Nurturing Young Mathematicians: Challenges and Concerns

There is clear research-based evidence suggesting the mathematical gifts of children are not appropriately nurtured. Practices associated with the standard core curriculum renders them frustrated and bored. This paper represents an attempt to echo the voices of these children in order for their needs to be more properly met. It is based on a research study done on mathematically gifted pupils studying in grade IX and X in schools of Delhi, India. It focuses on a number of case studies of mathematically gifted children to identify their learning needs and the teachers' understanding of those needs. Research analysis helped to develop a need-based profile which, after careful and detailed analysis, led to the Need Based Curriculum Model. The NBCM can be implemented in the regular classes without much alteration. A brief scheme of content organisation is presented as an example. (Contains 4 figures.)