Overexcitabilities (OEs) are part of a larger theory, the Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD), postulated by Polish World War I and II survivor Kazimierz Dabrowski. Simply put, an OE is a stimulus-response that is different from the norm; it is a heightened ability to both receive and respond to stimuli. Originally translated as…

Twice-exceptional students can shine in the STEM fields because Science, Technology, Engineering and Math use higher levels of thinking skills like application, synthesis, creativity and evaluation. In this article, the author discusses what parents and teachers can do to open the STEM doors for twice-exceptional learners.

Tier 1, the first level of instruction in the RtI (Response to Intervention) framework, is designed to meet the needs of 80% of students within the regular classroom. The only way to accomplish this goal is to use differentiation. Differentiation is not a singular process; it is rather a complicated process of adapting instructional strategies so…

Bullying has been an ongoing problem for students, but the issue is becoming more critical with changes in the society and the school systems. A bully is no longer "a person who hurts, frightens, threatens, or tyrannizes over those who are smaller or weaker". According to Tracy Cross, the definition of a bully now is evolving to include any person…

As a teacher in a public school system, the author had a different perspective on the need to home school the twice-exceptional learner. She thought that schools could provide differentiation for all students and she thought that certified teachers were the only adults who should be providing instruction. Yet, she realized that there are times…

This article provides strategies for teaching gifted students who have learning disabilities, including making sure students see the big picture before learning its pieces, teaching students to set realistic, short-term goals, making everything visual, providing hands-on situations, and using musical chants and rhymes. Guidelines for parents are…

This article describes the characteristics of students with Asperger syndrome and discusses identifying students with Asperger syndrome who are also gifted. Classroom interventions for these twice exceptional students are addressed and the need for intervention that is highly individualized is stressed. Diagnostic criteria for Asperger's disorder…

This article presents a plan for teaching gifted students with emotional/behavior disabilities (EBD). Educators are advised to assemble student background information, consider goals that the student needs to accomplish and needed accommodations, develop specific behavior plans, and design a curriculum that is both challenging and addresses…

Six necessary program components to prepare gifted students with disabilities for productive adult lives are identified: provide challenging educational experiences along with supports, facilitate passion learning through enrichment activities, empower students through student-centered planning, develop self-advocacy, enhance positive social…

This article reviews gifted characteristics in students with different types of disabilities, including gifted students with learning disabilities, visual disabilities, physical disabilities, hearing disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Identification considerations are discussed, along with strategies for instruction.…

This article discusses the plight of the gifted child who has a disability, society's ambivalence towards double-labeled students, and the need to ensure children be allowed and assisted to develop to their full potential. The story of a young boy who is both intellectually gifted and physically disabled is told. (Contains 1 reference.) (CR)

This article discusses the need for gifted students who have disabilities to have a strong support group to assist them with several key emotional issues that may impede their academic achievement, including: anger, fear of failure, a strong need to control, low self-esteem, an sometimes, even fear of success. (CR)

This article offers a list of World Wide Web sites with general collections of resources on students with dual exceptionalities and also on sources of information on specific disabilities. (Contains 3 references.) (LC)

Each of these issues of "Understanding Our Gifted" is based on the following themes: valuing parents, excellence revisited, networking, talent searches, attention deficit disorders, and mainstreaming the gifted. Feature articles of the six issues include: "'Pushy and Domineering': A Stigma Placed on Parents of Gifted Children" (Lynn C. Cole and…

This journal theme issue focuses on attention deficit disorders (ADD) in gifted children. "Gifted Children with Attention Deficit Disorder" by Deirdre V. Lovecky outlines symptoms of ADD, types of ADD, issues of giftedness, strengths of gifted children with ADD, and methods for helping gifted children with ADD. "The Perplexed Perfectionist" by…