All AboutSocial Emotional

How many students are already ready (already) for next year?

In a climate where we focus on who’s below-level, how many students are already ready for next year (and beyond)? Research from Johns Hopkins sheds light on the (truly) shocking number of above-level kids out there.

Three Images To Explain Giftedness

Three images I’m using to do a better job explaining giftedness to parents of gifted kids.

Torrance’s Manifesto for Children

My friend Brian introduced me to Torrance’s Manifesto for Children – and I wish I had seen it decades ago!

Ira Glass on Perfectionism

For people who do not suffer from perfectionist tendencies, it can be hard to understand the crippling feeling a student feels when their work doesn’t match their expectations. Ira Glass, who you know from This American Life, has a fantastic quote that gets to the heart of this problem.

Has anyone ever taught them?

Any time we complain that a kid always or never does something, we should consider this same question: has anyone ever taught them how?

Our Brains and Understanding Fear

Understanding our body’s feelings is important, especially for gifted students whose powerful minds often overthink problems, which in turn leads to perseveration and nervousness.

Encourage Interests, Don’t Expect Passions

For a few years, I delivered a keynote about the possible 21st-century careers awaiting our students. When I speak about this topic, people respond by wanting to help kids “find their passions.” But I think the word “passion” is a problem. Here’s why. “Passion” Is Unreasonable When we call something a “passion,” it implies lifelong […]