Middle school introduces new opportunities for gifted adolescents to form rewarding relationships and develop their own identities. It can also present challenges to gifted students as they encounter new social structures and pressures. Contrary to some popular negative stereotypes, most evidence indicates that gifted students are typically well adjusted socially and emotionally. Many studies show that they are viewed positively relative to their peers. Moreover, researchers tend to agree that … [Read more...] about The Social and Emotional Transition to Middle School
Social & Emotional
Giftedness and ADHD
Most of us tend to associate the term “twice-exceptional ” with quirky geniuses, or exceptionally intelligent children who also happen to be on the autism spectrum. However, gifted students can also receive learning disability labels or a diagnosis of a health impairment such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), both of which impact school success and fall under the umbrella of twice-exceptionality. The term twice-exceptional indicates that a student has two forms of … [Read more...] about Giftedness and ADHD
Giftedness Coupled with a Specific Learning Disability?
You know your child is bright, but why is he or she still struggling with certain academic tasks? Maybe your child is a great reader but can’t seem to grasp the main idea of a passage or answer simple comprehension questions. Perhaps your child has incredible ideas but can’t seem to express them in writing. It’s possible your child is twice-exceptional (2e), or gifted with a disability. In this case, your gifted child might also have a specific learning disability (SLD). Gifted students with … [Read more...] about Giftedness Coupled with a Specific Learning Disability?
The Effects of Participating in Gifted Programs Extend Beyond Academics
Will participating in this program make my child feel good about him/herself? Will it help him/her academically? Or could it do both at the same time? These are important and valid questions that all parents should consider when making decisions about their child’s academic experiences. … [Read more...] about The Effects of Participating in Gifted Programs Extend Beyond Academics
Gifted Adolescents and Alcohol
All parents worry about their children becoming involved with alcohol use. But what about parents of academically gifted students? Do they have less to worry about because their children do well in school? A recent study asked this exact question and the results may surprise you. … [Read more...] about Gifted Adolescents and Alcohol
Time Spent Outside the Classroom
Parents and educators often worry about how gifted students spend their time in the classroom. Rightly so, given that gifted students can often find standard curricula easy or boring. And adolescents in the U.S. typically have six to eight hours of free time each day. This is not a trivial amount of time and should not be ignored by parents of the gifted. A recent study by Duke TIP looked at exactly this. … [Read more...] about Time Spent Outside the Classroom
When the Gifted Grow Up
What happens to gifted kids when they grow up? A hundred years ago, people feared that early ripe would lead to early rot, with gifted children growing up to lead difficult adulthoods. Numerous counterexamples have diminished that belief. Today, a more common discussion is about the differences between gifted males and females. One particularly well discussed difference commonly found between gifted males and females are their preferences. These preference differences can range from course … [Read more...] about When the Gifted Grow Up
Myriad Myths about Giftedness
Upon hearing the word "myth," one may think of Zeus on Mount Olympus or King Arthur at Camelot. However, not all myths come from history; modern myths exist as well. Some of the most prevalent modern myths in education surround giftedness and gifted and talented programs. Numerous lists of such myths have been published. In this article, we provide three such lists published by giftedness researchers. … [Read more...] about Myriad Myths about Giftedness
Homeschooling
The National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that over 1.5 million children were homeschooled in 2007, nearly double the number from a decade earlier. This means that homeschoolers account for roughly one out of every fifty K-12 students in the United States. Beyond these broad numbers, it is often difficult to make general statements about children who are homeschooled. With no regulatory body, the homeschooling experience can vary widely. Nonetheless, common themes can be found in … [Read more...] about Homeschooling
Overexcitabilities and the Gifted Child
Does your child do any of the following? Fidget a lot, or seem to have more energy than other children his or her age? Have strong, unusual reactions to sounds or smells? Create such a rich fantasy life that it is difficult for him or her to distinguish reality from fantasy? Love nothing more than to think, solve problems, and ask questions? Have intense emotional reactions, such that it seems like he or she is "overreacting"? If so, your child may have one or more … [Read more...] about Overexcitabilities and the Gifted Child