Directors’ Corner: Where the Wheels Hit the Road: Reflections on Strength-based Parenting
During a road trip while recovering from shoulder injuries, a mother observed her twice-exceptional son’s strengths as he navigated trails and supported her. The essay argues that strengths are context-driven, recommends strength-based parenting, and cites neuroscience evidence of brain plasticity to support nurturing children’s strengths.
The Superpower of Self-Advocacy
Encourage children to develop self-advocacy to communicate needs, set goals, and seek support in school. Help them learn about their giftedness, match educational options to their learner profile, create achievable goals, collaborate with school advocates, and celebrate progress while increasing responsibility.
Organization, Accountability, and the Gifted Child
Gifted children often carry heavy cognitive loads and need ongoing support with organization and executive functioning. Teachers and parents must collaboratively teach and model routines, planners, and tracking systems, reinforce them at home and school, and maintain accountability so students develop lasting skills for academic and life success.