Exceptional Book of the Year, 2006!
Being Smart about Gifted Children was awarded first prize (2006 Exceptional Book of the Year) by the premier journal of special education in Canada, Exceptionality Education Canada, which is now known as Exceptionality Education International. One of the reviewers wrote, [Being Smart about Gifted Children: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators] is “an outstanding resource on gifted children and gifted education. I believe it should be widely read and recommended to professionals and families.”
2005 Best Book In Education Award!!
Being Smart about Gifted Children won the prestigious Glyph Award of the Arizona Book Publishers' Association in the "Best Book in Education" category. The judges for the books submitted for this biennial event were librarians, bookstore buyers, and educators. We thank the Arizona Book Publishers' Association for this significant recognition of our book, and we thank our publishers, Great Potential Press, for their ongoing support.
Chapters/Indigo Trusted Advisor Program
Chapters/Indigo is the largest group of Canadian bookstores, and runs a highly respected Trusted Advisor Program that considers books for inclusion based on a lengthy review process. We are proud that Being Smart about Gifted Children has been selected for the Chapters/Indigo Trusted Advisor Program, and is listed as a Recommended book for parents and health professionals.
Parentbooks is a delightful bookstore in downtown Toronto that has been working with parents and educators for years, helping them find the resources they need for living and working with children. We are honored that they selected Being Smart about Gifted Children for inclusion as a Featured book.
Table of Contents
Being Smart about Gifted Education, 2nd edition
SECTION I. BEING SMART ABOUT GIFTEDNESS
CHAPTER 1. PERSPECTIVES AND PARADIGM SHIFTS
- What Is Giftedness?
- Two Perspectives: Mystery and Mastery
- Shifting Paradigms
- Origins: Nature or Nurture?
- Domains of Competence
- Is Learning Easy?
- Other Terms
- Historical Perspective
- Guidelines and a Definition
- Questions
CHAPTER 2. CREATIVITY AND GIFTEDNESS
- What Is Creativity?
- Can We Measure Creativity?
- Nurturing Creativity
- Creative Parenting and Teaching
SECTION II. BEING SMART ABOUT DIAGNOSING MISMATCHES
CHAPTER 3. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT TESTING
- Who Needs Testing?
- What Are the Key Concepts?
- What Purpose Does Testing Serve?
- When to Test?
- Where to Test?
- Why Test?
CHAPTER 4. ASSESSMENTS AND TESTS
- It Starts with the Teacher: Classroom Assessment
- Standardized Tests
- Nonstandardized Measures and Other Information Sources
- A Synopsis
CHAPTER 5. MISMATCH DIAGNOSTICS
- The Way It Ought to Be: Diagnosing Mismatches
- The Way It Too Often Is: Mystery Model Identification
- Labeling
- Moving Toward Mismatch Diagnostics
- Early Identification
- Parents’ Roles
SECTION III. BEING SMART ABOUT MEETING GIFTED LEARNING NEEDS
CHAPTER 6. ADAPTATIONS: THE GIFTED LEARNER IN THE REGULAR CLASSROOM
- A Flexible Range of Educational Options
- Options in the Regular Classroom
CHAPTER 7. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: STRETCHING THE BOUNDARIES
- Whole-Grade Acceleration
- Gifted Classes
- Second Language Immersion and Dual Track Programs
- Specialty Subjects
- Specialized and Alternative Schools
- Private and Independent Schools
- Homeschooling
- Casting the Net Farther Afield
- Extracurricular Enrichment
- Mentorships
- Career Exploration
- Books
- Travel
- Do-Nothing Times
- And So…
SECTION IV. BEING SMART ABOUT GIFTED DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 8. MOTIVATION AND OTHER ISSUES
- Motivation: The Heart of Learning
- Motivators: Practical Strategies
- Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation
- Achievement Issues
- Practical Ideas
CHAPTER 9. HOW DOES GIFTEDNESS DEVELOP?
- Nature or Nurture? Back to Origins
- Developmental Pathways
- Gifted Development in Early Childhood
- Early Adolescence (Sigh)
- The Importance of Play
- Being Smart and Being Funny
- What’s Love Got to Do with It? The Role of Passion in Gifted Development
- Effort, Persistence, Perseverance, and Practice
- Differences between Boys and Girls
- Cultural Differences
- Prodigies and Extreme Giftedness
- Twice Exceptional: Learning Problems and Gifted Development
- Career Counseling and Gifted Development
CHAPTER 10. EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Gifted Labeling
- School Change: Social Concerns
- Social Skills
- Self-Concept
- Perspective and Attitude
- Excessive Computer Time
- Suicide
- Other Behavioral Concerns
- Solutions: Emotional Intelligence
- Well-Being, Benevolence, Wisdom, and Leadership
SECTION V. BEING SMART ABOUT FAMILIES, ADVOCATES, AND EDUCATORS
CHAPTER 11. PARENTING MATTERS
- Making Decisions about Programming, Placement, and Change
- Making the Choice Work
- Advocacy: Helping Schools Meet Children’s Needs
- Supportive Parenting
- Sibling Relationships
- Seeking Professional Help
CHAPTER 12. TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
- Teacher Development
- Administrative Support
- Formats
- What Can Parents Expect?
- The Dynamic Scaffolding Model (DSM) of Teacher Development
- Engagement in Teaching and Learning
CHAPTER 13: OPTIMAL LEARNING FOR ALL CHILDREN
- Sharing Resources in a Changing World
- University-Based Gifted Education
- Resource Centers
- Questions and Answers
- The Importance of Staying Up-to-Date
- Being Smart about Tomorrow
APPENDIX I: THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF ASSESSMENTS
Interpreting Test Scores A Case Study with Excerpts from a Psychoeducational ReportAPPENDIX II: EDUCATIONAL DECISION-MAKING
POEM – They Tell Me I’m Gifted…
REFERENCES
INDEX