How the Gifted Brain Learns / Edition 2

by David A. Sousa

Overview

Identify, understand, and engage the full range of gifted learners with practical, brain-compatible classroom strategies!

The updated edition of Sousa’s bestseller translates the latest neuroscientific findings into practical strategies for engaging gifted and talented learners. Individual chapters are dedicated to talents in language, math, and the arts, and offer instructional applications for both elementary and secondary classrooms. This reader-friendly guide uncovers:

• How the brains of gifted students are different
• How to gauge if gifted students are being adequately challenged
• How to identify students who are both gifted and learning disabled
• How to better identify gifted minority students

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412971737
Publisher:	Corwin Press
Publication date:	07/30/2009
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

David A. Sousa, Ed D, is an international consultant in educational neuroscience and author of more than a dozen books that translate brain research into strategies for improving learning. He has presented to more than 200,000 educators across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. He has taught high school chemistry and served in administrative positions, including superintendent of schools. He was an adjunct professor of education at Seton Hall University and a visiting lecturer at Rutgers University. Dr. Sousa has edited science books and published dozens of articles in leading journals. His books have been published in French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, and several other languages. He is past president of the National Staff Development Council (now Learning Forward) and has received honorary degrees and awards for his commitment to research, professional development, and science education. He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and National Public Radio to discuss his work with schools using brain research.

Table of Contents

About the Author
Acknowledgments
Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
What Do We Mean by Gifted and Talented?
Gifted and Talented Programs in Today's Schools
About This Book
1. What Is a Gifted Brain?
Understanding Intelligence
Theories of Intelligence and Giftedness
Characteristics of Giftedness
Social and Emotional Characteristics of Giftedness
Impact of Praise on Gifted Students
2. Challenging the Gifted Brain
Differentiated Curriculum and Instruction
A Supportive Learning Environment
Curriculum Content Initiatives for Gifted Learners
Instructional Processes for Gifted Learners
The Products of Gifted Learners
Gifted Visual-Spatial Learners
Avoiding the Pitfall of Academics Versus the Arts
3. Underachieving Gifted Students
What Is Underachievement?
Some Causes of Underachievement
Identifying Gifted Underachievers
Underachievement Among Gifted Minority Students
Reversing Patterns of Underachievement
4. The Twice-Exceptional Brain
Identifying Twice-Exceptional Students
Giftedness and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Giftedness and Autism
Hyperlexia
5. Language Talent
Sources of Language Ability
Identifying Students Gifted in Language Arts
Developing Language Ability
6. Mathematical Talent
Number Sense Is an Innate Capability
Mathematical Thinking and the Brain
Identifying the Mathematically Gifted
Teaching the Mathematically Gifted
7. Artistic Talent
The Arts for All Students
Musical Talent
Reading and Memorizing Music
Developing Musically Talented Students
Dance Talent
Theatrical Talent
Visual Art Talent
8. Putting It All Together
Identifying Gifted Students
Developing the Learning Environment
Strategies for the Gifted in the Inclusive Classroom
Where Do We Go From Here?
Conclusion
Glossary
References
Resources
Index

Editorial Reviews

Provides practical classroom activities and strategies for addressing the needs of gifted students.

Skipping Stones

"(The author) has investigated the most recent work in neuroscience, learning and intelligence, and seeks to answer many questions frequently posed by both teachers and parents. . . . This book is a must read forthose teaching able children, and of course, parents with children who appear to show diftedness or a high level of talent. "

Doctor - L.F. Lowenstein

"Sousa's discussion of the strategies for teaching or working with gifted students incorporates the best practices in the field."

Roeper Review

"Agreat book to use to assist preservice teachers, inservice teachers, and administrators with ways to meet the needs of all types of gifted learners."

Thea H. Williams-Black

"Each chapter offers the practitioner page after page of suggestions on how to apply the research discussed to educational practice. The applications sections are extremely intriguing and offer more than the traditional 'discovery learning' approach to teaching these remarkable children. "

J.D. Neal

"I loved this book. It expands the reader’s definition of what it means to be gifted. Many schools focus only on academic giftedness,but this book has very practical ways to help students gifted in the arts utilize their talents. Sousa provides enough information to help someone who has never developed a gifted program before get started, and yet challenges the reader’s preconceived notions enough to help a school with a rich gifted program have discussions that will improve the existing program."

Kathy Tritz-Rhodes

Pulls many areas of gifted research, knowledge, and applications together in a clear and concise manner. This is a one-stop book for teachers who have high-ability/gifted students in a classroom and need to understand how these students’ brains work and how to plan effective instruction.

Mary Beth Cary

"Brain research is changing the way teachers respond to student needs, and this book deals with the topic well. The biological descriptions of brain anatomy were simplified so that non-science educators could comprehend the research with the author’s ideas on implications. While the book is intended to focus on identifying and educating gifted and talented students, it also provides insights for instruction of all students."

Debra K. Las

"(The author) has investigated the most recent work in neuroscience, learning and intelligence, and seeks to answer many questions frequently posed by both teachers and parents. . . . This book is a must read forthose teaching able children, and of course, parents with children who appear to show diftedness or a high level of talent."

Dr. L. F. Lowenstein

"Each chapter offers the practitioner page after page of suggestions on how to apply the research discussed to educational practice. The applications sections are extremely intriguing and offer more than the traditional 'discovery learning' approach to teaching these remarkable children."

J. D. Neal