Abstract

Gifted children are quick on the uptake, can be frustrated by repetition and easily become impatient when unchallenged. Challenging the Gifted Child outlines a tried and tested approach for encouraging able children to focus their active minds in a productive way and discover the joy and value of reading.

The author explains the criteria for choosing appropriate reading for the child and describes ways to help deepen their understanding of both literature and language. Using examples from the author's extensive experience, this book encourages the development of independent learning skills and will help parents and educators to create a personalized reading programme for a gifted child at home or small groups of children in school. Photocopiable materials are included, along with samples of reading lists for different age groups.

This book provides practical advice for working with advanced young readers and will be an ideal resource for anyone who has responsibility for educating a gifted child.

This is a book for anyone who wants to create rich learning opportunities for children with advanced reading skills. Margaret Stevens's passion for developing a love of reading in children stems from her own experience as the mother of a gifted child, and her book is written with parents in mind as well as teachers. It will definetely appeal to home educators but would also be a valuable resource for teachers wanting to respond positively to parents looking for guidance on how to support their gifted child. She understands that gifted pupils left to their own devices do not always flourish; they often need a greater degree of stimulation and encouragement, and opportunities to express themselves in a freer, more creative way than the busy classroom allows.
G & T Update
Margaret Stevens is qualified in special needs teaching and has personal experience of raising a gifted child. She lives in the UK and since her retirement has been acting as a mentor for distance learning pupils of her reading programme for able young readers.