Dear Dr. Courtright, My daughter was recently able to take the ACT as a part of the Duke TIP program. Her results came back, and she was placed in the 99th percentile among the other tested Duke TIP students in reading, 81st percentile in English, and mid 50s for math and science. Following the recommendations from the Duke TIP resources regarding interpreting scores, I met with the school counselor, principal, and English head. All seem to be extremely hesitant about allowing my daughter to … [Read more...] about Ask the Experts: Mixed Test Results and Acceleration
boredom
Ask the Experts: Underachieving Gifted Students
Can you recommend some resources to motivate an underachieving gifted student? Dear Dr. Courtright, Information you've shared in the past about traits of gifted students was right on point for my son, who is in the 8th grade and in the TIP program. It was also highly aligned to struggles my husband and I have had with positive and negative traits. I desperately need some resources and more information that can help us accentuate the positive and reduce the negative. Do you have anything you can … [Read more...] about Ask the Experts: Underachieving Gifted Students
Placement change requests
by Eric O'Neal, Duke TIP Intern and NCCU Graduate The memories of my years in elementary school seem almost a lifetime ago now. The days of walking in a single file line down halls and keeping that bothersome lunch PIN are no longer necessary. Though elementary school may seem a minor step in your educational career, it lays down the foundation of your learning experience and behaviors. It may be worth noting that from my 2nd grade through 6th grade years, every teacher I had either quit after … [Read more...] about Placement change requests
Listening For What Gifted Children Don’t Say
Gifted children often talk a lot. Their early vocabulary astounds their audiences and attracts amazed praise. The frequent and extraordinary approval reinforces their verbal skills and, by classical conditioning, causes them to feel intelligent while they’re talking. It’s no wonder they’re often so willing to share their knowledge—sometimes nonstop—with parents, classmates, teachers, and almost anyone who is willing to listen. The confident verbosity of gifted children convinces parents that … [Read more...] about Listening For What Gifted Children Don’t Say
Unmasking the Egalitarian Fiction
Parent Question: My son knows most of the math being taught in his class and is bored with the slow pace of instruction in other subjects. Classmates sometimes make fun of his advanced vocabulary, and he has fewer friends each year. But school personnel brush off my concerns and act as if I want special favors. Why are they treating me and my child as the problem? … [Read more...] about Unmasking the Egalitarian Fiction
Teaching to the Test and Gifted Learners
Recent educational initiatives have focused on raising the academic ceiling for all students, including the minimum expectations in each subject area at each grade level. State tests assess whether minimum competencies are met, and curricular resources help schools and teachers address each standard and reach established goals. The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented at the University of Virginia recently undertook a two-year study of the implications of such initiatives for the … [Read more...] about Teaching to the Test and Gifted Learners
Making the Homework Connection
For some parents of gifted children, homework comes with many hassles, leaving Mom and Dad with more questions than answers: What is the purpose and value of homework? What is a reasonable amount of homework? When should I help, and when should I stand back? Following are some answers to these questions and practical strategies parents can use to avoid homework battles. … [Read more...] about Making the Homework Connection
Bored to Tears? We Should Listen!
A child came home from school one day and said, “I’m bored.” “What’s the matter? What do you mean?” his parents implored What does this child mean when he says that he is bored? Is he bored at school? Is he at a loss for what to do once he gets home? Why do his parents respond with emotions ranging from impatience to anxiety? … [Read more...] about Bored to Tears? We Should Listen!
Gifted Readers and Young Adult Literature: A Perfect Match
Gifted learners who are avid readers tend to read not only for the simple joy of it but to cope in a world that does not understand giftedness and is sometimes openly hostile to the intellectually gifted. These students read to overcome the boredom of an unchallenging curriculum and to satisfy their curiosity. But however gifted they may be, they still need guidance in making suitable, interesting, challenging reading choices, just as other students do. So, where can we turn to provide … [Read more...] about Gifted Readers and Young Adult Literature: A Perfect Match
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