This study uses an ethnographic design to discover the patterns of behavior in selected teachers of the gifted as they guided children's independent studies. The research developed in two major phases; phase one suggested hypotheses and properties which were revised, tested, and verified in the second phase. A theoretical model of the roles of the teacher of the gifted is presented and possible applications of the research are suggested.Much research dealing with personality characteristics of teachers of the gifted can be found in the literature. The most usual modes of the studies are intelligence testing and student ratings of the teachers (Bishop, 1967;Milgram, 1979). Several authors have suggested desirable traits for teachers of the gifted (Gowan & Bruch
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.