Finding opportunities to incorporate global awareness into gifted youth's day-to-day lives can be a valuable endeavor. Martial arts training, or components of martial arts training, may provide part of the solution to a multi-tiered global awareness problem in American youth. In Fall 2018, the author conducted a survey study with 137 families to…

When considering a school switch, it is imperative that the child be involved in the decision-making process. One study has shown that students who feel forced by their parents to attend a middle school magnet program instead of their assigned middle school showed greater dissatisfaction with school life than those who chose to attend the magnet…

The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015 is an exciting development for parents, teachers, school leaders, and others who believe U.S. schools should meet the needs of high-ability students. The ESSA revised and reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), previously known as the No Child…

Twice-exceptional (2E) students are those who demonstrate a gift or talent in one or more areas and have a disability in another area. One identifying characteristic of 2E children is asynchronous development, or the display of unusual talent or maturity in one or more areas alongside a struggle to develop in other areas. Asynchronous development…

In India, parents play an important role in arranging and facilitating educational opportunities for their children, starting with the choice of school, arranging after-school classes, and sending them to various non-academic extracurricular classes. Most parents closely follow the academic performance of their children and willingly spend time…

It can be thrilling when parents receive a letter notifying them their child is eligible for the school's gifted program. However the academic and talent development that a child receives at school should also be complemented by social and emotional support at home. There are many books that can help provide the information a parent needs to…

This issue's "Parent Group Spotlight" features Deborah Simon, president of West Sound Gifted, Talented & Twice-Exceptional (WSGT2e), who started a parent group in Washington in 2013. In just one year, this small, but mighty group has held community forums, attended school board meetings, and helped influence local gifted programming.…

Providing an optimal match in the pace of instruction and level of content increases student engagement and is essential for all students. And while the idea of optimal match makes sense educationally, it can be challenging to determine what pace and level of instruction is optimal for gifted students. Fortunately, there is an effective,…

Sometimes it's not easy for highly creative children to "comply" with a regular curriculum, even at the preschool age. They are wired to explore, experiment, build, imagine, and create. If forced at a young age into a diet heavy on rote learning and directed work, they may struggle. It's not that these children can't do the work, it's…

Music called to future conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, at an early age. Though his family could not afford music lessons, Dudamel did what thousands of children in Venezuela do. He went to one of the hundreds of music schools of the National System of Children and Youth Orchestras of Venezuela. Founded in the 1970s by pioneering musician and economist…

Why encourage children to play board games? In the increasing disconnect of our digital lives, playing games provides a way to connect and relate with others on a human level. Strategy and role-playing games provide intellectual challenges and stretch creativity to keep the gifted mind engaged in solving problems. At the same time, the players…

Being a parent in the "gifted world" is challenging, especially when you don't have all the information. Whether your child has already been identified and is in a gifted program or you are looking for the school to better meet your child's needs, it's essential to know the various staff and administrators that can help you and your…

Meeting the needs of gifted students is challenging even in traditional contexts and settings. Well-known issues include a limited choice of schools, underrepresentation of certain populations, and, often, the lack of facilities and support for high-ability students. Imagine, then, the further complexities of high-ability Third Culture Kids (TCKs)…

"I'm bored!" It is the refrain dreaded by all parents. By the time winter weather has come and gone, all kids, not just gifted ones, are ready for a change of scenery and/or a change in routine. What is an overworked parent plagued by spring fever him- or herself to do? Finding the right distraction for a gifted child can prove…

The new year brings about one's desire to change and to improve one's self. These emotions quickly fade and turn into lofty resolutions that are not fulfilled. For parents of gifted children, many parallels can be made between making New Year's resolutions and setting more long-term goals related to their education and/or career.…