G/T Resources: I Get by With a Little Help from My Gifted Friends

A Review of Six of Our Favorite G/T Resources

Need answers for perplexing behavior from your gifted students? Want some fresh ideas to spice up your upcoming lesson plans?

Then look no further!

Here’s a breakdown of six of our favorite G/T resources that will get you fired up and ready to go.

In no particular order:

1. Byrdseed

What is it:

Ian Byrd grew up gifted and has devoted his talents to helping people better engage gifted students. He’s both jack and master of many trades, including teaching across content areas, music, and computer science. Byrdseed is his blog/resource shop. He also runs Byrdseed.TV, which you can read more about below.

Best part:

Mr. Byrd knows what he’s talking about; 30,000 monthly viewers can’t be wrong. Byrdseed has quality content that, thanks to Mr. Byrd’s computer science background, is super easy to access. He also has some AMAZING articles on making math exciting.

Cost:

The bulk of the content is free, but he has a shop with printables, books, videos, Powerpoints, etc., for purchase.

Focus:

Enriching educators, understanding G/T students’ unique social and emotional needs.

Snippet:

“In my childhood, I could not know enough about dinosaurs. I devoured my dinosaur encyclopedia. I taped all dinosaur shows I could find. I debated with other 6-year-olds over incorrect classifications (no, Dimetrodon was not a dinosaur, Neil). I read every dinosaur book at the library. Only recently have I learned about Dabrowski’s five overexcitabilities. My dinosaur obsession would definitely qualify as an ‘intellectual overexcitability.’” Excerpt from “Dino Obsession: Intellectual Overexcitability in Action”

2. Byrdseed.TV

What is it?

Also Ian Byrd, Byrdseed.TV contains “hours of streaming video for parents, teachers, and students. Find differentiated lessons, challenging projects, and information about the unique social and emotional needs of gifted learners, all presented in quick, practical videos.” The videos are from various professionals in G/T education.

Best part:

You’ll find the same accessibility that Byrdseed is known for, but the key perk here is that your students can access the videos you want to use and benefit directly from the experts.

Cost:

You can watch a few sample videos and get a minute or so preview of each video for free, but there are two types of membership you can purchase for access to full videos. For $5.99 a month (or $59 a year), you get unlimited streaming, new videos every Friday, and student streaming of any videos you choose. For $7.99 a month (or $79 a year), you can do all that and download videos and Powerpoints.

Focus:

All things gifted. Video topics range from math to homeschooling to Shakespeare summaries.

Snippet:

Check out this sample video on teaching Fancier Figurative Language

3. Hoagie’s Gifted Education Page

What is it?

A springboard for parents and educators to learn more about giftedness and find links to books, tools, and other resources. There is so much info to be found here; but the interface is busy and takes some intention to really navigate.

Best part:

If you’re new to the G/T world, Hoagie’s creator Carolyn K. has the low down you need to get started. She lays a great groundwork of links and info that will get you up to speed.

Cost:

Free

Focus:

The link trail will take you to all corners of the G/T resource universe. Every G/T professional and parent will benefit from this mother of all resources.

Snippet:

“Education professionals dealing with the gifted child are not different from parents of the gifted child. Sometimes we are one and the same person. We face the same questions and concerns, and often the same battles concerning the child’s education. We are on the same side! Check out the Parents section of Hoagies’ Gifted Education page, as you will find many other issues you find compelling in educating gifted children there… including Identification, Social / Emotional Aspects of Giftedness, Twice Exceptional and more.” (http://hoagiesgifted.org)

4. Gifted Guru

What is it?

Along similar lines as Hoagie’s, Gifted Guru is Mensa member Lisa Van Gemert’s brainchild (pun intended) to link you to blogs, articles, books, videos, and other G/T resources from every walk of giftedland. There are portions of the site devoted to parents, youth and educators.

Best part:

Ms. Van Gemert has a particular interest in the emotional needs of the gifted, so she’s an amazing resource for better understanding their unique struggles.

Cost:

Free

Focus:

A little bit of everything, but you’ll find a lot of free educational and mental/emotional health resources.

Snippet:

“Make them read along with much slower readers. Think nails on a chalkboard. The Supreme Court has ruled this to be cruel and unusual punishment. Well, perhaps not unusual, but definitely cruel. To fully understand what this is like for a gifted kid, find a cassette tape and play it at half speed. Then ask yourself questions about what you heard. Right after you pull the hot poker out of your eye.” Top 10 Ways to Annoy a Gifted Child

5. nRich Educational Consulting

What is it?

In his own words, Richard M. Cash, Ed.D, says,“I am keenly aware of the demands placed on teachers to improve student achievement, while also trying to create rich learning environments. That is why I started nRich Educational Consulting. I want to share with you the many years of experience and the knowledge I’ve gained as an educator.” nRich is a site to link you to Dr. Cash’s seminars and publications.

Best part:

Dr. Cash is one of the most trusted voices in gifted education.

Cost:

The links allow you to buy publications (~$40) or view small samples for free.

Focus:

Differentiation, curriculum design, and the science of thinking.

Snippet:

“The research-based strategies and techniques I offer are proven to increase student achievement. Others have commended my talent for working with teachers to develop engaging and enriching learning environments that can improve student learning. At the end of the day, my greatest passion is helping teachers recognize the various talents all children possess and create learning experiences to allow those talents to flourish.” (http://nrichconsulting.com/)

6. Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT (twitter)

What is it?

Brought to you by the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT), #gtchat is a weekly chat on Twitter that takes place on Fridays at 6 p.m. CT. For one hour, parents, educators, advocates and experts in the field of gifted and talented gather to share resources, links, authentic life experiences and insights about gifted issues.

Best part:

Educators and parents share insight and suggestions in real time. The topics are thought provoking and pertinent.

Cost:

Free

Focus:

Recent chats include “How can cardboard spark creativity?,” “Gifted and non-gifted siblings,”and “Smart girls in the 20th century.”

What’s Your Favorite Resource?

Did you see your favorite resources on our list? What are your top hubs for G/T help and ideas?

Leave a comment below with your additions to our list of G/T resources.