Athletic talent is hard to miss. It’s simply amazing how talent can express itself in the moment when developed to the fullest. Just check out this NBA Stephen Curry video for proof. But when it comes to mental talent, it’s much harder to observe that full expression. I hope that this blog can help by providing insight on how we define, observe, and nurture talent. What do we mean when we talk about talent? Years of work in the lab can lead to a scientific breakthrough that eventually wins a … [Read more...] about Talking About Talent
Classroom
Prodigies and Time Management
Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell says that it takes a decade of intense practice – roughly 10,000 hours – to achieve mastery in any field. So, how does this apply to gifted students? Do gifted students from different countries actually invest their time differently in accruing those 10,000 hours needed to become masters of their field? And, in comparison, how do students in the US fare? As researchers of how academically gifted students develop talent, we recently surveyed academically … [Read more...] about Prodigies and Time Management
Learning Communities
One of the best ways to encourage gifted students to embrace their identities as academically talented scholars is to provide them with peer-to-peer contact within a community of like-minded individuals. Not only does this allow accelerated learning to take place at a pace that challenges and motivates gifted students, it can also have some suprising social and emotional benefits as explained in this video by Andrew Samwick (TIP ’82, ’83, ’84), one of TIP's 2016 Distinguished … [Read more...] about Learning Communities
Enhance Your Child’s Creativity
"The thing that makes a creative person is to be creative and that is all there is to it." —Edward Albee Because of their traditional intellectual abilities, gifted children start off with an edge. Parents can help them maintain it by encouraging them to develop a creative attitude toward life. For gifted children, being creative is largely a decision. Here are five things you can do right away: Encourage your child to question rather than merely accept assumptions. Why should children go to … [Read more...] about Enhance Your Child’s Creativity
America’s Got Talent
American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and America's Got Talent have been around for years, and when I was a kid there was Star Search (on which a young Britney Spears appeared) which lasted well over 10 seasons. These shows mostly feature talented singers, musicians and dancers who are often desperate to get their shot at stardom. And only a handful of them go on to become household names. … [Read more...] about America’s Got Talent
Suggestions for Reshaping the Admission Process
College admissions can play a huge role in shaping a student’s life. A new report from researchers at Harvard makes some recommendations for reshaping the college admissions process. Their goal is to put greater emphasis on a student’s commitment to others and the common good rather than personal success and academic performance. It is their belief that citizens, including students, need to be concerned about others and the common good—and that today’s culture sends messages that emphasize … [Read more...] about Suggestions for Reshaping the Admission Process
Rethinking Mentorship: It’s More than Scholarship
Parents with children who have a strong interest in a subject may consider seeking a mentor for their child, either to augment school-based learning or to provide guidance for enrichment courses. Research suggests that a good mentor can be highly beneficial for a student’s intellectual development. A recent study reported that gifted students may be particularly responsive to high-quality mentorship because of their tendency to process information more quickly and easily─a good mentor can pace … [Read more...] about Rethinking Mentorship: It’s More than Scholarship
Contrasting School and Summer Growth for High-Achieving Students
In a recently published study, “High-Achieving and Average Students’ Reading Growth: Contrasting School and Summer Trajectories,” researchers found that initially high-achieving students showed similar academic growth rates during the summer and the school year. On the other hand, the typical student improved during the school year but not during the summer. The figure below is a representation of the trends found in the article. The dashed red line for typical students shows achievement growth … [Read more...] about Contrasting School and Summer Growth for High-Achieving Students
Gifted Girls and Messages About Success
Mixed Messages Although you may recognize your gifted daughter’s potential and encourage her to pursue her dreams, research shows that your daughter also receives mixed messages from society about her ability to succeed. Numerous researchers argue that gender stereotypes—communicated through the media, peers, and even parents and educators—can cause girls to internalize negative perceptions about their own abilities, characteristics, and potential. These stereotypes tell young women that it is … [Read more...] about Gifted Girls and Messages About Success
Giftedness and Masculinity: Balancing Expectations
Masculinity or manliness is often associated with phrases like “taking control,” athletic,” “unemotional,” and “aggressive.” However, it is up to parents to decide whether society’s definitions of “real men” are desirable for their sons. Regardless, parents must keep in mind what expectations of males society communicates these expectations to look at how they impact the way gifted boys view themselves and view their own giftedness. … [Read more...] about Giftedness and Masculinity: Balancing Expectations