“Am I talking too much? People are always telling me that I do and it seems to cause no end of aggravation.” — Anne Shirley Do you know a highly-verbal child who amazes you with word wizardry while also driving you to distraction? The new Netflix series, Anne with an E, based on the beloved Anne of Green Gables books, is a great portrait of the smooth sailing and rough seas when it comes to this gift. Season 1, Episode 1 is worth a look for all of us who want to be better coaches of these … [Read more...] about Anne of Green Gables, That Greatly Gifted Kid
Social & Emotional
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”
Does My Gifted Child Have Asperger Syndrome?
Parents and educators have long understood that social savvy and emotional intelligence are not to be taken for granted among gifted youths. Because they must learn to engage and play with others far less mature in interests and capabilities, social interaction can be rocky terrain. For those with Asperger syndrome, social difficulties can be especially significant. Characteristics of Asperger syndrome Asperger syndrome is a developmental disorder closely related to autism and hallmarked by … [Read more...] about Does My Gifted Child Have Asperger Syndrome?
Dealing with bullies
By Eric O'Neal, Duke TIP Intern and NCCU Graduate Having a conducive day at school is every young scholar’s ideal scenario. But what do you do when another student is bullying you, physically, verbally, and interrupting your learning environment? It can often be hard to deal with such a negative force, and you may often feel like there is no way to stop it. In fact, according to the Incidents of School crime and safety: 2013 report, 19.1% of students had experienced bullying, with 7% missing a … [Read more...] about Dealing with bullies
Love the Child, Not the Gift
Why should we help gifted students? What is the impact of the Common Core standards on gifted students? What are the greatest myths about gifted students? What can be considered good advice for parents who have gifted children? I recently had the opportunity to ask these questions to two giants in the field of gifted education, Sidney Moon and Felicia Dixon. Their latest book is the second edition of The Handbook of Secondary Gifted Education which “offers an in-depth, research-based look at … [Read more...] about Love the Child, Not the Gift
Extracurricular activities and how they benefited me
By Eric O'Neal, Duke TIP Intern and NCCU Graduate Extracurricular activities in school are a great way to build teamwork skills, stay active and build friendships. I, in particular, participated in multiple sports, from track to wrestling. They personally helped me overcome a lot of issues in my life, especially dealing with my introverted nature, and made me feel part of a team. As well as personal benefits, I was able to use many of my extracurricular experiences to aid in my social and … [Read more...] about Extracurricular activities and how they benefited me
How Can I Help My Gifted Child Who Isn’t Very Social?
Parent question: My 12-year-old son takes little interest in the world around him or in making friends. From early childhood he’s been far more interested in creating elaborate games with his cars; engrossing himself in learning all about trains, space shuttles, and airplanes; and playing computer games. At his gifted school he enjoys the company of other children but doesn’t want to take on the responsibility of friendship. I’ve hosted numerous play dates with his schoolmates, which have ended … [Read more...] about How Can I Help My Gifted Child Who Isn’t Very Social?
Grandparents: A Precious Overlooked Resource for Gifted Children
Parents of gifted children and youth have resources available to them both in school and in the community. However, there is an often overlooked resource in the family itself—grandparents. Parents can encourage interaction between grandchildren and grandparents by sharing information related to the grandchildren’s giftedness, their special interests, and their school’s educational programs with grandparents. The more information grandparents have about their grandchildren, the better they can … [Read more...] about Grandparents: A Precious Overlooked Resource for Gifted Children
Should You Homeschool Your Gifted Child?
Nearly one million school-aged children in the United States are educated primarily at home. Many of them are gifted. Parents who wonder if homeschooling will work for them need to consider the reasons for doing it and how to meet their children’s academic, social, and emotional needs. Reasons for gifted children to learn at home Parents who homeschool cite several reasons: traditional schools fail to meet their children’s needs; state and district budget cuts have reduced or eliminated many … [Read more...] about Should You Homeschool Your Gifted Child?
How Can I Improve My Gifted Child’s Resilience?
As parents, we naturally want to prevent our children from experiencing extreme adversity, but, try as we might, there is only so much we can do to keep them safe. Gifted children are often in educational situations that heighten their risk for adjustment problems because they have limited access to others with similar interests, ability, and drive or because they are not sufficiently challenged. The differences in their abilities and their heightened sensitivities can contribute to these … [Read more...] about How Can I Improve My Gifted Child’s Resilience?