance of Others in their lives, including the desire to be successful for others. Reflecting on their values led them to be Future Oriented in their thinking about the values that should guide them. Fear / Death Awareness was another significant theme, as students described their desire to be free from danger and to live a good life, short as it may be. As educators build supportive environments in schools for economically disadvantaged students, they can benefit from considering the importance of students’ values, which will be motivating factors in their engagement

Gifted education as a vehicle for enhancing social equality

Considering the benefits that accrue in countries having low levels of social inequality and the harm that accompanies wide disparities in income, it is important to examine any practices or traditions that contribute to inequality. Under some circumstances, gifted education does confer advantages that are not available to all students, particularly when its identification procedures fail to recognize potential in students not in the dominant group or when services improve the educational opportunities only for those who are identified even though all students could benefit. The elimination of age grading, a practice that inhibits the development of potential for many children, including gifted children, is recommended as a solution to the inequality engendered by current practice

Peer relationships

The Handbook of School Counseling for Students With Gifts and Talents: Critical Issues for Programs and Services provides the definitive overview of research on the general knowledge that has been amassed regarding the psychology of gifted students, introducing the reader to the varied conceptions of giftedness, issues specific to gifted children, and various intervention methods. Additionally, this handbook describes programs designed to fulfill the need these children have for challenge. With chapters authored by leading experts in the field, The Handbook of School Counseling for Students With Gifts and Talents offers a place for professionals to turn for answers to a wide variety of questions about gifted children.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/educationbookchapters/1017/thumbnail.jp

Gifted Children and Peer Relationships

The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children remains the only book that provides a comprehensive summary of the empirical research on the social and emotional development of gifted children by leading authorities in the field. It includes several features that make it the leading text on what we know about the social and emotional development of gifted children. For example, it summarizes the most significant findings from the empirical research on the topic. It also includes noteworthy variations that have been observed across cultural groups or global contexts. Each chapter also provides a short description of the practical applications that can be made from the research. This second edition includes an entirely new section on the psychosocial aspects of talent development, as well as addresses the burgeoning interest and research base regarding gifted performance. The text also includes several new topics that have emerged from the research in the past decade, such as the neuroscience of talent development and motivation for talent development. This book is a service publication of the National Association for Gifted Children.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/educationbookchapters/1019/thumbnail.jp

Social and emotional development of students with gifts and talents

Honoring the leadership of Dr. Joyce Van Tassel-Baska, this book includes major strands of work central to defining the field of gifted education and discusses relevant trends and issues that have shaped or will shape the field. This comprehensive resource outlines three major sections: conceptions in gifted education such as intelligence, creativity, and eminence; linkage of theory to practice through curriculum and instruction, professional development, and assessment; and the infrastructure of gifted education that relies on research, policy, and leadership directions within and outside the field. Showcasing contributions from leading senior scholars in gifted education, this book is sure to be an invaluable resource for policymakers, scholars, researchers, and practitioners who are interested in research-based practices to better serve gifted students.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/educationbookchapters/1018/thumbnail.jp

Challenging an Idea Whose Time Has Gone

In this response to Sternberg’s article, “ACCEL: A New Model for Identifying the Gifted,” we agree that IQ testing may have outlasted its usefulness as an identification tool for gifted students. The field’s commitment to an imperfect formula has neglected the evolution of offerings in schools and theoretical underpinnings that are moving us away from an outdated conception of giftedness. IQ testing should be reserved for finding specific forms of high ability and as a diagnostic tool, not as a gatekeeper that continues to perpetuate the underrepresentation of some groups

Maximizing potential: A school-based conception of psychosocial development

Optimal talent development can only occur when high ability students are willing to take opportunities for growth in a domain and are able to persist when presented with challenges that accompany performance or production at the highest levels. This paper proposes the use of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development to provide a framework through which schools can pursue a parallel path of psychosocial supports to reinforce the development of talent in any domain. Ego strength can be fortified by an active program of professional development, curricula, and research based on Erikson’s psychosocial stage theory. In addition to the age-based components, ego strength can be promoted by activities that support the essential strengths of hope, will, purpose, skill, fidelity, and love