Interesting Insight....
In the introduction to sixth edition of The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (cited in the book list below,) the author told the story of a very successful student named Christopher Williams. In 2002, there were approximately 400,000 high school students that took the ACT exam. Christopher was one of only 58 students that received a perfect score of thirty-six. Christopher lived in a small town of about 3,000 people, and everyone began bombarding the parents with questions asking how they prepared him for the exam. "What prep course did he take? Kaplan? The Princeton Review?"
As it turned out, he had done no such test preparation. Well, not that kind, anyway. How did he do so well, you ask? His parents had begun preparing Christopher and his younger brother from infancy into adolescence. They read to them thirty minutes, night after night, until well into their adolescent years, even after they were fully capable of reading to themselves. They gave them no home instruction in reading before they reached school age. The mother and father just read to them! They instilled a love of reading that bonded the family together and ensured the boys success at whatever would come their way in school. Along with instilling strong values and work ethic, these parents also ensured their boys success at whatever challenges and obstacles they will meet throughout life.
As it turned out, he had done no such test preparation. Well, not that kind, anyway. How did he do so well, you ask? His parents had begun preparing Christopher and his younger brother from infancy into adolescence. They read to them thirty minutes, night after night, until well into their adolescent years, even after they were fully capable of reading to themselves. They gave them no home instruction in reading before they reached school age. The mother and father just read to them! They instilled a love of reading that bonded the family together and ensured the boys success at whatever would come their way in school. Along with instilling strong values and work ethic, these parents also ensured their boys success at whatever challenges and obstacles they will meet throughout life.
Links to Helpful Articles
The Power and Peril of Praising Your Child: How not to Speak to your Child
Critical, demanding parents can damage gifted children
Links to Helpful Websites
Belin-Blank Center for Gifted (located at the University of Iowa)
The Belin-Blank Center for the Gifted is a wonderful resource for gifted parents and students located right here in Iowa. The website contains information about out of school opportunities, counseling and assessment opportunities, Iowa's Invention Convention Contest and valuable information for parents of gifted children.
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/
Iowa Talented and Gifted Association
This is a link to Iowa’s Talented and Gifted Association. This organization helps connect interested parents, educators, and concerned citizens dedicated to meeting the needs of TAG students. There are many helpful links on this web site. Parents may also become yearly members of the organization and receive additional publications.
http://iowatag.org/
Hoagie's Gifted Education Page
This website has TONS of information for everything you could ever want to know about working with a parenting gifted children.
http://hoagiesgifted.org/
The Belin-Blank Center for the Gifted is a wonderful resource for gifted parents and students located right here in Iowa. The website contains information about out of school opportunities, counseling and assessment opportunities, Iowa's Invention Convention Contest and valuable information for parents of gifted children.
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/
Iowa Talented and Gifted Association
This is a link to Iowa’s Talented and Gifted Association. This organization helps connect interested parents, educators, and concerned citizens dedicated to meeting the needs of TAG students. There are many helpful links on this web site. Parents may also become yearly members of the organization and receive additional publications.
http://iowatag.org/
Hoagie's Gifted Education Page
This website has TONS of information for everything you could ever want to know about working with a parenting gifted children.
http://hoagiesgifted.org/
Helpful Books
Cohen, Leonora M.. Coping for capable kids: strategies for parents, teachers, and students. Waco, TX: Prufrock Press, 1996. Print. This book gives ideas for coping with problems common to gifted kids. Issues discussed include: the ethnic gifted, disabled gifted, perfectionism, boredom, underachievement, eat disorders, and depression.
Delisle, James R., Judy Galbraith, and Pamela Espeland. When gifted kids don't have all the answers: how to meet their social and emotional needs. Minneapolis: Free Spirits Pub., 2002. Print. This book has practical suggestions anyone working with gifted children. It provides ideas for encouraging social and emotional growth in talented and gifted children.
Kubilius, Paula, Lisa Weber, and Steven Pfeiffer. Early gifts: recognizing and nurturing children's talents. Waco, Tex.: Prufrock Press, 2003. Print. This author focuses on how to recognize and nurture talent in preschool and elementary-school-aged children. Seven chapters address major areas of giftedness including: music, the visual arts, drama, language arts, science, mathematics, and athletics.
Trelease, Jim. The new read-aloud handbook. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1989. Print. This book explains the benefits, rewards, and importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation.
Walker, Sally Yahnke, and Susan K. Perry. The survival guide for parents of gifted kids: how to understand, live with, and stick up for your gifted child. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit, 1991. Print. What does it mean to be gifted? What is “good” and “not so good” about being identified as gifted? How can parents make sure their gifted children get the learning opportunities they need? How can parents cope with the unique challenges gifted kids present?
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.
Delisle, James R., Judy Galbraith, and Pamela Espeland. When gifted kids don't have all the answers: how to meet their social and emotional needs. Minneapolis: Free Spirits Pub., 2002. Print. This book has practical suggestions anyone working with gifted children. It provides ideas for encouraging social and emotional growth in talented and gifted children.
Kubilius, Paula, Lisa Weber, and Steven Pfeiffer. Early gifts: recognizing and nurturing children's talents. Waco, Tex.: Prufrock Press, 2003. Print. This author focuses on how to recognize and nurture talent in preschool and elementary-school-aged children. Seven chapters address major areas of giftedness including: music, the visual arts, drama, language arts, science, mathematics, and athletics.
Trelease, Jim. The new read-aloud handbook. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1989. Print. This book explains the benefits, rewards, and importance of reading aloud to children of a new generation.
Walker, Sally Yahnke, and Susan K. Perry. The survival guide for parents of gifted kids: how to understand, live with, and stick up for your gifted child. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit, 1991. Print. What does it mean to be gifted? What is “good” and “not so good” about being identified as gifted? How can parents make sure their gifted children get the learning opportunities they need? How can parents cope with the unique challenges gifted kids present?
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.