Parents who have the determination will find hope and the tools to help their children in Understanding Your Child’s Puzzling Behavior: A Guide for Parents of Children with Behavioral, Social, and Learning Challenges, by Steven E. Curtis, Lifespan, 2008. This book is for parents who have the desire to take charge of their childrens’ social, emotional, and academic health; the stick-to-it attention needed to detail their childrens’ actions and reactions; and the ability for detached observation. … [Read more...] about Pieces to Puzzling Behavior
book review
Brain Rules
More than just a superficial tease for a book, the Web site www.brainrules.net is part of a multi-media package. The book Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School, by John Medina, Pear Press, 2008, and accompanying DVD present the author’s 12 rules for a healthy, productive brain based on scientific research. Completing the suite, The Web site uses audio, text, graphics, and video to provide an experience-rich summary of the principles presented in the … [Read more...] about Brain Rules
Infinity and Zebra Stripes
Wendy Skinner’s account of raising her two highly gifted children, Ben and Jillian, in Infinity & Zebra Stripes: Life with Gifted Children (Great Potential, 2007) will be familiar to those parents confronted with similar circumstances. Skinner’s experiences working with teachers and school administrators are documented throughout this text … [Read more...] about Infinity and Zebra Stripes
A Guidebook for Parents
Ever wish you had a manual for that extraordinary, perplexing child of yours? Take heart, a new book, A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children, by James T. Webb, Janet L. Gore, Edward R. Amend, and Arlene R. DeVries, Great Potential Press (release date: March 1, 2007), may be just the reference you need. This helpful guide concisely explains the complexities of gifted children, addresses the challenges they face, and details practical strategies for parents to support their gifted children in all … [Read more...] about A Guidebook for Parents
Life in the Fast Lane
Exploring life in a residential high school, Nurturing Talent in High School: Life in the Fast Lane (Teachers College, 2005) shows how the combination of rigorous academics and residential life creates an environment that accelerates the pace of development for gifted students. Author Laurence J. Coleman spent a year on the campus of a public residential high school … [Read more...] about Life in the Fast Lane
Gifted in the Middle
Although Educating Gifted Students in Middle School: A Practical Guide, by Susan Rakow (Prufrock, 2005), is written for educators, parents can glean from it excellent information about what shapes middle school educational policy and how to bring recommendations to their child’s middle school. … [Read more...] about Gifted in the Middle
Losing Our Minds
Deborah L. Ruf, in her new book Losing Our Minds: Gifted Children Left Behind (Great Potential, 2005), contends that far more intellectually advanced students exist than is commonly thought and that to educate them effectively, degrees of giftedness must be understood. Ruf defines five levels of giftedness and identifies the typical IQ score range and the age at which children typically exhibit milestone behaviors. Her book describes each level in depth and provides real-life examples. … [Read more...] about Losing Our Minds
Coping Skills: What Can We Learn from Those Who Succeed?
In his latest book, Status Anxiety, Alain de Botton, the best-selling author and philosopher, graphically chronicles the universal anxiety, often unspoken, about what others think of us and whether they judge us successes or failures by our achievements. De Botton asks, “Why do people generally seem unsatisfied?” He answers this by exploring the comparisons people make between themselves and others. People get concerned, he says, when they think of their family, friends, achievements, and … [Read more...] about Coping Skills: What Can We Learn from Those Who Succeed?
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
Field Guides for Children
Spring is a great time to cultivate an interest in the natural world by investing in children’s field guides. Young nature enthusiasts have two excellent choices: Fandex Family Field Guides, by Workman Publishing, and Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists, by Houghton Mifflin. … [Read more...] about Field Guides for Children