Imagine this scenario: two students both test above their grade level and have similar scores in math and reading. Now, imagine that only one of these students is identified as gifted by their school. The student who is identified as gifted is then exposed to programming with unique opportunities, while the other student follows his school’s standard curriculum. Such a scenario of two equally-performing students receiving different educational opportunities, strange as it may sound, could … [Read more...] about State Policy and Gifted Education: Where Do You and Your Child Fit In?
Advocacy
A look at the movie “Gifted”
Gifted is a new movie by Fox Searchlight Pictures about a profoundly gifted child that opened on April 7, 2017. Several members of the Duke TIP staff attended an early showing of the film and have shared their thoughts on it below. We've tried to give you some different perspectives on the movie, including whether it accurately portrays the issues involved in giftedness. Enjoy -- and please feel free to share your own opinions about Gifted in the Comments section below. … [Read more...] about A look at the movie “Gifted”
5 Lessons from Salman Khan on the Future of Education
Salman Khan has appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine and was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people. He is founder of The Khan Academy and author of The One World Schoolhouse. I interviewed Sal to get his thoughts on the future of education. Here are five wisdom filled lessons from the world famous educator. Theory may not be as important as before. “You have all this education theory and people try to make larger statements than maybe what their data would back … [Read more...] about 5 Lessons from Salman Khan on the Future of Education
The forgotten rural gifted child
In a recent New York Times op-ed, “Why I’m moving home,” bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy J.D. Vance explains how he is moving back to his home state of Ohio because he wants to hear the messages of the people that he left behind. He grew up in the Rust Belt city of Middletown, Ohio and the Appalachian town of Jackson, Kentucky. Vance left, joined the military, went to Ohio State for undergrad and Yale law school, wrote a bestselling book, and became a principal at a major Silicon Valley … [Read more...] about The forgotten rural gifted child
Can Intelligence or Personality Compensate For Background Disadvantage?
A lot of emphasis and investment is currently being placed on “non-cognitive” factors in predicting later life outcomes. However, there has been relatively little research investigating the interplay of family background and the effects of individual differences, such as personality traits and intelligence measured in adolescence, in predicting educational attainment, annual income, and occupational prestige in adulthood. In a paper published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology … [Read more...] about Can Intelligence or Personality Compensate For Background Disadvantage?
The Benefits of The Educational Forum
On February 4, 2017, Duke TIP and Broward County Public Schools will host The Educational Forum at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. The event will include presentations for parents from teachers, researchers, and other education experts on topics like what to consider when deciding whether to enter college early, what innovative educational options are available to you, what academically talented students need, how to handle anxiety, and more. Students will have their … [Read more...] about The Benefits of The Educational Forum
Placement change requests
by Eric O'Neal, Duke TIP Intern and NCCU Graduate The memories of my years in elementary school seem almost a lifetime ago now. The days of walking in a single file line down halls and keeping that bothersome lunch PIN are no longer necessary. Though elementary school may seem a minor step in your educational career, it lays down the foundation of your learning experience and behaviors. It may be worth noting that from my 2nd grade through 6th grade years, every teacher I had either quit after … [Read more...] about Placement change requests
How Can I Advocate For My Gifted Child?
The United States needs to develop the intellectual potential of its next generation to remain competitive in the world of tomorrow. Our top students generally do not perform as well as their counterparts around the world. Yet our public education system seems to neglect excellence as it stresses proficiency. For these reasons, effective advocacy for gifted education is crucial. What is advocacy? Many perceive advocacy as a political process by which individuals plead their causes to policy … [Read more...] about How Can I Advocate For My Gifted Child?
Is My Child A Math Prodigy? What Can I Do For Them?
What are some signs of math talent? Mathematically talented students often show an early interest in and facility with numbers. For example, they may learn to tell time at age two and begin adding and subtracting long before they enter kindergarten. Anecdotes shared by parents about their precocious youngsters are helpful in identifying these students initially, but the objective information determined from an appropriate assessment is essential in determining the extent of their abilities and … [Read more...] about Is My Child A Math Prodigy? What Can I Do For Them?
Increasing Representation of Low Income and Minority Students in Gifted Education
Low income and minority students are substantially underrepresented in gifted and talented education programs all across the United States. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in the U.S. in 2006, 13.1% of Asian/Pacific Islander students and 8% of white students had been identified as gifted whereas only 4.2% of Hispanic students and 3.6% of black students had been identified. Although a number of environmental and societal reasons may contribute to such a … [Read more...] about Increasing Representation of Low Income and Minority Students in Gifted Education