Being Smart about Gifted Education: A Guidebook for Educators and Parents »

Dona Matthews holds an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Special Education (Gifted), both from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. She has been involved in teaching, writing, counseling, consulting and conducting research on gifted-related issues since 1985. Dr. Matthews teaches Child and Adolescent Development at the University of Toronto. She was founding director of the Center for Gifted Studies and Education, Hunter College, City University of New York, and has published and presented extensively on gifted education and development.

Joanne Foster holds a Masters degree in Special Education and Adaptive Instruction, and a Doctoral degree in Human Development and Applied Psychology, both from the University of Toronto. She has worked in the field of gifted education for almost 30 years, focusing on ways to encourage and support high-ability learners. Joanne teaches Psychological Foundations of Learning and Development as well as Gifted Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. She is also a Gifted Education Consultant.

Written for both parents and edu cators who work with children of advanced abilities, Drs. Matthews and Foster present practical strategies to identify and nurture exceptionally high ability in children. They promote the "mastery" (rather than the "mystery") model of gifted education and challenge several common practices and assumptions. They offer ways to determine each child's level of learning and say that it is simply appropriate to provide the educational experiences that every child needs at a particular time. Features include: "Mastery" vs. "Mystery" models, How giftedness develops, Relevant brain research, Use and misuse of assessment, Programming options, Social and behavioral concerns, Teacher development processes, Parenting strategies, and more.

Foreword

Preface

Section I. Being Smart about Giftedness

Chapter 1. Perspectives and Paradigm Shifts

Chapter 2. Creativity and Giftedness

Section II. Being Smart about Diagnosing Mismatches

Chapter 3. Questions and Answers about Testing

Chapter 4. Assessments and Tests

Chapter 5. Mismatch Diagnostics

Section III. Being Smart about Meeting Gifted Learning Needs

Chapter 6. Adaptations: The Gifted Learner in the Regular Classroom

Chapter 7. Alternative Options: Stretching the Boundaries

Section IV. Being Smart about Gifted Development

Chapter 8. Motivation and Achievement Issues

Chapter 9. How Does Giftedness Develop?

Chapter 10. Emotional, Social, and Behavioral Considerations

Section V. Being Smart about Families, Advocates, and Educators

Chapter 11. Parenting Matters

Chapter 12. Teacher Development

Chapter 13. Optimal Learning for All Children

Appendix I. Test Scores: The Nuts and Bolts of Assessments

Appendix II. Educational Decision Making

Poem "They Tell Me I'm Gifted"

Endnotes

References

Index

About the Authors