What causes stress in gifted youth and what specific skills do they need to manage it? Although stress is a real presence in all people's lives, it can be more intense for the gifted because they are usually more sensitive, introspective, and emotional. Growing up gifted is a qualitatively different experience, which can manifest itself in the…

The author's parents taught her that merely "adequate" is not sufficient. The author began homeschooling halfway through her 5th-grade year partly because of this philosophy. One reason why the author's parents chose homeschooling was because of her dedication to classical piano. The author and her parents agreed that she would probably be able to…

How frequently are gifted children misdiagnosed? Frankly, there are no research data, though the authors know it occurs, and perhaps frequently. How do individuals draw this conclusion? Because the authors have tested children whose parents have come to them for a second (or third) opinion, and in their clinical experience it appears that…

The term "twice exceptional" is used to describe gifted students who also have specific academic, behavioral, and social-emotional difficulties. This is a population of gifted students for whom the expertise and experience of school psychologists may be particularly relevant. This article discusses the ways in which school psychologists can help…

In most schools, the term "arts" represents visual arts (art appreciation, painting, clay, etc.), performing arts (including music, dance, and theater), creative writing, and media arts (i.e., photography, digital video, and traditional filmmaking). "Theater" and "drama" are often used interchangeably, but "theater" comprises all of the technical…

In many classrooms, poetry is shoved to the neglected edge of language arts, out of the bright core of content that may (should) include grammar, vocabulary, and strong literature. If time permits, a class may read a few poems and discuss them from a so-called "interpretive" point of view. All of this takes place in the context of an apparent…

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is the ultimate child prodigy. It is said that Mozart, after attending a service at the Vatican, wrote down an entire sacred piece of music after one hearing. There are countless examples of the amazing feats that Mozart accomplished through his childhood, not to mention his huge compositional output throughout…

Advanced 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students at the Gifted Resource Center (GRC) in a suburban Chicago public school district are regularly engaged in various types of activities. The GRC uses language arts units for high ability students created and developed as a base curriculum at the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary.…

As educators of gifted students, the authors see more schools climbing aboard the differentiation wagon, and students who have been identified as cognitively gifted receiving services beyond logic worksheets. Everyone still has a long way to go, however. As classroom teachers become more familiar with characteristics of giftedness and begin to…

Having stepped up to the educational challenge of their public service mission, many public art museums now employ more educators than curators, and attendance numbers continue to swell. Museum professionals have become more aware of the multiple dimensions that go into making a successful museum experience for their patrons. The increased rigor…

Through the arts, attributes such as artistic expression, cooperative working skills, and talent are developed. By exposing students to the arts, learners are exposed to new experiences that may guide them toward particular careers or deeply satisfying hobbies. The arts also encourage students to take chances; meet challenges; and overcome…

In working with right-brained or visual spatial children for the past 20 years, the author has noticed that they all learn in a similar manner. He has also noticed that a high percentage of gifted children are visual spatial learners. The more visual spatial a child is, the higher the potential for school difficulties. Since most teachers are…

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a relatively recent term in education and psychology and has gained more interest since it became a recognized exceptionality in the United States in 1994. It is classified with autism under the term "Pervasive Developmental Disorder" (PDD). The primary criteria for diagnosis include linguistic, social, and behavioral…

Technology helps students develop coping strategies to deal with various learning differences. Assistive technology is a common intervention provided to students with disabilities and generally varies depending on student need. Within gifted education, the use of computers and technology is concentrated on curricular applications and activities…

Perfectionism, which the author defines as beliefs and behaviors associated with high expectations for one's performance, is not necessarily detrimental. Many successful people demonstrate perfectionism that the author labels "functional." They set goals that are attainable, based on realistic self-knowledge. When planning a new venture they focus…