Being Smart about Gifted Education
A Guidebook for Educators and Parents
Description:... Written for both parents and educators who work with children of advanced abilities, the authors present practical strategies to identify and nurture exceptionally high ability in children. They promote the "mastery" (rather than the "mystery") model of gifted education, and challenge several common practices and assumptions. They offer ways to determine each child's level of learning, and say that it is simply appropriate to provide the educational experiences that every child needs at a particular time. Key features include: (1) "Mastery" vs "Mystery" models; (2) How giftedness develops; (3) Relevant brain research; (4) Use and misuse of assessment (5) Programming options; (6) Social and behavioural concerns; (7) Teacher development processes; and (8) Parenting strategies. Following a foreword and a preface, this book contains the following chapters: (1) Perspectives and Paradigm Shifts; (2) Creativity and Giftedness; (3) Questions and Answers about Testing; (4) Assessments and Tests; (5) Mismatch Diagnostics; (6) Adaptations: The Gifted Learner in the Regular Classroom; (7) Alternative Options: Stretching the Boundaries; (8) Motivation and Achievement Issues; (9) How Does Giftedness Develop?; (10) Emotional, Social, and Behavioral Considerations; (11) Parenting Matters; (12) Teacher Development; and (13) Optimal Learning for All Children. Appendices include: (1) Test Scores: The Nuts and Bolts of Assessments; and (2) Educational Decision Making. Poem "They Tell Me I'm Gifted", Endnotes, References, Index, and About the Authors are also included.
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