As many of you know, aside from writing this blog, I am also employed by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) as moderator for #gtchat on Twitter. As part of my job, this year I attended their Annual Professional Conference and Parents’ Conference in Dallas at the end of November. What an experience! I have attended state conferences...
A Disturbance in the Force
"I felt a great disturbance in the Force ... "~ Obi-WanIt has been an extraordinary week in the gifted community … a national convention in the U.S., a new major book on giftedness released and a major name-change for a national organization in the U.K. Where to begin?If you live in the U.S. and are involved in the gifted community, you are well...
Is There a Place at the Table for Parents?
You often see me write about the ‘gifted community’. Recent events within this community have led me to wonder if there really is a ‘place at the table’ for parents. Consequently, I began to consider who is already seated there: educators, researchers, teachers, psychologists? Where would I look to find out just who makes up the guest list? National...
Orientation: The School for Gifted Potentials
When first contacted by the author (yes, I did receive a copy gratis) of this book to review it, I was in the midst of a dozen projects with deadlines looming. I reluctantly agreed to read it when I got the chance … until I read the first page! The plight of Everett and his mother grabbed my attention immediately and struck a chord with my own life...
Standardization ~ The Implications for Gifted Children
Every time I hear the word ‘standardization’, I {{shiver}}. And I shiver a lot these days! When I consider the implications for gifted children, I visualize a roll of duct tape about to be applied to the ‘box’.I fail to see how the road we’re headed on leads to anything but a dead end. Standardization has been twisted and turned into a grand scheme...
Nurturing the Global Nature of Giftedness
This week, the global gifted community will have the opportunity to virtually join with participants of the 13thInternational Conference of the European Council for High Ability (ECHA) in Münster, Germany.On Thursday, September 13th, a highly anticipated Symposium on Social Media and Gifted Education will add a new online component to the conference...
What to Expected When You’re Expecting? The Unexpected
When I was expecting my first child, I must have read the book ~ What to Expect When You’re Expecting ~ at least five times. I was all set! I had all the answers laid out for me on the pages of this one easy-to-read book. Piece of cake. No problem. Years of perfect parenting and my child would be out the door on her way to a perfect existence due in...
Supporting Your Child’s Gifted Teacher
Parents often concentrate all their time advocating for their child. Isn’t that what parents should do? Sure, but I’m about to expand your job responsibilities. Listen carefully ~ parents of gifted children should also support their child’s gifted teacher. Now I know what you’re going to say ~ What if the teacher does not support my child? First, it...
Accentuate the Positive
In the past few days, I have been hearing a lot about being positive. To be honest … I oftentimes struggle with this in regard to education and in particular the education of highly-abled or gifted kids. It’s easy to see all the negative aspects ~ such...
Just My Imagination
When I was in high school, I wrote a paper for a Creative Writing class based on the classic song by The Temptations, “It Was Just My Imagination”. At the time, I was fascinated by the thought that our own imagination can be one of our greatest sources of inspiration. I was reminded of this after recently reading a blogpost, by Stephanie Tolan on...
The Quirky Child and the Soul of Giftedness
This post is part of the World Council of Gifted & Talented Children's International Week of the Gifted 2012 Blog TourQuirky: something that is strange/not normal, but cool; characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits. That’s about right. Gifted kids are quirky. They have quirky friends. They like quirky things. Strange, but cool! Add in emotional...
The Digital Revolution … Why the Gifted Community Should Be Leading the Way
The digital revolution has been going on for over a decade. Experiencing it first hand, I have been preaching the value of social media (see and for starters) in the gifted community since I began this blog in March of 2010.I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I work with the to facilitate communication with vital stakeholders in the gifted community...
Who Should Teach Gifted Education?
Is it fair to ask regular education teachers to teach gifted education? The question is both simple and complicated at the same time. The variables are as great as the number of teachers teaching. Let’s go with the simple answer first. No. No, it is not fair. It is not fair to the teacher and it is not fair to the gifted student. ...
Gagné’s Promise … Potential and Achievement
Recently, I was privileged to hear Dr. Françoys Gagné give a presentation on his Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent 2.0 (DMGT) in Second Life []. Although I had read many papers by Professor Gagné, nothing could replace listening to him explain it in person (virtually) and answer questions from the audience.With all the recent discussion...
Raising Awareness - One Chat at a Time
It is with great pleasure to once again this year participate in Blog Tour. This spring, I took over the reins of Global #gtchat on Twitter and as I was pondering this decision, I was reminded of why I write and tweet … to raise awareness of the needs...
Emotional Intensity and Overexcitabilities
Becoming the parent of a gifted child is not unlike getting married. Whereas, you initially think that you are starting a new life together with your spouse, you soon realize that you have actually married an extended family and their entire social network!Parenting not only involves your child. You must also learn to deal with their peer network –...
Elitism? Walk a Mile in My Shoes
In the past few weeks, there have been online discussions and blog posts concerning charges of elitism directed at gifted children and their parents. Honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.Looking back over the past 15 years, I’ve decided that 9 months of expecting the arrival of those precious bundles of joy was akin to waiting in line at...
Gifted Education in Rural Areas
Does it make a difference where a child lives with regard to their education? Why, yes … yes it does! In fact, it matters a great deal. In the U.S., 40% of American schools are considered rural; towns with populations of less than 2,500 people.In other parts of the world, the percentage is even higher. The University...
Happy Birthday, Gifted Parenting Support!
Gifted Parenting Support celebrated 2 years of blogging this past week! It has been an adventure beyond our wildest dreams and has opened up a multitude of doors within the gifted community. We are fast approaching 35,000 page views and we’re read in over 80 countries! Who would have guessed we would be here just 2 short years ago. It is a testament...
Gifted Education Awareness Week – Namibia
I would like to thank Roya Klingner from the Global Center for Gifted Education for inviting me to blog as a part of Gifted Education Awareness Week in Namibia.Namibiais a young nation which only gained its independence 30 years ago. It is a large but...