Click here to listen! On the second episode of The Duke TIP Podcast, Tracy and Katy talk with Skyla Woodard and her mom, April Bonds. Skyla is a very talented 10-year-old TIPster/actor/singer. This summer, she’ll be on an episode of the AMC television show “TURN: Washington’s Spies,” she’ll star as Mary Lennox in Raleigh Theatre’s production of The Secret Garden, and she’ll attend Duke TIP’s CRISIS program. April tells us all about raising an academically talented child as a single mom, Skyla … [Read more...] about The Duke TIP Podcast Episode 2: Skyla Woodard and April Bonds
extracurriculars
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
Is My Child A Math Prodigy? What Can I Do For Them?
What are some signs of math talent? Mathematically talented students often show an early interest in and facility with numbers. For example, they may learn to tell time at age two and begin adding and subtracting long before they enter kindergarten. Anecdotes shared by parents about their precocious youngsters are helpful in identifying these students initially, but the objective information determined from an appropriate assessment is essential in determining the extent of their abilities and … [Read more...] about Is My Child A Math Prodigy? What Can I Do For Them?
America’s Got Talent
American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and America's Got Talent have been around for years, and when I was a kid there was Star Search (on which a young Britney Spears appeared) which lasted well over 10 seasons. These shows mostly feature talented singers, musicians and dancers who are often desperate to get their shot at stardom. And only a handful of them go on to become household names. … [Read more...] about America’s Got Talent
Suggestions for Reshaping the Admission Process
College admissions can play a huge role in shaping a student’s life. A new report from researchers at Harvard makes some recommendations for reshaping the college admissions process. Their goal is to put greater emphasis on a student’s commitment to others and the common good rather than personal success and academic performance. It is their belief that citizens, including students, need to be concerned about others and the common good—and that today’s culture sends messages that emphasize … [Read more...] about Suggestions for Reshaping the Admission Process
How Do Academically Talented U.S. Students Spend Their Time Compared to Their Peers in India?
For decades, gifted education researchers have been lamenting that the U.S. is undergoing a “quiet crisis” regarding the education of its most academically talented students. The situation is viewed as a crisis because many talented students aren’t being appropriately challenged and many parents, educators and education experts believe their talents are being wasted. The crisis is considered quiet because hardly anyone else has been paying attention to it. … [Read more...] about How Do Academically Talented U.S. Students Spend Their Time Compared to Their Peers in India?
Academically Talented Students in U.S. and India Engage Equally in Extracurricular Activities
For decades, gifted education researchers have been lamenting that the U.S. is undergoing a “quiet crisis” regarding the education of its most academically talented students. The situation is viewed as a crisis because many talented students aren’t being appropriately challenged and many parents, educators and education experts believe their talents are being wasted. The crisis is considered quiet because hardly anyone else has been paying attention to it. … [Read more...] about Academically Talented Students in U.S. and India Engage Equally in Extracurricular Activities
Contrasting School and Summer Growth for High-Achieving Students
In a recently published study, “High-Achieving and Average Students’ Reading Growth: Contrasting School and Summer Trajectories,” researchers found that initially high-achieving students showed similar academic growth rates during the summer and the school year. On the other hand, the typical student improved during the school year but not during the summer. The figure below is a representation of the trends found in the article. The dashed red line for typical students shows achievement growth … [Read more...] about Contrasting School and Summer Growth for High-Achieving Students