Suggested Reading for Educators
Listed below are a series of Recommended Readings. These books and articles will give you a good introduction to understanding gifted education and gifted youth.
2004 TAGT Legacy Book Award Finalist
Anderson, Joel and Brinkman, Joan, What's On Your Mind?
Student-tested activities address affective topics. Teacher friendly format for each lesson: philosophy, purpose, objectives, time and materials, a step-by-step activity description, ready-to-use reproducibles, and additional activities.
2004 TAGT Legacy Book Award Finalist
Assouline, Susan and Lupkowski-Shoplik, Ann, Developing Mathematical Talent
Developing Mathematical Talent offers a focused look at educating gifted and talented students for success in math. More than just a guidebook for educators and parents, this book offers a comprehensive approach to mathematics education for gifted students of elementary or middle school age.
Baldwin, A.Y., & Vialle, W. (Eds.) (1998). The many faces of giftedness: Lifting the masks
This book explores the myriad of ways in which the potential giftedness of individuals and groups is masked by the collective, myopic vision of society, with emphasis on the United States and Australia. It begins with an introductory chapter, “Potential That Is Masked,” that discusses this phenomenon. The book is then organized into five parts with each part representing a particular mask.
Baum, S. M., Reis, S.M., & Maxfield, L. R. (Eds.) (1998). Nurturing the gifts and talents of primary grade students
This book is organized into four parts: identifying gifts, interests, and learning styles; program and curricular models for talent development; curricular ideas and strategies; and classroom management.
Berger, S. (2006). College planning for gifted students (3rd ed.)
Provides a detailed 6-year plan that guides the gifted student through critical college and career choices based on student's knowledge of self and educational options. Revised second edition includes web-based resources.
Castellano, J. A. (2003). Special populations in gifted education: Working with diverse gifted learners
This text illuminates the reality that gifted students are from all backgrounds and that their talents transcend cultural, ethnic, and linguistic ties, handicapping conditions, sexual orientation, poverty, and geography. Topics include characteristics, curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation, nurturing, and meeting their social, emotional, academic, and cognitive needs.
Castellano, J. A., & Diaz, E. (Eds.) (2002). Reaching new horizons: Gifted and talented education for culturally and linguistically diverse students
This text offers a comprehensive overview at the interface between bilingual/multicultural/ESL education and gifted education. Chapters include program delivery models, bilingualism, and identification and assessment.
Clark, B. (2002). Growing up gifted: Developing the potential of children at home and at school (7th ed.)
This comprehensive reference includes sections on brain research, the emotional and social aspects of growing up gifted, and current educational models. The sixth edition retains proven parts of its original structure and combines it with the knowledge and best practices from a variety of sources.
Cline, S. (2000). Giftedness has many faces: Multiple talents and abilities in the classroom
This book describes giftedness in each of the domains and guides teachers in the identification and nurturing of special abilities in all children. One chapter introduces a model that integrates multiple intelligence theory with curriculum differentiation appropriate for the gifted.
Cline, S., & Schwartz, D. (1999). Diverse populations of gifted children: Meeting their needs in the regular classroom and beyond
This book is designed to help classroom teachers identify and plan for gifted children from special populations. It examines ways in which teachers can help these students reach their potential.
2005 TAGT Legacy Book Award Finalist
Coil, Carolyn, Standards-Based Activities and Assessments for the Differentiated Classroom
Colangelo, N., & Davis, G. (Eds.) (2002). Handbook of gifted education (3rd ed.)
A comprehensive book on identifying, teaching, and counseling gifted students. Divided in parts that include conceptions and identification, instructional models and practices, creativity and thinking skills, psychological and counseling services, special topics, and the future.
Coleman, L. J., & Cross, T. L. (2000). Being gifted in school: An introduction to development, guidance, and teaching
This book reviews past developments within the field of gifted education and identifies the current trends, issues, and beliefs to be faced in the 21st century. The book is organized to provide a framework for those who are responsible for nurturing the development of gifts and talents in the home, school, and community.
Davis, G. A., & Rimm, S. B. (2003). Education of the gifted and talented (5th ed.)
A standard introductory textbook in gifted education. The most notable change for this edition is a new chapter on counseling that addresses the social, emotional, and education/career needs and problems of gifted children, and outlines specific counseling-related roles for teachers, parents, counselors, and even school administrators.
2004 TAGT Legacy Book Award Winner
Delisle, J., & Lewis, B. (2003). The survival guide for teachers of gifted kids: How to plan, manage, and evaluate programs for gifted youth
The authors explain how to set the foundation for a gifted program; how to evaluate, identify, and select students; how to differentiate the regular curriculum for gifted kids (with lesson samples); how to extend or enrich the content areas, and how to develop survival skills needed at a time when gifted education is questioned, threatened, and underfunded.
Delisle, J., & Galbraith, J. (2002). When gifted kids don't have all the answers: How to meet their social and emotional needs
After a section devoted to identifying the gifted and the need for specialized education programs for this population, this work delves into the emotional dimensions of giftedness and how to understand gifted kids from the "inside out" through first-person stories, classroom-tested activities, guided discussions, and up-to-date resources.
Freeman, J. (2001). Gifted children grown up
This book describes the outcomes of a longitudinal study of 210 British children that compared the recognized and the unrecognized gifted with their classmates. It describes what has happened to them and their families as they have grown up in very different circumstances, in poverty or wealth, through many types of schooling and life opportunities.
Friedman, R. C., & Shore, B. (Eds.) (2000). Talents unfolding: Cognition and development
In this book, developmental, educational, cognitive, and professional psychologists explore early identification of giftedness, what happens when child prodigies grow up, and environmental characteristics that are needed for talent to develop into genius. Fourteen chapters written by experts in the field.
Ford, D. Y., & Harris, J. J. III (1999). Multicultural gifted education
Bridging the fields of gifted and multicultural education, this book is designed to provide a comprehensive practical resource for raising the expectations and level of instruction for gifted minority students. It offers case studies of multicultural gifted education in practice, suggests methods of best practices for classroom teachers, supplies sample activities, and provides guidelines and a checklist to help evaluate current multicultural education programs.
Gallagher, J. J., & Gallagher, S. A. (1994). Teaching the gifted child (4th ed.)
A classic comprehensive text divided into three general parts: the gifted child and the changing school program, content modifications (in specific academic areas), and information-processing strategies.
Halsted, J. W. (2002). Some of my best friends are books: Guiding gifted readers from preschool to high school (2nd ed.)
Designed for parents, educators, and others concerned with the development of gifted children, this book is a guide to reading for gifted students in preschool through grade 12 and includes an annotated bibliography of almost 300 recommended books.
Heacox, D. (2001). Differentiating instruction in the regular classroom: How to reach and teach all learners, grades 3-12
This book provides a wide variety of strategies for differentiating instruction for students in grades 3-12. Ten chapters provide an overview of differentiated content, process, and product, and the role of the teacher in a differentiated classroom.
Karnes, F. A., & Bean, S. M. (Eds.) (2005) Methods and materials for teaching the gifted
This book is designed to provide strategies and resources for differentiating the instruction of gifted learners. It addresses characteristics and needs of gifted learners, instructional planning and evaluation, strategies for best practices, and supporting and enhancing gifted programs. Twenty-one chapters written by noted authors.
2005 TAGT Legacy Book Award Winner
Kingore, Bertie, Differentiation: Simplified, Realistic, and Effective
In working with wonderful teachers across the nation, the common thread of concern is how to do it all. Teachers want to differentiate. They certainly view it as important to their students, but they continue to experience frustration at the vastness of the task. How-to questions prevail. Management questions repeat themselves in district after district. Therefore, the focus of this book is to simplify the implementation of differentiation to increase its practice. Specific aids and examples are included because teachers found them particularly beneficial to simplify the planning and preparation process of differentiated instruction.
Karnes, F. A., & Chauvin, J. C. (2000) Leadership development program manual.
This manual discusses the Leadership Skills Inventory (LSI), an assessment for children in upper elementary grades as well as with young adults that identifies areas of strength and weakness in leadership ability. Sections include the purpose of the LSI, use of the inventory, administering the inventory, scoring the inventory, interpreting the inventory, and history and development of the inventory.
Karnes, F. A., & Marquardt, R. G. (2000). Gifted children and legal issues: An update
This book attempts to report on and synthesize all new (since this book's 1991 edition) legal actions concerning the education of gifted and talented children. Examples of issues covered include advanced placement concerns, home-schooling problems, personal injury, and civil rights.
Kay, Keisa (Ed.) (2000). Uniquely gifted: Identifying and meeting the needs of twice-exceptional students
The 32 readings in this collection discuss the needs of children who are both gifted and also have special needs such as a disability ("twice exceptional"). The readings are grouped into four major sections. "Family Matters: Perspectives from Family Members," "Teaching Strategies: Learning and Leadership," "Research and Theory: Discovering Possibilities," and "Administrative Options: Working Together."
Kerr, B. (1997). Smart girls: A new psychology of girls, women, and giftedness (rev.ed.)
This book expands previous research on why smart girls and gifted women often fail to develop their potential. It reports a 10-year and 20- year follow-up study of graduates of a special high school curriculum designed to foster leadership and success among gifted females.
Kerr, B. A., & Cohn, S. J. (2001). Smart boys: Talent, manhood, and the search for meaning
This book explores issues faced by gifted boys and men and the concerns of those around them and explores the relationship of special intellectual ability to the role of males in our society.
Khatena, J. (2000). Enhancing creativity of gifted children: A guide for parents and teachers
This book on enhancing the creativity of gifted children begins with stories of gifted children, each illustrating characteristics that distinguish each child's uniqueness. It goes on to delineate the role and power of parents and teachers in bringing a child's creative potential to fruition. Specific measures of creativity that may be used to identify gifted children are described, as are typical characteristics such as the ability to learn school subjects, lead others, and perform in the arts.
2005 TAGT Legacy Book Award Finalist
Lovecky, Deirdre V., Different Minds
Recognizing the different levels and kinds of giftedness, this book provides an insight into the challenges and benefits specific to gifted children with attention difficulties. Explaining why certain children are gifted and how giftedness is manifested, each chapter on a specific topic addresses the relevance for children with AD/HD, autism and Asperger Syndrome. Lovecky guides parents and professionals through methods of diagnosis and advises on how best to nurture individual needs, positive behavior and relationships at home and at school.
Maker, C. J., & Nielson, A. B. (2005). Teaching models in education of the gifted (2nd ed.)
Explains curriculum principles for gifted learners, looking at the learning environment, content, process, and product, and details curriculum and teaching strategies for elementary classrooms, such as interdisciplinary units of study, weekly and daily plans, and task-card activities based on Williams' teaching strategies for thinking and feeling. This edition develops a new model of characteristics that comprise giftedness and the ways it is exhibited.
Montgomery, D. (Ed.) (2000). Able underachievers
Written by scholars from six different countries, this book discusses patterns of underachievement, gender differences, and overcoming underachievement. The book stresses the need to modify curriculum, teaching, and learning methods in order to include all learners. Eleven chapters.
Neihart, M., Reis, S. M., Robinson, N. M., & Moon, S. M. (Eds.), (2001). The social and emotional development of gifted children: What do we know?
This resource examines the essential topics teachers, parents, and researchers need to know about the social and emotional development of gifted children. Twenty-four papers written by experts in the field summarize decades of research in chapters on peer pressure and social acceptance, resilience, delinquency, and underachievement.
Parke, B. N. (2003) Discovering programs for talent development
This book presents 65 programs that are readily available in most school districts and communities, and assesses each program's potential for serving the needs of talented students, based on its levels of content acceleration, in-depth topic immersion, and interest exploration.
Perry, T., Steele, C., & Hilliard, A. (2003). Young, gifted, and black: Promoting high achievement among African-American students
The three authors reframe outdated ideas and argue that understanding how children experience the struggle of being black in America is essential to improving how schools serve them.
Piirto, J. (1999). Talented children and adults: Their development and education (2nd ed.)
This comprehensive, introduction to the characteristics and education of the gifted and talented takes a lifespan approach to developing talented individuals focusing on factors that encourage talent from birth through adulthood.
Renzulli, J. S., Leppien, J. H., Hays, T. S., & Knox, R. (Eds.) (2000). The multiple menu model: A practical guide for developing differentiated curriculum
Based on constructivist learning theory, this guide presents six practical menus that are intended to guide curriculum developers as they bring together an understanding of a discipline, its content and methodologies, and a vast array of instructional techniques to challenge learners on all levels.
Rogers, K. B. (2002). Re-forming gifted education: Matching the program to the child
This guidebook is designed to assist schools in providing appropriate education experiences for all gifted and talented children, regardless of the child's talent area, age, ethnic origin, or economic level. There are 10 chapters.
Sheffield, L. J. (2002). Extending the challenge in mathematics: Developing mathematical promise in K-8 students
Combining theory and practice, Sheffield expertly guides the reader through the process of mathematical talent development from identifying students with mathematical potential, to finding and creating first-rate problems for exploration and strategies for assessment.
Sheffield, L. J., (Ed.) (1999). Developing mathematically promising students
This book, written on the recommendation of the Task Force on Mathematically Promising Students, investigates issues involving the development of promising mathematics students. Topics include the definition of promising students; the identification of such students; appropriate curriculum, instruction, and assessment; cultural influences; teacher preparation and enhancement; and appropriate next steps.
Silverman, L. (1993). Counseling the gifted and talented
A comprehensive resource for counselors and teachers of gifted learners and graduate students in counseling psychology. The author examines both the cognitive complexity and emotional intensity of gifted children and discusses the need for modification of counseling techniques. Specific strategies for individual and group counseling are provided.
Smutny, J. F. (Ed.) (2002). Underserved gifted populations. (Perspectives on Creativity Research)
An anthology covering populations such as minority groups, culturally and linguistically diverse students, and gifted students with disabilities.
Smutny, J. (Ed.) (2002). Designing and developing programs for gifted students
Thirteen authors bring together a comprehensive guide to developing different types of programs and learning experiences for gifted students. The book provides guidelines for designing and implementing curriculum for pre-K through middle school, identifying and selecting the best teachers, creating the vital support networks among parents, school, and community, assessing the program's impact on children, parents, and teachers, and developing special programming for the disadvantaged gifted students.
Smutny, J. F. (Ed.) (1997). The young gifted child: Potential and promise: An anthology
Forty-one papers on young gifted children are grouped in sections on identification, special populations, parenting, social/emotional needs, and education.
Smutny, J. F., Walker, S., & Meckstroth, E. (1997). Teaching young gifted children in the regular classroom
This resource helps teachers identify young children who are gifted and tailor the learning environment to meet their needs. Separate sections offer specific suggestions for enriching math, science, language arts, and social studies curricula. Other sections cover meeting the needs of children from diverse populations, working with parents, and understanding children's emotional and social needs.
Starko, A. J. (2004). Creativity in the classroom: Schools of curious delight (3rd ed.)
This book is designed to help teachers link research and theory regarding creativity to the everyday activities of classroom teaching. Its mission is to provide enough theory and enough examples of applications to enable teachers to convert what they learn to their everyday grouping arrangements, lesson plans, assessment activities, and grading schemes.
Sternberg, R. (2000). Teaching for successful intelligence
This text is based on Sternberg's research-supported theory that students need to develop analytical, creative, and practical thinking abilities in order to acquire successful intelligence. It addresses the notion that many educational programs seem to develop people's intelligence in only one area (analytical) and that students need all three to be successful in life.
Strip, C. A., & Hirsch, G. (2000). Helping gifted children soar: A practical guide for parents and teachers
Intended for parents of gifted children, this book stresses the importance of positive relationships between parents and teachers as they work to meet children's academic, emotional, and social needs.
Torrance, E. P., Goff, K., & Satterfield, N. B. (1997). Multicultural mentoring of the gifted and talented
This guide offers guidance for mentoring programs and relationships serving gifted and/or talented students from multicultural and/or disadvantaged environments.
Tomlinson, C. A., Kaplan, S. N., Renzulli, J. S., Purcell, J., Leppien, J., & Burns, D. (2001). The parallel curriculum: A design to develop high potential and challenge high-ability learners (2nd ed.)
This book remains a groundbreaking publication offering an innovative model for rich curriculum development across varying ability levels. Its four parallel approaches to curriculum development were designed to challenge all students to greater expertise across content areas, while helping teachers challenge and develop their own expectations.
Tomlinson, C. A., Kaplan, S. N., Purcell, J., Leppien, J., & Burns, D., Strickland, C. (2005). The parallel curriculum, Book 1: Essays for Application Across the Content Areas, K-12
This book presents a model of curriculum development for gifted students offering four parallel approaches that focus on ascending intellectual demand as students develop expertise in learning. Each chapter details the four curriculum approaches, discusses the meaning, key
Tomlinson, C. A., Kaplan, S. N., Purcell, J., Leppien, J., & Burns, D., Strickland, C. (2005). The parallel curriculum, Book 2: Units for Application Across the Content Areas, K-12
What is the best way to incorporate the four parallels into your Parallel Curriculum Unit? How do teachers using the Parallel Curriculum Model (PCM) craft units based on the PCM and why do they utilize certain elements and downplay others? What does a complete Parallel Curriculum Unit look like? This compilation of Parallel Curriculum Units provides a close-up look into the development of PCM units and how those units work in actual classroom settings.
Van Tassel-Baska, J. (2003). Curriculum planning and instructional design for gifted learners
This text includes a comprehensive framework for curriculum planning, designs an effective planning model for instruction, outlines specific instructional strategies and curriculum units and presents guidelines for learning assessment and curriculum evaluation.
Van Tassel-Baska, J. (2005). Comprehensive curriculum for gifted learners (3rd ed.)
Divided in four major parts: the process of curriculum making, adapting curriculum in the traditional content areas, integrating curriculum from key learning realms, and the process of curriculum doing. Chapters by J. Feldhusen, D. Johnson, K. Seeley, and L. Silverman.
Van Tassel-Baska, J., Benbow, C., Feldhusen, J., Seeley, K., & Silverman, l. (1998). Excellence in educating gifted & talented learners (3rd ed.)
Well-known authors provide a comprehensive view of giftedness. Divided in four parts: Conceptions of talented learners: focus on individual and group differences; serving talented learners in special programs; proving effective curriculum and instruction for gifted and talented learners; and, helping the gifted and talented achieve excellence.
Van Tassel-Baska, J., Johnson, D., & Boyce, L.N. (1996). Developing verbal talent: Ideas and strategies for teachers of elementary and middle school students
Based on the work accomplished by the K-8 Curriculum Project for High Ability Learners, this book describes a curriculum framework for language arts.
2004 TAGT Legacy Book Award Winner
Van Tassel-Baska, J., Little, Catherine, Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners
Content-Based Curriculum for High-Ability Learners provides a solid introduction to curriculum development in gifted and talented education. In bringing together experts from the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary, this text brings cutting-edge design techniques and aligns the core content with national and state standards.
Vaughn, S., Bos, C. S, & Schumm, J. S. (2005). Teaching exceptional, diverse, and at-risk students in the general education classroom (3rd ed.)
Designed for general education teachers, this book contains specific learning activities and sample lessons for immediate practical applications in the inclusive classroom. The book is organized into three sections: mainstreaming, inclusion, and laws; the education of students with specific disabilities; teaching students who are culturally and linguistically diverse, students at-risk, and gifted or talented students.
2005 TAGT Legacy Book Award Winner
Web, James T., PhD, Amend, Edward R., Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults
If one is to ascertain whether behaviors are due to a disorder or whether they are part of the condition we call giftedness, it is first necessary to know something about the behaviors associated with gifted children and adults.
Winebrenner, S. (2001). Teaching gifted kids in the regular classroom: Strategies and techniques every teacher can use to meet the academic needs of the gifted and talented (revised, expanded, updated) (CD-Rom also available).
This book offers teachers of all grades teaching/management strategies for providing gifted students in regular classes the enriched curriculum they need. Chapters include topics such as working with underserved groups, instructional strategies, subject areas, independent study, and how to plan curriculum for all students at the same time and still create differentiated activities.
