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Category: Twice-Exceptionality/Nontraditional
Twice-Exceptionality/Nontraditional
Melissa Sornik, LCSW

Gifted and Underachieving…The Twice Exceptional Learner

Twice-exceptional (2e) learners combine high ability with learning, emotional, or developmental challenges that often mask each other, causing underachievement. Identification requires recognizing strengths alongside difficulties. Support should focus on enrichment, targeted accommodations, and developing executive and social-emotional skills while parents advocate and foster self-advocacy.

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Melissa Sornik, LCSW December 28, 2011
Education & Homeschooling
Jean Sunde Peterson

An Interview with Jean Sunde Peterson: About Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted

An interview with Jean Sunde Peterson about social and emotional needs of gifted students. She discusses common concerns—bullying, isolation, perfectionism, sensitivity—and emphasizes the importance of developmental guidance, compassionate counseling, family support, and school-based psychoeducational opportunities to help gifted children and teens develop resilience and identity.

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Jean Sunde Peterson September 15, 2011
Intelligence
Vidisha Patel

Gifted Parenting, An Interview with Vidisha Patel

An interview with Dr. Vidisha Patel discusses behavioral and social-emotional challenges for gifted children. She advises parents to prepare and role-play, teach emotional vocabulary, model behavior, involve children in social activities, seek outside guidance, and practice patience while balancing appropriate expectations and self-esteem development.

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Vidisha Patel September 15, 2011
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
Barbara Probst

When Your Child’s Exceptionality is Emotional: Looking Beyond Psychiatric Diagnosis

This article explores how gifted children’s intense traits—Dabrowski’s overexcitabilities and temperament features like intensity, sensitivity, and perfectionism—can be mistaken for psychiatric disorders. It discusses misdiagnosis risks, how environmental factors interact with traits, and practical strategies parents can use to reduce distress and support their children’s needs.

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Barbara Probst 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
Twice-Exceptionality/Nontraditional
Barbara Probst

Life with a Challenging Child: What to do when your gifted but difficult child is driving you crazy

This article advises parents of gifted but challenging children to view behavior in context, nurture strengths, and change parental responses. Practical strategies include modifying environments, offering backup plans, empowering children with choices and concrete tools, and teaching parents to be helpful leaders, illustrated by a case study of Diana.

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Barbara Probst September 15, 2011
Education & Homeschooling
Barbara Probst

Finding a School that Fits

This article guides parents of twice-exceptional (2e) children in finding suitable schools. It advises listing a child’s traits, prioritizing needs, researching public and private options, considering obstacles like cost and location, and seeking help from educational consultants to identify programs that nurture strengths while addressing challenges.

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Barbara Probst September 15, 2011
Over-excitabilities
Susan Baum

Gifted Students with Attention Deficits: Fact and/or Fiction? Can We See the Forest for the Trees?

Discusses rising referrals of gifted students for ADHD-like behaviors and argues environmental factors—boredom, inappropriate curriculum, emotional overexcitability, and adult responses—can mimic ADHD. Recommends careful assessment, curriculum adjustment, talent development, and considering both neurological and environmental causes before medication.

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Susan Baum September 15, 2011
Education & Homeschooling
Linda Collins

Twice Exceptional/Twice Successful: Back to School Strategies that Work

Twice-exceptional students often experience anxiety and inconsistent classroom success. Educators and parents should collaborate to provide targeted accommodations and intentional supports—IEP summaries, organization checks, extended time, quiet testing, assistive technology, and differentiated assignments—so these students can access rigorous classes and realize their talents.

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Linda Collins September 15, 2011