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Author: Richard Olenchak

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Richard Olenchak

Education & Homeschooling
Richard Olenchak

Creative Development and Twice Exceptional: Where Art Thou?

An educator recounts revising a fourth-grader’s IEP to recognize her twice-exceptional profile. By integrating accommodations with creative development and advanced math opportunities, the revised plan fostered the student’s strengths, improved reading outcomes, and established programs like a creative math club to support talent alongside remediation.

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Richard Olenchak July 12, 2017
Social & Emotional Development
Richard Olenchak

Accommodating the Social and Emotional Needs of Secondary Gifted/Learning Disabled Students

Discusses secondary students who are both gifted and learning disabled, examining identification problems, emotional risks, and three scenarios where gifts or disabilities are overlooked. Recommends individualized, talent-focused education, counseling, interest-based instruction, and school reforms like enrichment models to support social, emotional, and academic development.

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Richard Olenchak September 15, 2011
Social & Emotional Development
Richard Olenchak

Affective Development of Gifted Students with Nontraditional Talents

Discusses underachievement among gifted students with nontraditional talents, exploring affective development, identification challenges, and risks. Through case studies of Rachel and Tim it shows how mentoring, affective interventions, and opportunities to develop strengths can reverse underachievement and argues schools must recognize and support diverse talents.

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Richard Olenchak September 15, 2011
Education & Homeschooling
Richard Olenchak

Educational Testing

The article argues that high-stakes, test-driven education reduces support and funding for gifted programs, narrowing instruction to basic skills and potentially harming gifted students’ social and emotional development. It notes rising special education placements and links to related SENG articles for further reading.

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Richard Olenchak June 2, 2004