Grappling with Giftedness

How to cultivate and teach talented kids.

Christopher Taibbi M.A.T.

Identifying the 'Best' Program for Gifted Learners

Full-time in-person or a part-time "hybrid" teacher/online class? What about full-time virtual learning? Does it even matter? It does—and the possibilities need to be explored.

Could COVID-19 Actually Benefit the Gifted Learner?

It's entirely possible that gifted learners might be able to seize online learning platforms for their own benefit.

Why Is My Gifted Child So... Quirky? Sullen? Needy?

Do gifted and high-ability individuals tend to have more--or even different--social and emotional issues? Can anything be done about this?

Evaluating Gifted Programs: Four Essential Questions

Faced with options, trying to find the best "fit" for your gifted child? Here are some questions to consider--and at least one reason why it might not matter all that much.

How to Improve Your Memory Instantly: Part Two

A crash course in doubling, tripling your memory—the sky is the limit! Part two of "How to Improve Your Memory, Instantly." Go ahead, impress yourself with your own giftedness.

How to Improve Your Memory, Instantly

Consider how often your brain gives you mental pictures to help you recall information. Today, let's put it to the test!

Are You From My Planet? Why the Gifted May Seem Goofy

What is a teacher (or parent, co-worker, peer, etc.) to do when a gifted individual asks a question that seems utterly, well,… nonsensical? A question that makes him look—not so much uninformed or even innocent, per se—but rather “scattered” instead of “gifted.”

The Curious Case of the Gullible Gifted

Why would those who are intellectually advanced seem to be less than so at times? No so fast. What you perceive as a lack of critical thinking could be, in truth, quite the opposite.

Appealing Your Child's Gifted Placement Decision

You really have to remember only one truth here: It is your right to appeal this decision. It is not antagonistic of you to do so, and it is not a waste of anyone’s time to demand it.

The Dilemma:The Young Gifted and (Lack of) Fine Motor Skills

For the parents of the very young and gifted, this is indeed a tricky time of childhood to navigate: his mind and brain is ready and eager to explore and express itself but often his physical abilities to do so are limited. But there are ways to help your child express his full potential. Let's get to it.

Giftedness and Boredom, Part Two: Tackling the Issue Head On

When boredom becomes a stagnant source of negativity that kills a child’s interest in learning and when that boredom is the result of poor curricular decisions, it needs to be addressed. Let's do it.

Giftedness and Classroom Boredom: Maybe It's Not All Bad

Michaelangelo is credited with commenting that, “If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.” Persevering against boredom in the very face of that boredom is what builds tenacity, skill, and the patience to solve long-term problems.

Sorry, But... Your Exceptional Child Might Not Be "Gifted"

I have had this conversation, or similar ones, many times over. Once we finally get there, at the heart of it all, will lie two central debate points. One is the age old question of Nature versus Nurture. The other will focus on how we ultimately define and assess the quality of “gifted-ness.”

When It's Time to Cut Your Gifted Child Some Slack

Giftedness does not exempt that individual from going through the same behavioral developmental stages and benchmarks that any other person must inevitably go through.

Surviving the Middle School Years with your Gifted Child

The key to surviving the middle school years with your gifted child lies in a few surprisingly simple things you can do to support your ‘tween.'

Great Gift Ideas for the Gifted

Here are some kid-tested and educator-approved ideas that will delight and challenge any gifted child. Cheers to the holidays!

Why Your Gifted Teen May Act Anything But Gifted

From crazy pranks posted proudly on YouTube to downright dangerous driving decisions.... Why does your gifted teenager make such foolish choices at times? Maybe it's not entirely his fault....

Brain Basics, Part One: The Power of Visualization

We, as teachers and parents, are at a pivotal point in time now wherein the apexes of both educational theory and brain research just might overlap. Making use of these understandings, that is actually “applying the science to the art” of teaching and parenting, is what will, in the end, help our children be able to take the next grand steps on their own.

The Highly Distracted Gifted Child: You Can Help

Some gifted children have an official ADD or ADHD diagnosis, yes, but many others may not—despite the fact that they may be equally affected, even in some cases debilitated, by the problems of chronic distractibility.

Parents of the Gifted...You Need to Slow Down!

Filling a child’s schedule to the hilt is what many parents perceive as an act of love and unconditional support of his/her talents. But while the intention is pure, the results and the effects of that can be exhausting and possibly even counter-productive.