This paper deals with factors discriminating mathematically gifted and non-gifted students. Discussion of some characteristics of mathematically gifted students is done in the first session. Several factors distinguish mathematically gifted from the non-gifted students. High mathematical creativity, high intelligence and opinion of teachers are some of the key factors that can be used for discriminating mathematically gifted and non-gifted students. Research studies have revealed that cognitive as well as affective factors will enhance giftedness. In this study the investigator wishes to look in detail about the characteristics of mathematically gifted students and how they can be identified. Anyway, teachers can change environmental factors and maximum outcome of giftedness can be ensured."

The change of the developed countries to highly technological societies continuously requires that they nurture and use the full potential of mathematically and scientifically talented people. As this is a process that should start early in order to be efficient, the main responsibility of identifying and addressing the specific needs of these people is assigned to public school systems and, in particular, to elementary teachers. In this regard, three significant areas of concern arise and are discussed in this paper: (a) The complexity in identifying mathematically promising and mathematically talented elementary students; (b) The highly responsible and difficult task for elementary teachers to differentiate and serve the mathematically promising students within an inclusive classroom; and (c) The need of teachers with specialized training and mathematics knowledge in pre-high school grades. The last one should be considered predominantly as a logical consequence of the first two. The main goal and, hence, the purpose of the paper is to promote understanding of this crucial necessity of mathematics specialists and to advocate for a change in this direction.

Quarter a century ago, I founded the Colorado Mathematical Olympiad. The Colorado Mathematical Olympiad is the largest essay-type in-person mathematical competition in the United States, with 600 to 1,000 participants competing annually for prizes. In this article, I explain what it is, how it works, give examples of problems and solutions, and share with the reader careers of some of the Olympiad's winners.

The extension to a wide population of secondary education in many advanced countries seems to have led to a weakening of the mathematics curriculum. In response, many students have been classified as "gifted" so that they can access a stronger program. Apart from the difficulties that might arise in actually determining which students are gifted (Is it always clear what the term means?), there are dangers inherent in programs that might be devised even for those that are truly talented. Sometimes students are moved ahead to more advanced mathematics. Elementary students might be taught algebra or even subjects like trigonometry and vectors, and secondary students might be taught calculus, differential equations and linear algebra. It is my experience over thirty-five years of contact with bright students that acceleration to higher level mathematics is often not a good idea. In this paper, I will articulate some of the factors that have led me to this opinion and suggest alternatives. First, I would like to emphasize that in matters of education, almost every statement that can be made to admit counterexamples; my opinion on acceleration is no exception. Occasionally, a young Gauss or Euler walks in the door, and one has no choice but to offer the maximum encouragement and allow the student to go to the limit of his capabilities. A young genius can demonstrate an incredible amount of mathematical insight, maturity and mastery of technique. A classical example is probably the teen-age Euler, who in the 1720s was allowed regular audiences with Jean Bernoulli, the foremost mathematician of his day.

Young children have manifold potentialities. As any teacher or parent knows, a child's most obvious strengths contribute to their development in unexpected ways. A sporting or musical forte may provide an invaluable youthful opportunity to experience "the pursuit of excellence," but may then be laid aside. It is exceedingly rare for a strength which informed observers might "identify" at school level to develop in a predictable way. Most strengths blossom and are then laid aside, whilst some evolve sideways (for example, when the inner muse shies away from the required level of commitment, or takes fright at the miniscule prospects of success in the given field). In their place other strengths-which one may have noticed, but which were never "diagnosed" in the same way-take over and flourish.

The John Templeton Foundation (JFT) is a large private philanthropic institution with an interest in, among other areas, the development of human genius. This report chronicles the start of a portfolio in gifted education, designed to address this aspect of the Foundation's work.