Educational Resources
Ability Grouping for Gifted Students - Studies have found that when gifted students are ability-grouped with similarly motivated and intelligent peers, they advance as much as a whole year compared to students of a similar age and intelligence. This type of intellectual growth likely occurs because grouping allows gifted students to move at a pace appropriate for their abilities.
BrainWare Safari - "Software that develops 41 cognitive skills comprehensively and in a fully integrated way, the way the brain works...incorporates neuroscience with video-game technology to strengthen foundational cognitive skills, including attention, memory, visual and auditory processing, sensory integration, and reasoning and logic." Requires an online subscription.
Byrdseed - Byrdseed is a place dedicated to differentiating instruction for high-level learners. Learn new ideas, share what you know, and grow as an educator.
Challenge Math On-line is a 20-week long practice program that helps young students develop problem solving and logical reasoning skills. It instills in students a deeper level of mathematical understanding while nurturing a love of mathematics.
This program is designed for students who have already mastered basic math skills and concepts offered in classroom and look for greater challenge beyond regular curriculum. It is also for students who have an ambition to excel in math contests.
Envision Gifted - Envision Gifted was designed with the hope to support teachers in meeting the unique learning needs of gifted and advanced students. There is a misconception that gifted students, “Will be fine.” regardless of the instruction they receive (or don’t receive). This couldn’t be further from the truth. Gifted students need and are entitled to differentiated instruction and learning opportunities. Despite this, much of the focus in education has been on how to differentiate to support struggling students.
Georgetown Voice - The Mayo Clinic defines burnout as “a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.” “Gifted kid burnout,” however, is an internet term coined by Gen Z in recent years.
Gifted Guru - Gifted Guru was designed to provide support for families and educators with the information they need to create effective and joyful classrooms and homes.
Hoagies' Gifted Education Page - The award-winning "All Things Gifted" resource.
Kids in the House is an educational website about parenting. Their goal is to help families and caregivers become better at parenting by inspiring, educating and entertaining. The 8,000 videos on our website feature interviews with the top experts in parenting, including physicians, psychologists, researchers, educators and best-selling authors, as well as leaders of national organizations. The videos also feature families who have dealt with particular issues and can share their hard-earned wisdom. Kids in the House is a place where parents have the opportunity to hear and share different perspectives and get solutions for parenting challenges that range from pregnancy through getting into college. Kids in the House aims to be the most comprehensive resource for parenting advice, one which respects the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
KENDALL HUNT - Kendall Hunt Publishing Company is the premier provider of research-based, award-winning curriculum for high-ability learners in grades K-12. The subjects of focus for these students includes: language arts, science, social studies and mathematics.
Khan Academy - This site is a free online resource that offers educational teaching videos on a range of academic subjects and provides test prep review.
Project Pals - Project Pals is a web-based platform to manage collaborative learning, including project-based learning and inquiry-based learning. Our mission is to scale high-quality project-based learning for all students in grades 3-12, through the use of technology.
Prufrock Press - This publisher offers access to blogs, books, information, and teacher resources.
Odyssey of the Mind - An international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college.
Orange County Department of Education STEM - Resources, Best Practices
STEM - An educational website launched to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics.
Professional Organizations
California Association for the Gifted (CAG) - CAG is a statewide, non-profit association of volunteer educators, families, professionals and community leaders who share a common mission to address the unique needs of gifted children in California.
California Department of Education Gifted and Talented Education Resources for Districts and Schools - This site gives information and resources related to the implementation of GATE programs.
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) - This site includes public policy and national program information as well as an annual holiday list for gifted kids. NAGC also offers the Timely Information for parents (TIP) sheets to download and share as their children's needs change.
Orange County Council for Gifted and Talented Education (OCC GATE) - OCC GATE is a non-profit association of educators and parent representatives from Orange County who strive to improve the education of gifted and talented students. OCC GATE 2020-2021 meeting dates and topics.
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) - This site seeks to inform gifted individuals, their families, and the professionals who work with them about the unique social and emotional needs of gifted persons.
Books
Keys to Parenting the Gifted Child, Sylvia Rimm
Make Your Worrier a Warrior: A Guide To Conquering Your Child's Fears, Dan Peter, 2013
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck
A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, James T. Webb, et al,
Living With Intensity, Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
Raising Creative Kids, Susan Daniels, Ph.D.
**Some of the educational resources are provided for a fee. OCDE does not profit from any outside programs. Our intent is to provide information about some of the available resources for gifted students, families, and teachers.