Edward R. Amend, PsyD, is clinical psychologist and highly sought-after speaker at gifted conferences who specializes in assessing and counseling gifted children and their families. Recently, TIP staff had the opportunity to hear from him about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gifted children and their families. From his perspective as a practicing clinical psychologist who works with gifted children, he shared his own general … [Read more...] about A Clinical Psychologist Talks about How To Talk about COVID-19
attention deficit disorder
Home Alone: Part 3
Teaching TIPs for Parents of Gifted Students Recently, we shared a list of TIP resources for parents to draw upon as we try to navigate this uncertain time during the spread of COVID-19 and find activities to motivate, occupy, and enrich our children’s learning. Today, we focus on practical tips for parents of gifted students to keep them learning and engaged as they study from home: Minimize Distractions: One common cognitive characteristic of gifted students is a tendency to focus for … [Read more...] about Home Alone: Part 3
Ask the Experts: Career Counseling
Dear Dr. Courtright, I recently had my daughter tested for A.D.D., and it turns out she is off the charts on the facial and pattern recognition tests. Do you have any suggestions on what we might do to foster the development of these skills? Is there use for these skills in any careers? Any thoughts or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated. … [Read more...] about Ask the Experts: Career Counseling
Ask the Experts: Twice Exceptional in Honors Classes
Dear Dr. Courtright, I’m in a tough spot with a gifted daughter who has also been diagnosed with ADD. She currently takes three honors courses, but the school is pushing back due to her need for special accommodations. My question is whether I’m correct in wanting her to remain in honors courses, with a plan for additional time. The homework this past quarter was relentless but other parents have pushed back on that issue, so the honors homework will probably be less demanding going forward. … [Read more...] about Ask the Experts: Twice Exceptional in Honors Classes
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
Navigating the World of Special Education with your Gifted Student
By definition, a twice-exceptional (2e) student is one with two exceptionalities—giftedness along with a disability. Familiarizing yourself with the world of gifted education is a difficult task in itself, but when coupled with trying to understand special education options, it can be overwhelming. Unlike gifted education, in the world of special education, there are federal mandates governing the way in which students qualify for services and the ways in which school professionals deliver those … [Read more...] about Navigating the World of Special Education with your Gifted Student
A Primer on Pediatric Neuropsychology
We talked with Paul Beljan about pediatric neuropsychology, how it differs from school and educational psychology, and how and when families can benefit from a practitioner’s expertise. … [Read more...] about A Primer on Pediatric Neuropsychology
Mislabeling Gifted Children
Some gifted children may be misdiagnosed as having psychological or behavioral disorders because of a lack of knowledge about characteristics commonly associated with giftedness, according to Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults, by James T. Webb et al. (Great Potential, 2005). The authors compare the traits of giftedness with those of disorders often diagnosed in the gifted and detail the important differences. … [Read more...] about Mislabeling Gifted Children
Being Me and Fitting In: The Dilemma of Differentness
Stephen is a 13-year-old math whiz. He’s also a good all-around student, energetic, and curious. He sometimes drives his parents to distraction with his questions and ideas, and he has alienated more than one neighborhood friend with his information about and zeal for mathematical equations. His parents worry that Stephen has few close friends and few prospects of making any. … [Read more...] about Being Me and Fitting In: The Dilemma of Differentness
Dealing with Boredom
How do you react when your child laments, “I’m bored!” or “School was a drag today.” When do feelings of boredom go beyond normal, commonplace, and bearable? How do you handle the behavioral problems that stem from boredom? … [Read more...] about Dealing with Boredom