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Gifted 101: A Guide for First Time Visitorsby Carolyn K. director, Hoagies' Gifted Education Page
What is Gifted?What is gifted? How is it defined? Who are the gifted? What are their needs? Why should we care? So many questions...What is giftedness? There is no universal definition. Some professionals define "gifted" as an intelligence test score above 130, two or more standard deviations above the norm, or the top 2.5%. Others define "gifted" based on scholastic achievement: a gifted child works 2 or more grade levels above his or her age. Still others see giftedness as prodigious accomplishment: adult-level work while chronologically a child. But these are far from the only definitions. Former U. S. Commissioner of Education Sidney P. Marland, Jr., in his August 1971 report to Congress, stated:
No Child Left Behind legislation created a new, achievement-based definition of giftedness, however it does not mandate that states use its definition:
A group of respected professionals in the field of gifted suggest a definition based on the gifted child's differences from the norm:
Most definitions agree: gifted children are a population who have different educational needs, thanks to their unique intellectual development. What we're not so sure of, is how to identify them, and what this different education should look like. That's where Hoagies' Gifted Education Page comes in... Welcome!Welcome to Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, and the world of the gifted child! It may be a challenge, but it's never boring! We think you'll find our information useful, for parenting and educating gifted children. Thanks for visiting! Hoagies' Gifted Education Page is the comprehensive resource for education of gifted children, for parents, for teachers, for administrators and other educators, counselors and psychologists, and even for the gifted kids themselves. It's full of great information, with links to the most complete, easiest to use resources on nearly every aspect of gifted education available on the Internet, plus lots of annotations and first hand information provided by parents facing the same challenges that you are facing. But it's so big! Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, like our gifted
children, can be overwhelming at first. When you have a question, visit
Acronyms, Terms, and other things we need to know... Before we start, look in the upper right corner of each page, and you'll find a full text search of the site. If you have a specific question, or you're looking for specific information, type a few words of your topic in the search box, and click "Search" to search Hoagies' Gifted Education Page and ERIC EC Clearinghouse for Exceptional Children. Gifted 101 offers a quick trip through some of the most valuable sections of Hoagies' Gifted Education Page for first time visitors. Let's start at the beginning... IdentificationYour first stop in gifted education is often Identification. This section contains articles and research on identifying our children, whether they are obviously 'gifted' or just not fitting well within the traditional school environment. If you're not sure your child is gifted, review the Characteristics of Giftedness scale by Linda Kreger Silverman. And for information on giftedness in Young Children, read The Young Gifted Child for telltale signs that young gifted children often exhibit. Every parent and educator should read Stephanie Tolan's classic essay, Is
It A Cheetah? TestingMany of us arrive here during the process of Testing and Measurement. If you are just considering testing, read Why Should I Have My Child Tested? and Assessing Gifted Children to learn about tests and testing of our gifted children. Once the testing is scheduled, you might ask How Can I Prepare My Child for Testing?. When testing is complete and results are in, the next question is invariably What Do the Tests Tell Us? If your child has been tested more than once, or the initial results just don't seem to make sense with your knowledge of your own child, read Why do my child's test scores vary from test to test? Looking for information on a specific test? Visit Inventory of Tests, a list of the most common (and many less common) tests given to gifted children, along with details about each test.
For
a great introduction to gifted tests and testing, read
Parent's
Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education
Gifted Education and Gifted ProgramsNow that your child is identified as gifted, what's next? Gifted Education means something different in each state and school district, and it's often left to the parent to negotiate the channels of gifted education. You should start by learning your state Gifted Mandates, as well as your local school board policy on gifted education. Gifted Programs may involve enrichment pull-out classes, segregated classrooms, or grade and subject Academic Acceleration. Classroom teachers may (or may not) offer Curriculum Modifications. Gifted children are gifted all the time; their educational needs should be considered in the structure of their entire school day, not just the ready-made gifted enrichment program. Your gifted child may need Curriculum
Adjustments. Some adjustments that are often discussed for gifted children
include Grouping, Academic
Acceleration, and Early Entrance to Kindergarten.
Each educational option has its pros and cons, including Social
/ Emotional Issues and Underachievement. If
you'd like an easy to read introduction for parents and teachers, order a copy
of Dona J. Matthews and Joanne F. Foster's Being
Smart about Gifted Education: A Guidebook for Educators and Parents
If you're the teacher of the gifted, there
are great resources here for you. Start with
Gifted Education Professional Development Package... it's a full 6-unit course
in gifted education, from soup to nuts -- Identification to Instruction, plus
the condiments -- Underachievement, Twice Exceptional, and Social-Emotional
aspects of giftedness. And if you only purchase one book on gifted for
your own classroom use (and you're in K-6 education), make it Susan
Winebrenner's
Teaching Gifted Kids in Today's Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every
Teacher Can Use
SupportThe best thing about the Internet is that it brings together people from all over the world. Though there may not be many gifted children on your block, or more than a couple highly gifted children in your whole school district, support is available on-line. Mailing Lists, Message Boards, Blogs and more.... are electronic resources to find lots of other parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals just like you, struggling with the same questions, concerns, and joys. For parents, groups like GT-World and The TAG Project, and their corresponding mailing lists, GT-Families and TAGFAM, are the only places we can talk about what our kids are doing now and want to do soon, without sounding like we're bragging or pushing. If you have an inkling of a special gifted group, specialty lists like GT-Special (for twice exceptional kids) and TAGPDQ (for families of "more than just gifted, or Pretty Darn Quick gifted kids), or TAGMAX (for homeschooling gifted families) might be a better choice for you. Whatever your preference, please join us! Teachers will appreciate Prufrock's Gifted Education Blog, and professionals, consider reading "Intelligent" Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (a.k.a. IQs Corner). If you'd rather get together with parents and educators in person, check out Conferences for gatherings on gifted education all over the world. Or find some local support and information in Gifted Organizations. Research and ArticlesFor general information on gifted education, go to Hoagies' Readings,
including ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted
A
Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back Americas Brightest Students Books
For you: resources that you can bring right into your home, visit Hoagies' annotated lists of Gifted Books and Journals discussing many aspects of Gifted Children, and Products and Publishers to help educate the gifted child. For teachers and counselors / psychologists, the books in the Gifted Library are a great set of resources on gifted education and gifted children. For the gifted child: Reading
is often an issue with gifted children, as many can read so early and so well; its often difficult to find books that are appropriate both in reading
level and topic. Reading Levels of Children's
Books: How Can You Tell? If your gifted child is struggling with reading, and some gifted children do struggle, visit Hoagies' Gifted: Twice Exceptional for more information about the frustration you and your child may feel, and how you can help. You are not alone! Don't Miss... A Crash Course
For a crash course in the best of gifted resources on the Internet, visit
Don't Miss ... the Best of Hoagies' Gifted Education
Page! You've noticed the blue stars Along with the blue stars, you've found green stars
For The Kids and Teens...And to find lots of great stuff for your gifted children, visit Hoagies' Kids and Teens for great Kids and Teens Links to visit on the Internet, from Gene Gateway in Natural Science to CodeBreaker Crossword in Love of Words to Puzzle Parlor in Brain Teasers and much more. Check out Software Favorites for software that hits the mark for our gifted children of all ages (and has a shelf-life of more than a week), and Magazines for reading favorites of gifted kids and teen (and even adults), and where we can be published in, too! Reading Lists for these unique kids, from literature to special topics. Hot Topics! book lists features books on topics as varied as Physics, History, Poetry, Fantasy, on Being Gifted, and lots more. Movies offers movies that feature gifted kids (and adults) in a positive light. Don't miss Internet Investigations! These ready-to-use curriculum units are found right on the Internet, with subjects from Hamlet on Trial (in Encarta, Arts) to the mathematics of M&Ms to an Anatomy of a Murder: a trip through our nation's (U.S.) legal justice system, for grade levels K to 12 and beyond. To simplify your shopping...By now you've noticed that some of the stars aren't blue, but green
Shop here yourself, or send the link to friends and relatives for holiday shopping ideas! A Little HumorDealing with the issues surrounding the education of our gifted children can
be emotionally draining. Take a moment to "recharge" with
A
Lighter Note.... There are great poems, that really hit home for gifted
children and parents. Plus original features, including You Know You're The Parent of a Gifted Child
When...
A Light in the DarknessAnd when things look really bleak in your educational situation, read our Success Stories, and know that you, too, can find success in your child's educational struggles. Your Next Steps...When you're done Gifted 101 and you're ready for something more, Gifted 102: The Next Steps... continues your journey with more advanced information, and more great resources. Check it out! For more on parenting and educating gifted kids in the day-to-day world, follow @HoagiesGifted on Twitter, Hoagies' Gifted Education Page fan page on Facebook, or Carolyn K. on LinkedIn. Different than Hoagies' Page updates, this feed includes timely short articles and links for kids, and brain research and gifted education features for the adults in their lives. Plus you'll find a safe place to ask questions and get tons of great ideas in response! Please support Hoagies' Gifted Education Page!We need you to support Hoagies' Gifted Education Page. Hoagies' Page is not funded by any school, university, organization, or government grant. The money needed to support the growth and maintenance of a 1150+ page website comes exclusively from your purchases through our affiliates programs, and from your generous donations. Remember to click on Hoagies' affiliates program links, before you put items in your shopping cart at any of our affiliate stores. When you order through our affiliate links, at no cost to you, a small percentage of your purchase will go to Hoagies' Gifted Education Page. Thank You for
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