Gifted and Talented Education

Here are some additional resources for youth identified as gifted or talented:

Gifted Homeschoolers Forum - This is, in Homefires' opinion, the single best resource for homeschooling gifted children on the Net. GHF's all-volunteer staff has painstakingly compiled the top resources, articles, and info designed to support families who are homeschooling gifted children. It's all provided for free at the website. You can also purchase a GHF membership for $24/year that provides some discounts for books and events sponsored by GHF. GHF has filed for non-profit status. Many of the recommended educational resources are terrific for kids of all abilities.

The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth - This program is specifically designed to identify and challenge young students with academic talent. Each year, CTY conducts two major talent searches in the US: 1)Talent Search: 5th and 6th Grades and 2) Talent Search: 7th Grade. The searches seek to identify students with exceptional mathematical and/or verbal abilities. Students who qualify are invited to participate in a variety of distance learning programs, museum days, and summer programs. Fifth and sixth graders take the PLUS exam and seventh graders take the SAT I. Early pre-registration for the PLUS exam is essential as the deadline usually falls in mid-October. A pre-qualifying standardized achievement test is required. The CTY program can also be contacted directly at: The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218. (410)-516-0278 or (818) 500-9034

Stanford University's Education Program for Gifted Youth - A self-paced program on CD-ROM. The computer screen is used as a chalkboard in conjunction with audio lectures so students can follow instruction at their own, individualized pace from beginning mathematics (K-8) through high school algebra, calculus, physics and university level courses. Upper high school level writing and science courses as well. Textbooks accompany on-line work. Instructors help students by e-mail. Demo discs available for $10. For brochure call: (415) 329-9920, FAX: (415) 329-9924. Write: EPGY, Ventura Hall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4115.

Merlyn's Pen Mentors in Writing Program - sponsored by Merlyn's Pen: The National Magazine of Student Writing for grades 6-12. Students are matched with a mentor who is on staff at the magazine and receive personalized assignments geared to improve specific skills. No tests required. Contact: Merlyn's Pen, P.O. Box 1058, East Greenwich, RI 02818-0964. 1-800-247-2027.

GELFAND Outreach Program in Mathematics - Development of math ability by using non-standard problem solving models. Open to students in grades 8-12. monthly assignments are reviewed by faculty and grad students. Contact: 1-732-445-3491. Email: gopm@math.rutgers.edu

USA Mathematical Talent Search - Fabulously challenging math competition, open to grades 9-12. This non-credit course is free and intensive and encourages creative problem solving. Four themes per year. Your student gets 5 problems and 4 weeks to create and send in solutions to at least 2 of the problems. Professional mathematicians evaluate your work. Contact: George Berzsenyi, Dept. of Mathematics, Box 121, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47803. 1-812-877-8474.