Written for parents and educators - especially those who live and work with gifted/high-ability children - the authors describe ways to develop children"s natural abilities. Introducing the "mystery" and "mastery" models of gifted education, they invite controversy by challenging several commonly held assumptions. They then present practical strategies to help parents and educators identify and nurture the abilities of children with high ability. This book answers the charges that special programs for gifted children are elitist. The authors demonstrate that it is simply appropriate to provide educational experiences that each child needs at a particular time. Features include: "Mystery" and "Mastery" models Identification procedures Learning issues Programming options Social and behavioral concerns Teacher development processes Gifted education trends Parenting strategies