Search Database

Support: Talent Development

Jump to:

  • Assessment of Gifted Children: Characteristics

    Academically talented students: They don't think the way we think they think
    This book chapter by Nicholas Colangelo was originally used as a keynote address, so the chapter consists of a combination of text and overheads. The article describes what academically talented kids have to say about various school subjects, school in general, parental involvement in their lives and peer issues.
    Does writing prodigy exist? How to identify and nurture children with extraordinary writing talent
    This article is a book chapter excerpted from Talent Development. Author Jane Piirto states that writing prodigy may in fact be more common that previously thought. She provides an example and identifies 16 characteristics found in students who are writing at an advanced level of competence.

  • Developmental: Early Childhood

    Creative talent: Recognizing and nurturing it
    This article discusses how parents can recognize creative talents exhibited by their children and provide them opportunities that encourage the expression of their child’s creative talents.
    Identifying and nurturing talent in the visual arts
    This article provides parents with ways to identify characteristics shown by artistically gifted children and how parents can help nurture those abilities.

  • Developmental: Twice Exceptional

    2E Guidebook: Resources and Bibliography

    These references are part of a Davidson Institute’s guidebook, Twice Exceptionality: A Resource Guide for Parents.

  • Educational Options: Acceleration

    Why is it important to take challenging classes?
    This article, by Leigh Johnson, discusses some of the common misconceptions that lead many people to believe they should stay away from more challenging classes earlier in their education. "Engaging in fast-paced learning now ensures a foundation for continued exploration at the college level."

  • Educational Options: Educational Planning

    Preview Patsy Kumekawa's New Book With Unreleased Chapter "Lessons"
    Patsy Kumekawa shares a chapter from her upcoming book. In this excerpt, she recalls examples from her parenting experience and how following her son's lead was central to making decisions around talent development.

  • Educational Options: Tips for Teachers

    14 Things Gifted Students Want Teachers to Know
    In this article, Joshua Raymond reflects back on his time as a gifted student and what his daughters are experiencing now. Here are some items he wishes his teachers (and theirs) knew.

  • Parenting: Parenting Strategies

    Jim Delisle Presentation - Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy and Successful Children
    Jim Delisle provides parents a number of strategies to encourage and support their gifted students.
    Roles in Gifted Education: A Parent’s Guide
    This article offers parents in the "gifted world" a wealth of information on the staff and administrators that can help them and their students navigate the gifted experience. Each of these staff members have different roles, responsibilities, and levels of training.

  • Parenting: Tips for Parents

    Tips for Parents: Corey Cerovsek on the Life of the Gifted Young Musician
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Corey Cerovsek, in which he discusses various aspects of the lives of gifted young musicians. He draws on his own life experience and the experiences of parents who participated in his onine seminar.
    Tips for Parents: Family Meetings - Why they are important and How-To (so much more than checking-in and stating problems)
    The Tips for Parents article is based upon a seminar hosted by Catherine Gruener. She provided resources, education, and guidance in application of Family Meetings, using Adlerian approaches with a Positive Discipline focus (Lott & Nelsen, 2012; Nelsen, 2006). The following information is a summary of the key issues from the seminar.
    Tips for Parents: Greater Productivity, Creativity & Wellness through Mindfulness
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Paula Wilkes and provides tips for parents on using mindfulness to have greater productivity, creativity and wellness.
    Tips for Parents: Helping Gifted Teens and Post-High School Students Aim for the Right Career Domain
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Mary-Elaine Jacobsen, who gives parents tips on helping their gifted teens find the right career path.
    Tips for Parents: Helping today's girls become tomorrow's successful women: Ten tips for caring adults
    This article by Sylvia Rimm contains ten pointers on how to encourage girls to become successful women. It offers suggestions and explanations for each of the pointers. The brief article comes right to the point and the guidelines will be helpful to any person who spends time with young people.
    Tips for Parents: How To Ensure Our Children Excel In Science
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Teresa Bondora, who provides parents numerous tips on how to help their children master science skills beginning at an early age.
    Tips for Parents: Human Beings and Human 'Doings' - Considering the Impact of Parenting on Talent Development
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Thomas Greenspon, Ph.D., who discusses how parents and other significant adults have powerful influences on both the recognition and development of specific talents, on how far talents are pursued, and on the very experience children have of being talented.
    Tips for Parents: Keeping the Light in Their Eyes
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Robin Schader. As subjective as it may seem, bright eyes are perhaps the most important indicator of learning – one that we may be tempted initially to discount or ignore when looking at the broad topic of talent development.
    Tips for Parents: Nurturing Creativity at Home
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Lisa Rivero. Ms. Rivero summarizes the key points in which parents can encourage and facilitate creativity in their children.
    Tips for Parents: Parenting Math-Talented Students
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, who discusses the many aspects of parenting a math-talented child, including: finding mentors, above-level testing, online math programs and the benefits & drawbacks of math acceleration.
    Tips for Parents: Promoting Achievement through a Growth Mindset
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Del Siegle, who describes motivation and how it relates to achievement.
    Tips for Parents: Recipes and Habits for Fast-Moving Families on the Go
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Kiesa Kay, who provides 10 simple tips for families on the go.
    Tips for Parents: That Should Only Take Ten Minutes
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Stephen R. Balzac of 7 Steps Ahead. He highlights a number of helpful tips on scheduling and time management.
    Tips for Parents: The Zen Valedictorian: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child Stand Out Without Burning Out
    This Tips for Parents article is from a seminar hosted by Cal Newport. He discusses philosophical issues and issues related to reducing student stress.

  • Support Materials: Book Reviews

    Cradles of Eminence: Childhoods of More than 700 Famous Men and Women
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - First published in 1964, Cradles of Eminence is a synthesis of the childhood experiences of more than 400 individuals deemed eminent by the authors; Victor Goertzel, Ted George Goetzel, Mildred George Goertzel, and Ariel Hansen. This book is sure to provoke thought on how to nurture gifted young people.
    Developing Math Talent: A Comprehensive Guide to Math Education for Gifted Students in Elementary and Middle School
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - This article offers a book review of the first edition of Developing Mathematical Talent. It describes the main topics in each of the book chapters. The reviewer highly recommends this book as a resource for both parents and educators, and points out that although the book focuses on one academic area, the information is applicable to working with students in various academic domains.
    Encouraging Your Child’s Science Talent: The Involved Parents’ Guide
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - This book review tells how author Michael Matthews provides parents with a basic foundation of science to help them better understand their child's interest in his book, Encouraging Your Child’s Science Talent: The Involved Parents’ Guide.
    Encouraging Your Child's Writing Talent: The Involved Parents' Guide
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - This book review gives a concise view of what the reader can learn from author Nancy Peterson in her book, Encouraging Your Child's Writing Talent: The Involved Parents' Guide.
    Liberating everyday genius: A revolutionary guide for identifying and mastering your exceptional gifts
    BOOK REVIEW (California Association for the Gifted) - Liberating Everyday Genius is intended to help gifted adults normalize and understand their giftedness by helping them develop their talents through a five-step process which includes: Identify Thyself, Understand Thyself, Reveal Thyself, Manage Thyself, and Liberate Thyself. Written by Marilyn Lane, this book aims to help adults normalize and develop their giftedness.
    See Jane win for girls: A smart girl's guide to success
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - Dr. Sylvia Rimm's third book in the See Jane Win, series is a compilation of interviews and easy to follow, real-world recommendations, See Jane Win is recommended as an excellent resource for women of all ages.
    Smart girls: A new psychology of girls, women, and giftedness
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - Written by Dr. Barbara Kerr, this book, Smart girls: A new psychology of girls, women, and giftedness, is an examination of how and why intelligent girls sometimes fall short of their potential, and is a useful guide for those assisting gifted girls in achieving self-actualization.
    Talented teenagers: The roots of success and failure
    BOOK REVIEW (Carolyn Cook) - Talented Teenagers: The Roots of Success and Failure, by authors Csikszentmihalyi, Rathunde and Whalen details the findings of an extensive five-year longitudinal study that strove to answer two questions: How do young people become committed to the development of their talent? And, why do some young people become disengaged from their talent? The authors sought to find commonalities and differences between those teens that went on to use their talents into adulthood from those that drifted away from their areas of talent into jobs that required only average skills.
    Teaching genius: Dorothy DeLay and the making of a musician
    BOOK REVIEW (Nancy Robinson) - Teaching genius: Dorothy DeLay and the making of a musician is a biography of this legendary Juilliard faculty member written by Barbara Lourie Sand. The author guides you through DeLay's life as a prodigious musician, her time teaching and mentoring, the talent development model developed by Juilliard, and finally the empowering teaching style of DeLay.
    The Resilience Factor: 7 Essential Skills for Overcoming Life’s Inevitable Obstacles
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - The Resilience Factor: Seven Essential Skills for Overcoming Life’s Inevitable Obstacles by authors Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte is not a traditional motivational book, but does offer ways to overcome adversity to become a happy, well-adjusted person.
    Understanding Creativity
    BOOK REVIEW (Davidson Institute) - This review explores the different sections of Understanding Creativity, giving the reader a glimpse of this unique adventure into the world of creative individuals, both past and present.

  • Support Materials: Interviews

    Davidson Fellow Profile: Jonathan (Johnny) Li
    Laura Vanderkam interviews 2010 Davidson Fellow Johnny Li for the Gifted Exchange Blog.
    Davidson Fellow Profile: Kevin Hu
    Laura Vanderkam interviews 2010 Davidson Fellow Kevin Hu for the Gifted Exchange Blog.
    Davidson Fellow Profile: Kyle Loh
    Laura Vanderkam interviews 2010 Davidson Fellow Laureate Kyle Loh for the Gifted Exchange Blog.
    Davidson Fellow Profile: Laurie Rumker
    Laura Vanderkam interviews 2010 Davidson Fellow Laurie Rumker for the Gifted Exchange Blog.
    Davidson Fellow Profile: Scott Boisvert
    Laura Vanderkam interviews 2010 Davidson Fellow Scott Boisvert for the Gifted Exchange Blog.
    Gifted Exchange Interview - George Peternel
    Laura Vanderkam interviews George Peternel for the Gifted Exchange Blog.
    Interview with Janette Boazman on character development and the differences in cognitive development between boys and girls
    The following Q&A on character development was written by Janette Boazman, Ph.D., an assistant professor of education and the chair of education at the University of Dallas. Her research focuses on the academic and psychological factors that lead to academic and career success, and to the personal well-being of the gifted and talented in K-12 schools, college, and across the lifespan.

  • Support Materials: Success Stories

    Adam's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, taking SAT in sixth grade and the THINK Summer Institute.
    AJ’s Story
    Includes Young Scholar Summits and online colloquia, plus attending The Davidson Academy.
    Alex's Story
    Includes making social connections through the Young Scholars program, as well as parenting support.
    Annika's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, Young Scholar Summits and parent eLists, and the THINK Summer Institute.
    Benjamin’s Story
    Includes homeschooling, the THINK Summer Institute, and social connections made through the Young Scholars program and at the annual Young Scholar Summit.
    Brennan and Sadie's Story
    Includes Young Scholar siblings, music and history interests, talent development and the decision to homeschool.
    Cherylyn’s Story
    Includes Young Scholar online colloquiums, early college and mathematics competitions.
    Christophe’s Story
    Includes leadership, personal growth, research and supportive environments.
    Davidson Fellows Scholarship Recipients - 10th Anniversary Success Stories
    In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Davidson Fellows scholarship program (www.DavidsonGifted.org/Fellows), past Davidson Fellows were asked to submit brief quotes and/or success stories about how the scholarship helped them, what they are doing today and anything else they thought would be pertinent.
    Elizabeth’s Story
    Includes homeschooling, Hurricane Katrina and the Young Scholar Ambassadors program.
    Eric’s Story
    Includes living in a rural area, grade acceleration, Young Scholar online parenting seminars and eLists and the Davidson Fellows scholarship.
    Hagan's Story
    Includes school for the deaf, acceleration and Young Scholar online seminars.
    Ian's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, dealing with boredom, A Nation Deceived and acceleration, the Young Scholar Summit and making new friends.
    Jack A.'s Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, Genius Denied, Young Scholar Summits, successful advocacy efforts and the THINK Summer Institute.
    Jack M.'s Story
    Includes finding a good schooling situation, homeschooling, working with a Young Scholar Family Consultant.
    Jen's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program and parent eLists.
    Jesse O.'s Story
    Includes advanced violin lessons, chess competitions acceleration and early college.
    Jesse S.'s Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, challenges finding a good schooling situation, Stanford’s EPGY Online High School, acceleration.
    John's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program and early college.
    Jonathan H.'s Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, Young Scholar Summit and online courses.
    Jonathan's Story
    Includes Young Scholar Ambassador Program, Young Scholar Summits and early college.
    Julia's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, making friends, homeschooling, Young Scholar Summits, eLists and online seminars.
    Lucy's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, working with a Family Consultant, advocacy and academic acceleration.
    Mairead & Reagan’s Story
    Includes Young Scholar siblings, asynchronous development, distance learning, homeschooling, dual enrollment, early college, subject acceleration, and becoming gifted advocates in local school district.
    Mallie's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, homeschooling, Davidson Gifted Database resources, early signs of giftedness and the Young Scholar Summit.
    Marc Yu - October 2010 Reception Speech
    This article is the transcript of 2005 Davidson Fellow Marc Yu's speech given at a reception following his performance at the Reno Philharmonic in October 2010. He thanks Davidson Institute for Talent Development Co-founders Bob and Jan Davidson for their support.
    Mason's Story
    Includes NASA Space Grant Consortium Internship and connections made at Young Scholar Summits.
    Milo's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, homeschooling and early college.
    Omar's Story
    Includes early college, a Young Scholar Summit and making peer connections.
    Rachel and David's Story
    Includes Young Scholar siblings, Genius Denied, Young Scholar Summit and parent network, and The Davidson Academy.
    Rebekah's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, working with a Family Consultant, advocating for acceleration and using the Iowa Acceleration Scale.
    Renison's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, Young Scholar Summits, eLists, homeschooling, working with a Family Consultant, advocacy and enrolling in regional public high school for highly gifted students.
    Ryan's Story
    Includes Genius Denied, Missouri state policy and finding peers in the Young Scholars program.
    Sharon’s Story
    Includes entrepreneurship, writing experience, science and technology honors, leadership, personal growth and more.
    Shiloh's Story
    Includes connecting with local Young Scholar families to form a homeschooling group.
    Spencer's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, Young Scholar Summits, homeschooling, working with a Family Consultant, advocacy and academic acceleration.
    Stephanie's Story
    Includes Young Scholars program, eLists and online seminars, working with a Family Consultant.
    The Davidson Young Scholars Program: A Parent's Perspective
    An article by Lorel Shea.
    Vanessa's Story
    Includes living in a rural area, homeschooling, accelerated online classes, Duke’s Talent Identification Program (TIP), the annual Young Scholar Summit.
    Zachery's Story
    Includes making social connections at a Young Scholar Summit.

  • Talent Development: Advocacy

    Helping gifted students help schools
    This article, by Jan Davidson and Laura Vanderkam, discusses the issues that New York State's public schools are facing when they don't challenge their brightest children. Typically, the gifted children leave the public schools to attend specialized schools that cater to their academic needs. What happens to public schools when these gifted children leave? How can these public schools keep these gifted children?
    Inequity in equity: How 'equity' can lead to inequity for high-potential students
    This article by Camilla Benbow and Julian Stanley challenges the "extreme egalitarianism" and "dumbing-down" of American schools. The authors support a positive change, recommend emphasizing excellence for all, call for responsiveness to individual differences, and suggest basing educational policies on research findings in psychology and education. Educational policies have to take into account the vast range of individual differences among students.
    Necessity is the mother of invention: The roots of our system of providing educational alternatives for gifted students
    This article by Nancy Robinson is summed up in this abstract: "In the United States, numerous options exist for gifted students to engage in special programs and individualize their trajectories. At the secondary level, the options include advancing at a rapid rate through the high school years, entering college early and college credit for competence previously acquired. No other country in the world offers such a rich array of choices. Indeed, in contest with practices elsewhere, our system borders on the chaotic. Many of us tend to see this situation as primarily a response to the sorry state of secondary education in this country, but this is not the whole picture. There are also many positive features of our society and our shared beliefs, governmental and constitutional issues, school governance issues, and flexibility in transition to college that have produced the smorgasbord of options for our students."

  • Talent Development: Case Studies

    A review of research on parents and families of gifted children
    This article by Nicholas Colangelo and David Dettmann discusses the importance of involved parent and family relationships in the lives of gifted children. It describes the family environments of the children in the study as well as the types of things these families do together. The article stresses that not enough research has been done in this area, and that it is important for these relationships to be strong and active.
    An eight-year evaluation of SMPY: What was learned?
    This article by Camilla Benbow and Julian Stanley covers eight years of studying mathematically precocious youth participating in talent search programs. It reports: 1) How the mathematically precocious students were identified; 2) How they progressed in the area of creative achievement; 3) How they progressed in their educational development with regard to fast-paced classes, gender, and early college; and 4) How instructional programs for these students must be flexible and continually adapted to the abilities of the students.
    Creativity across the life-span: A systems view
    This article by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi looks at three major issues related to creativity over a lifespan. They are: what can be learned about creativity; a model of optimal aging; and how to work with creative children. The author based this work on six years of interviews with scores of older adults who are still actively creative.
    Des Moines Public Schools: Leading the state that leads the nation in gifted education
    This article discusses the success of Des Moines Public Schools and their gifted education program. Iowa leads the nation in terms of legislation guaranteeing an appropriate education. Thanks largely to the work of ITAG, school districts and other advocates, the state's policy-makers have tackled most of the major issues related to educating gifted students.
    Educational productivity predictors among mathematically talented students
    This article examines five environmental factors for relation to productivity in regard to educational achievement and aspirations. Subjects were mathematically precocious students. The study found that outside influences do have an effect on these students. Authored by Camilla Benbow, Olya Arjmand and Herbert Walberg.
    Exceptionally gifted boys and their parents
    This article by Robert Albert is a report of a longitudinal study of two groups of exceptionally gifted boys. Subjects included 26 of the highest scorers in the John Hopkins Math Talent Search and 26 with an IQ score above 150. The study examined a wide range of traits among the boys and their families.
    Experience of giftedness: Eight great gripes six years later
    This article is based on the original "Eight Great Gripes." (Galbraith, 1985) Research was focused on seventh and eighth graders. The students in the study were asked, "What is it like to be gifted?" The answers were compared to the "Eight Great Gripes" and found to be remarkably similar. Authored by Mark Kunkel, Bea Chapa, Greg Patterson, and Derald Walling.
    Expert performance and deliberate practice: An updated excerpt from Ericsson
    In this article, Dr K. Anders Ericsson discusses how experts use deliberate practice to develop expertise in their area.
    Gifted programming for poor or minority urban students: Issues and lessons learned
    This article takes a look at a number of methods of gifted programming for students in urban schools.
    Middle Years Scholars Program: Success in public education
    This article tells the story of the Middle Years Scholars Program (MYSP). The Middle Years Scholars Program in Springfield, Mo., is tailored to the needs of profoundly gifted students in sixth through eighth grades. A program of Springfield Public Schools, MYSP is an example of successful public education for exceptionally intelligent students.
    Nurturing exceptional talent: SET as a legacy of SMPY
    This article by Linda Brody and Carol Blackburn looks at how the Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) has taken on the role of the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) to help extremely talented students thrive academically. This is a population that has scored >700 on the math portion of the SAT by age 13. The authors discuss many programming options for such students.
    School within a school for extremely highly gifted students
    This article by Linda S. Rivers, a psychologist at the Lincoln, Nebraska Public School Gifted Program, describes how this community found a way to serve their highly gifted students by creating a school within a school. The highly gifted students are provided with differentiated curriculum. In addition, they are offered one-on-one mentoring services for an hour each school day from the time they are identified until they graduate from high school.
    The contribution of early family history to the achievement of eminence
    This article is a book chapter by Robert Albert. It discusses how families may facilitate the achievement of eminence of one of their members. The study looks at the early family history of Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Chatterton Jr. and Duke Ellington. The author looks at three questions: How far back in history did family influence eminence? What interpersonal relationships affected eminence? and Do the parameters function the same for eminent American minorities?
    What educators can learn from gifted adults
    This article by Felice Kaufman is about a study that was done on adults who were Presidential Scholars as high school students. It gives many statistics on what the adults did after graduating from high school. It explores colleges attended, degrees attained and career choices as well as some social issues.

  • Talent Development: Creativity

    Creativity as an elusive factor in giftedness
    This article by Joyce VanTassel-Baska , Ed.D., answers the question "what is creativity and how do we foster it in children and young adults?" To quote the article: "creativity is elusive precisely because like intelligence it has many different manifestations, conceptions, and interpretations."
    Exploring and Encouraging Creativity
    This article provides advice on encouraging creativity in gifted students.
    From Identification to Ivy League: Nurturing Multiple Interests and Multi-Potentiality in Gifted Students
    This article offers advice on how to develop and nurture multiple interests and multi-potentiality among gifted students.
    Quo Vadis America?
    This is a book chapter by Arnold Ross about the importance of utilizing America's brightest young people. He advocates spending our time and efforts on these people rather than just focusing on the basic competence of our work force. It includes a number of anecdotal illustrations.

  • Talent Development: General Talent Development

    Developing personal talent
    This article was borrowed from a presentation at the Eighth Annual Conference of European Council for High Ability. In it Sidney Moon explores personal talent development, which she defines as "developed expertise in self-understanding, decision-making, and self-regulation." She speaks on the importance of developing these areas and on how to help gifted children learn to have these personal talents. Gifted children need to have these skills in order to fulfill their potential.
    Frequently Asked Questions: Profoundly Gifted Students & Gifted Education
    These questions and answers have been compiled over the past decade during which the the Davidson Institute has worked to fulfill its mission to recognize, nurture and support profoundly intelligent young people and to provide opportunities for them to develop their talents to make a positive difference.
    How does creativity happen?
    This article is a chapter from the book Talent Development III. According to the authors, John Ruscio and Teresa Amabileit, it is the social, work and educational environments in which creativity is nurtured or stifled that determines the extent to which our ability to be creative expands or contracts. They examine past “creativity” research on the influences of these environments and the direct effect on motivation and creativity. They describe the componential model of creativity which includes three distinct stages, and advance a fourth stage in the process. One factor in this study stood out among all others, intrinsic motivation (internal desire) was one of the most important factors contributing to creativity.
    How to Start a School or Program like the Davidson Academy
    This article is based on a collection of resources that the Davidson Institute and Davidson Academy staff compiled to send to people asking how to start a similar school or program.
    In praise of elitism
    This article is an op-ed column by Jim Delisle. In it he speaks out against theories of "multiple intelligence" and definitions of giftedness that deny the existence of high intelligence. Delisle points out that such "politically correct" views are causing schools "to scrap intact gifted programs and replace them with enrichment options for all children." The result is the further denial of an appropriate education for the highly intelligent students.
    Intelligence and the American ambivalence toward talent
    This article is a book chapter by Lynn Gottfredson that discusses the importance of intelligence and some of the differences between intelligence levels. It addresses the democratic society which strives for sameness when that is virtually impossible with people all having varying IQ's. Racial and ethnic factors are also discussed in this chapter.
    Is It a Cheetah?
    Cited in numerous gifted publications for years, Stephanie Tolan's classic essay provides a great metaphor to gifted education.
    Mathematical Problems That Optimize Learning for Academically Advanced Students in Grades K–6
    In this article, Scott Chamberlin describes how maintaining the status quo of educating academically advanced mathematics students is not likely to adequately challenge the most promising of them.
    Moreover, a case has been outlined for taking a close look at teaching and learning practices in elementary classrooms. To fully optimize learning situations for such students, high-level mathematical problems must be employed.
    National Statistics - Why our Nation Needs to Educate our Gifted and Talented Youth
    This article contains a number of statistics highlighting the importance of gifted education in America. Startling statistics range from the lack of American degrees in engineering to the percentage of high school dropouts.
    Pursuing profound possibilities
    This article by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development discusses the background, mission, programs and services of the Institute. Included is an explanation of the Institute's rationale and approach. It also offers some insights about supporting the profoundly gifted population.
    Revisiting the problem of match: Contributions of flow theory to talent development
    This article by Samuel P. Whalen examines the fundamental tenet of contemporary educational psychology that learning is enhanced when the match between the skills of the learner and the challenges of the subject matter are optimized. In turn, advocates for talent development and gifted education have embraced the principle of "optimal match" to characterize both the conditions for optimal growth and the ways in which mainstream education fails gifted students. Whalen concludes by considering how Flow Theory can help make the idea of "optimal match" more accessible and useful to educators.
    Talent development in gifted education
    Programs, curricula, and services for gifted and talented youth can best meet their needs, promote their achievements in life, and contribute to the enhancement of our society when schools identify students' specific talent strengths and focus educational services on these talents. Schools are in a unique position to identify and develop the talents of students in four major domains: academic, artistic, vocational-technical, and personal-social.
    Talent, Accomplishment, and Eminence
    This chapter from the Handbook of Gifted Education reviews corroborative findings as well as current primary research. It suggests that alterations in the productivity factors have proven beneficial for ordinary and extraordinary human achievement.
    The Civic Leadership Institute: A Service-Learning Program for Academically Gifted Youth
    The Civic Leadership Institute is a three-week residential program for gifted adolescents, is a service-learning program created to help academically talented students explore complex social issues that are faced by communities and society today.
    The History of Urban Gifted Education
    This article takes a look back at gifted education in large cities over the past century. It also provides characteristics of strong urban gifted education programs.
    The importance of individual differences for exceptional achievement
    This article is a book chapter by Douglas Dettmann and Joanne Ruthsatz. It addresses the sometimes unaccepted fact that everybody is different. In America equality is strived for to such an extent that we can fail to recognize that everybody is not the same, individuals do not have the same abilities and intellects and should not be treated the same in all cases. The achievement of the brightest is hindered by the one-size-fits-all approach of America.
    The levels of service approach to talent development: Parallels with existing programs
    This article by Edwin Selby and Grover Young explores a model of musical talent development and discusses some parallels between that model and the Level of Service approach. The article also briefly explores similar talent development approaches in other domains. Key elements from recent research are identified regarding the process of talent development in any area of interest. And, finally, the article discusses some challenges and opportunities related to recognizing, nurturing, and celebrating the strengths, talents, and interests of students.
    The other crisis in American education
    In this article by Daniel Singal "A college professor looks at the forgotten victims of our mediocre educational system, the potentially high achievers whose SAT scores have fallen, and who read less, understand less of what they read, and know less than the top students of a generation ago." This, according to Singal is the second, less visible crisis in American education. The first is the plight of disadvantaged children in inner-city schools.
    The quiet crisis in American education: The neglect of highly intelligent students
    This article by Dr. Jan Davidson uses the term "quiet crisis" to describe the neglect of our educational system to nurture our nation's most able young minds. The article was written as an OpEd piece. It argues that this quiet crisis in effect denies future generations the benefit of those students' achievements.
    Thinking Big about Gifted Education: The Davidson Academy of Nevada
    This article provides information about the Davidson Academy of Nevada, the first free, public school of its kind in the United States for profoundly gifted middle and high school students.
    Where Are the Gifted Minorities?
    This article takes a look at the underrepresentation of minority students in gifted education programs in America.

  • Talent Development: Mentoring

    Gaining Wisdom by Giving Back: Helping Gifted Young People Help Others
    Co-authored by noted gifted expert Jim Delisle and the Davidson Institute's own Erik Schwinger, this article takes a look at the Davidson Institute's Ambassador Program and provides information on mentoring and giving back.
    Mentoring: An Interview with a Davidson Fellow’s Mentor – Dr. Woodbury and 2010 Davidson Fellow Laureate Kyle Loh
    This article, in Q & A format, outlines responses by Dr. Woodbury of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, about his mentor relationship with 2010 Davidson Fellow Laureate Kyle Loh, including how they met each other, successful tips for working with a mentor and other advice. This article also includes a letter from mentee Kyle Loh about working with Dr. Woodbury and how he helped Kyle achieve his goals.
    Mentoring: Interview with 2004 Davidson Fellow Harish Khandrika about how he worked with his Mentor, Astrophysicist Dr. Richard Rothschild
    This article, in Q&A format, includes responses by 2004 Davidson Fellow Harish Khandrika about his mentor relationship with astrophysicist Dr. Richard Rothschild at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences (CASS) at the University of California, San Diego, as well as tips for other students seeking for mentors.
    Mentors who make a difference: Ken Ono, Ph.D.
    This short article tells the story of Ken Ono, Ph.D., and how he has helped some bright students by mentoring them. "Ken Ono, Ph.D., a professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, has devoted a significant portion of his career to mentoring talented, young math students, but Ono says that's not something he set out to do."
    Nurturing for wisdom and compassion: Influencing those who influence
    This article by Rebecca Geiger is a qualitative study of six prominent historical figures and the mentors that played vital roles in their lives. It has been suggested that we need to learn to identify and nurture the gifts of wisdom and compassion, as these qualities are required to preserve our world and our species. Rebecca Geiger has identified these six individuals as exemplars of such gifts, and examines the qualities of their mentors, the nature of the relationships between the mentor and mentee and the long term effects of such mentorship.
    Thoughts on philanthropy
    This article by Jan Davidson is an excerpt from an address to the parents of the Davidson Young Scholars at the 2001 Reunion Gathering on July 12, 2001. She shares some her personal beliefs about philanthropy. It also includes some advice from the president and co-founder of the Davidson Institute.

  • Talent Development: Strategies & Tools

    Building Connections: Developing 21st Century Self-Management Skills for Gifted Students
    This article highlights a number of self-management skills essential for success in the 21st century. These skills are richly connected together to form the tapestry that makes up the 21st century gifted learner.
    Creating useful individualized education programs (IEPs)
    This article by Stephen Smith is tailored more to the learning disabled child, but the information on IEPs provided is still valuable. Working together, schools, teachers and parents can create an IEP that will help the child in question to be challenged at his or her level. The author specifically addresses making the transition from IEP to classroom practice.
    Critical and Creative Thinking: The Joy of Learning!
    Step-by-step critical and creative thinking strategies are discussed in this article.
    Do we know if gifted children are being served appropriately?
    This article by James Delisle discusses parental advocacy in the school. It suggests questions a parent can ask a principal, teacher and the student in order to see if needs are being met. Pull-out programs are also discussed in this article. The author stresses the need for the pull-out teacher and regular classroom teacher to interact so that the child's needs are understood.
    Educational Advocacy for Gifted Students
    This article by Julia Osborn is the third in a series of three articles on the processes parents go through in raising an exceptionally gifted child. This article, based upon a study of 12 exceptionally gifted students, discusses the experiences of these parents in advocating for appropriate school placement for their children. A list of practical advocacy recommendations is included.
    Guiding the Gifted Reader
    This article by Judith Wynn Halsted discusses the role of reading in the educational development of gifted students. The author states that it is important to "consider their intellectual and emotional development in light of reading and literature.
    How to make parent-teacher conferences worthwhile and productive
    Parent-teacher conferences provide excellent opportunities for home and school to unite in an effort to enrich a child's social and academic growth. This article by Arlene DeVries offers tips for parents on how to handle parent-teacher conferences. She offers a list of things to consider and ask during the conference.
    Improving Test Performance Among Culturally Diverse Gifted Students
    Written by Deborah Harmon, this article provides information on how to improve test performance across different cultures.
    Issues in educating exceptionally gifted students
    This article is the second in a series of three on the processes parents go through in raising an exceptionally gifted child. This article, based on a study of 12 exceptionally gifted students, is a discussion of the educational experiences of these students and the controversies that their parents confronted regarding schooling. Osborn lists the issues and varied resolutions regarding reading, writing, mathematics and friendship.
    Parenting tips on educational advocacy
    This article by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development offers parents tried-and-true strategies they can use to optimize their chances of changing the attitudes of teachers and administrators and find a solution that will optimize their child's education. These strategies include the following tips: obtain an assessment; be prepared; schedule a meeting. Advocacy is an ongoing process and parents need to remember there are no perfect schools, perfect classrooms or perfect teachers. As a child grows, additional accommodations will need to be explored and implemented.
    Portfolio: An effective way to present your child to the school
    This article by Christine Neville is a guide and "How To" for parents on creating a portfolio that will demonstrate specific abilities, developmental needs, and valid, concrete data for teachers and administrators who will in turn provide appropriate learning programs for the gifted child. Because teachers and administrators understand that a gifted student is out of "sync" with the class, it is important that the portfolio highlights what is being offered in the regular curriculum to the child and then focus on the developmentally appropriate learning that would keep the child discovering concepts, developing new skills and enthusiastic about the learning process. The article highlights what information to include in the portfolio and method of presentation.
    Preparing for and holding an effective school meeting
    This article is a guide for parents who are meeting with the school to advocate for an appropriate educational program for their child. It covers preparing the meeting, the meeting itself, and the follow-up after the meeting.
    So Your Child is Gifted...
    In this article, NAGC President Dr. Paula Olszewski-Kubilius provides parents a number of tips and guidelines on what to do if their students have been recently identified as gifted.
    Supporting gifted education through advocacy
    This article by Sandra Berger offers a "How-To" process in obtaining gifted education in your school. Included are sections on Understanding the Process and Avoiding the Pitfalls (with pitfalls explained in great detail), Channeling Your Energies in the Right Direction through Systematic Advocacy, and Establishing and Maintaining a Successful Parent Advocacy Group. Other resources are included.
    Teaching genius: The teaching principles of Dorothy Delay
    Barbara Sand provides an excerpt from Teaching Genius: Dorothy DeLay and the Making of a Musician. The book provides an overview of Dorothy Delay's teaching principles. This excerpt focuses on the messages we send to our children. The review discusses how your parenting strategies can change who your children become and discusses strategies to relate to your children.
    Teaching Gifted Kids To Explain Their Thinking
    In this article, Ian Byrd offers strategies on how to teach gifted students the skill of explaining their thinking.

  • Talent Development: Talent Searches

    Talent Search Opportunities
    The following table provides a schedule of Talent Search programs in the United States, contact information, deadline dates and tests required. This is a great resource for parents of gifted children who want their children to experience something fun, while learning about a variety of subjects.
    Talent search: A driving force in gifted education
    This article by Paula Olszewski-Kubilius offers an overview of the concept and practice of the Talent Search programs. It reviews the history, purpose, and benefits of the programs. In addition, it highlights specific research that discusses their reliability and validity.
    Talent Searches: Meeting the Needs of Academically Talented Youth
    This article by Susan Assouline and Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik describes how the Talent Search model, founded by Julian C. Stanley, identifies the academically gifted.
    The talent searches: Counseling and mentoring activities
    This article by Linda Brody outlines counseling and mentoring efforts underlying the talent search process. It also covers the strategies designed to help academically talented students identify, broaden and nurture their gifts. It also covers some of the other education options open to highly intelligent students.
    The use of aptitude tests for identifying the gifted: The talent search concept
    This article by Joyce VanTassel-Baska expands on the legitimacy of using standardized tests to find gifted populations. It especially supports the talent searching concept of using the Scholastic Aptitude Test to find highly able junior high age populations. Three underlying principles of talent search are discussed and evaluated in light of their utility for local identification programs.
    University-based talent searches for the gifted
    This article by Mark DeLong describes the four university-based regional talent search programs, including the states they serve and the states in which they offer programs. The difference between the regional talent searches and other university based programs is also explained. Also included is some background on the rationale and history of such programs.
    We found kids in order to help them: The legacy of Julian Stanley
    Laura Vanderkam tells how Julian Stanley's work impacted her youth and many other bright students who relished the opportunity to develop their talents.