The identification of gifted students is a complex, broad topic without a standard state or federal process. Furthermore, once students are identified there lacks a consensus in the educational community regarding how gifted students should be reassessed throughout their educational careers, if it should be done at all. This paper explores how students are identified, how and why students may regress or progress through their giftedness from elementary through secondary school, and why reassessment is necessary. The regression and stagnation topics of diminishing motivation, the need for adult connections, mentoring, counseling and reasons for gifted dropouts are discussed as well as the ways gifted programs can encourage student growth through motivation, the use of technology, and effective interventions.
Keywords: gifted, student, elementary, education
Gregory Baldridge. Emily Johnson. Acta Scientiae et Intellectus, 2(6)2016, 41-52.
- Berlin, J.E. (2009). It’s all a matter of perspective: Student perceptions on the impact of being labeled gifted and talented. Roeper Review, 31(4), 217-223.
- Clark, L. (2005). Gifted and growing. Educational Leadership, 63(3), 56-60.
- Curby, T.W., Rudasill, K.M., Rimm-Kaufman, S.E., & Konold, T. R. (2008). The role of social competence in predicting gifted enrollment. Psychology in the Schools, 45(8), 729-744.
- Davis, G.A., Rimm, S.B., & Siegle, D. (2011). Education of the gifted and talented (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.
- Dunn, C., Chambers, D., & Rabren, K. (2004). Variables affecting student's decisions to drop out of school. Remedial and Special Education, 25(5), 314-323.
- Hany, E.A. & Grosch, C. (2007). Long-term effects of enrichment summer courses on the academic performance of gifted adolescents. Educational Research and Evaluation, 13(6), 521-537.
- Housand, B.C. & Housand, A. M. (2012) The role of technology in gifted students’ motivation. Psychology in the Schools, 49(7), 706-715.
- Kunkel, M.A., Pittman, A.N., Curry, E.W., Hildebrand, S.K., & Walling, D.D. (1991). Attrition patterns in a summer program for gifted junior high students. Roeper Review, 14(2), 90-93.
- Little, C. (2012). Curriculum as motivation for gifted students. Psychology in the Schools, 49(7), 695-705.
- Lubinski, D., Benbow, C.P., Webb, R.M., & Bleske-Rechek, A. (2006) Tracking exceptional human capital over two decades. Psychological Science, 17(3), 194-199.
- Matthews, M. (2006). Gifted students dropping out: Recent findings from a southeastern state. Roeper Review, 28(4), 216-223.
- Mcclain, M.C. & Pfeiffer, S.I. (2011). Identification of gifted students in the United States today: A look at state definitions, policies, and practices. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 28(1), 59-88.
- Park, G., Lubinski, D., & Benbow, C.P. (2007). Contrasting intellectual patterns predicting creativity in the arts and sciences: Tracking intellectually precocious youth over 25 years. Psychological Science, 18(22), 948-952.
- Pfeiffer, S.I. (2015). Essentials of gifted assessment. New Jersey: Wiley.
- Rakow, S. (2012). Helping gifted learners SOAR. Educational Leadership, 69(5), 34-40.
- Rinn, A.N., Plucker, J.A., & Stocking, V.B. (2010). Fostering gifted students’ affective development: A look at the impact of academic self-concept. Teaching Exceptional Children Plus, 6(4), 1-13.
- Robertson, S.G., Pfeiffer, S.I., & Taylor, N. (2011). Serving the gifted: A national survey of school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools, 48(8), 786-799.
- Romanoff, B.S., Algozzine, B., & Nielson, A.B. (2009). Achievement of African American and Caucasian students referred and placed or not placed in gifted programs. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 33(2), 156-175.
- Runco, M.A. (1997). Is every child gifted? Roeper Review, 19(4), 220-224.
- Schunk, D.H. & Swartz, C.W. (1993). Writing strategy instruction with gifted students: Effects of goals and feedback on self-efficacy and skills. Roeper Review, 15(4), 225-230.
- Tookey, M.E. (2000). The international baccalaureate: A program conducive to the continued growth of the gifted adolescent. Journal of Secondary Gifted Education, 11(2), 52-66.
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement. (1993). National excellence: A case study for developing America's talent. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Zabloski, J. & Milacci, F. (2012). Gifted dropouts: Phenomenological case studies of rural giftedstudents. Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, 6(3), 175-190.