When my daughter admitted that she wasn’t sure she liked her advanced math class because it felt hard, I realized she might be experiencing true academic challenge for the first time. That car ride led to a conversation about why struggle matters in learning, especially for gifted students, and how growth often happens in the space just beyond what feels comfortable. This post explores the zone of proximal development through a real parenting moment and offers insight for educators and families navigating productive challenge.

Words shape how we see giftedness. This family-friendly guide explains 20 key terms every parent and teacher should know — and includes a free printable PDF glossary to help you understand and support gifted learners with confidence.

I’m excited to share that I’ll be presenting at the 2025 WATG Conference on Gifted Education! My session explores what schools can learn from homeschooling gifted students—especially around flexibility, curiosity, and student-led learning.

Discover how student choice empowers gifted learners to take ownership of their education. This post explores how to design meaningful choice boards that balance structure and flexibility — and includes a link to a downloadable, editable Canva template for teachers.

Gifted learners think deeply and feel deeply. This guide explains key concepts like emotional intensity and asynchronous development and offers practical ways to create inclusive, caring environments.

Not every child is gifted in the educational sense—and that’s okay. Learn why recognizing and supporting gifted students’ unique needs ensures equity, engagement, and true growth for all learners.