Being Smart about Gifted Children

Book excerpt: Shows how to move from the Mystery model to the Mastery model. Written for parents and educators--especially those who live and work with gifted/high-ability children--the authors describe ways to develop children's natural abilities. Introducing the Mystery and Mastery models of gifted education, the authors invite controversy by challenging several commonly held assumptions. They then present practical strategies to help parents and educators identify and nurture the abilities of children with high ability. This book answers the charges that special programs for gifted children are elitist. The authors demonstrate that it is simply appropriate to provide educational experiences that each child needs at a particular time.