• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.99-117
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• 2001

This study looked at the validity of assessments of academic giftedness in young children, details of assessment procedures and tasks related to them. It has shown that academic giftedness in young children can be reliably observed and reported by parents and teachers through similar characteristics to older gifted children. But for young preschool children since the potentiality rather than the current performance level is more important to detect and children's abilities are not fully differentiated, more systematic and comprehensive assessments are needed. Parents'and/or teachers' referrals, behavior checklists for the gifted, tests for creativity, short or group forms of standardized tests and finally individualized tests can be used as a comprehensive battery but these methods can be used stepwise for the sake of efficiency and economy. Especially the variability of performance in young children during the rapid developmental phase as well as their vulnerability by situational factors ask for the repeated assessments as regular bases. In this study different measures for gifted young children, specialists' qualification, and procedural guidance were reviewed and the necessity for various screening tools for different programs for the gifted was discussed. Finally it was emphasized that early assessment and following educational arrangement are needed for gifted young children for their optimal development.