Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative, and Challenging: Brain- and Research-Based Strategies to Enhance Learning for Gifted Students - Softcover

Willis, Judy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0910707936 ISBN 13: 9780910707930

Publisher: SCB Distributors, 2020

Synopsis

Teaching adolescents can be quite challenging. Dr. Judith Willis, a neurologist and teacher, explains the inner workings of the adolescent brain. She uses the findings of brain research in her classroom to explain how parents and teachers can trigger untapped inspiration in students.

Middle school education has often been a black hole for gifted students, seldom providing adequate challenge. By understanding how the brain works, however, we can make learning for all youngsters exciting and stimulating. The information and advice in this book will help parents and teachers design positive and rewarding learning experiences that will then be stored in long-term memory rather than deleted or filtered out.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

"Using the most current brain research, Dr. Willis shows how best practice strategies in gifted education can ignite, sustain, and revitalize gifted learners. The beauty of this book is that it provides clear and understandable research, and links it to specific strategies, including lesson plans for educators, links to social and emotional research, and ideas for extending the learning at home and beyond for parents of gifted adolescents...Dr. Willis’ book is the 'real deal.' Her ideas are practical and inspirational, and undoubtedly will help parents and educators of gifted teenagers age gracefully during this period of rapid change!" -Jackie Drummer, President, WI Association for Talented and Gifted
"In her new book, Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative, and Challenging, Dr. Willis explores the transitional black hole that is middle school... especially how it relates to the cognitive and neurological development of gifted learners as they evolve out of the more nurturing environment of elementary years and before they reach the (hopefully) more rigorous challenges of secondary education. Drawing upon her backgrounds in both education and neuroscience, Dr. Willis not only decries the disservice being done to all children whose minds crave experiential learning beyond the standardized teach-to-the-test rote regurgitation being heaped upon our children these days, but she also draws upon her own teaching experience and provides practical examples of what can be done right now to again make middle school years engaging, stimulating, and fun for all learners." -Brooke Burling, Connecticut Association for the Gifted
"Dr. Willis has the unique perspective of a person well-educated and practiced in two tangentially related fields. She had years of experience as a neurologist before going on to receive a master's degree in education. This book makes use not only of her time spent as a classroom teacher, but also a detailed knowledge of brain development...a thought-provoking book and a must-have for parents and educators." -Lorel Shea, BellaOnline's Gifted Education Editor
"This book is an excellent resource for teachers and parents of gifted middle school students. It provides a wealth of information about what happens to gifted middle school students’ brains and how to best meet their academic and social needs. The author explains why gifted middle school students exhibit poor judgment and decision making. She reminds teachers and parents that, 'Your responses to these admissions of lapses in judgment will help them trust you to be understanding and fair when they do make mistakes' (p. 36). I will try to remember this the next time my daughter tries to paint her face with food coloring and it won’t come off her face or the carpet!" -Teresa Rowlison, Ph.D., New Mexico Association for the Gifted, Program Coordinator, College of Education, Distance Education, New Mexico State University

From the Back Cover

"A welcome and much-needed resource. Willis shows how neuroscience, teaching, giftedness, and adolescence connect to inform best practice for parents and teachers. She provides sensible 'neurological strategies' that are aligned with a mastery orientation for learning. Readers will be informed and inspired." -Dona J. Matthews, Ph.D., and Joanne F. Foster, Ed.D., Co-authors of Being Smart About Gifted Children: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators # "This new book on working with middle school gifted students is refreshing in its no nonsense approach to the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing their needs. It also provides important up-to-date information on understanding current neuroscience research that may be useful to understand in crafting interventions and working with these adolescents on a daily basis as a teacher or parent. I was truly impressed by the tone and style of the author in making the book accessible reading to multiple audiences. I believe it is must reading for middle school educators and the parents of middle schoolers everywhere." - Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D., Executive Director, Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary, Past President, National Association for Gifted Children # "Dr. Willis explains the findings of brain-based research in learning and development as it applies to the real lives of gifted children, their teachers, and school reform. It is gratifying to see someone in gifted education focusing on the source of gifted intellect--the brain." -Paul Beljan, Psy.D., ABPN, Neuropsychologist, Co-author of Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults

Edition details

• Publisher: SCB Distributors
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 0910707936
• ISBN 13: 9780910707930
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 340