Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT GUIDE
Review: Do you suspect that your child is gifted? If your answer is yes then this book is one that you must have. Helping Gifted Children Soar is a primer to help parents identify, resource and support the needs of their gifted child. The authors give parents a step by step approach on what to do and advise parents on how to best work with school systems and teachers to further enhance the education of their gifted child. This book is great. It identifies the difference between a child being just smart in comparison to gifted. It shows how giftedness can be hidden under other physical disabilities and the emotional immaturity of the child. What is even more important are the tools it gives parents to empower themselves to become an advocate for their child in the school system. Teachers and administrators many times are ignorant about gifted children. With this resource (and it lists others as well) the parent is enabled to begin the discussion about giftedness and can partner with the school to make the necessary adjustments in the gifted child's education. I highly recommend this book for all parents who suspect that their child is gifted. This guide will give you the basics of what to do and how to go about working your way through the school system to provide for your child's needs. Helping Gifted Children Soar does not address the issue of giftedness for those who home school their children. Nor does it deal with giftedness in private secular and religious schools. Its scope is limited to the public schools but the information on identifying giftedness, helping your child learn and finding a suitable curriculum is information that can be used in any setting.
Rating: 
Summary: User- friendly guide for parents and teachers
Review: Dr. Strip has skillfully crafted an excellent book of practical information as well as inspiration for parents and educators interested in the education and social and emotional needs of gifted children. Dr. Strip's practical suggestions include step-by-step procedures and forms by which parents can approach their schools as advocates for their gifted children. These forms and procedures will be helpful to parents and teachers alike. In addition, the parenting guidelines in this book are targeted specifically at the unique aspects and needs of gifted children. Ayudando A Ninos Dotados A Volar, the Spanish version of this book, is a unique addition to the literature of giftedness and provides a valuable resource for parents of Spanish-speaking gifted children and their teachers.
Rating:
Summary: Helping Gifted Children Soar
Review: Helping Gifted Children Soar (A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers) by Carol A. Strip, Ph.D with Gretchen Hirsch. Gifted Psychology Press, 270 pp. Reviewed by Nadine Huffman and Elizabeth Glier During our combined 20+ years of parenting and teaching our gifted children, we've read countless books on giftedness, which have yielded various reactions and degrees of satisfaction. Like the porridge in the three bears' cottage, many seemed "too hot" or "too cold" - too simplistic, too academia-oriented, too esoteric. Only a select few were "just right," worthy of recommendation and a place in our home libraries. So when we set out to review Carol Strip's Helping Gifted Children Soar, we were, quite frankly, a bit skeptical. Indeed, the book has a great pedigree. It's published by Dr. James Webb's (co-author of Guiding the Gifted Child) Gifted Psychology Press. But would its claim, "A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers" prove to be justifiable, earning it a permanent place on our bookshelves? Fortunately for the gifted community, this book falls into the "just right" category. It's excellent for teachers, and even better for parents. Dr. Strip's breadth of experience -- as a regular and gifted classroom teacher, gifted program administrator, and university professor - serves her exceedingly well. Since working within the educational system is her forte, the book is loaded with comprehensive advice and concrete suggestions on how to meet children's educational needs. Written in laymen's terms, the book is extremely readable. Particularly incisive sections include defining smart vs. gifted; selecting optimal teachers; exploring learning options (e.g., acceleration, curriculum compacting, and pull-outs); characteristics of good gifted programs; and effective parent/teacher communication. Dr. Strip also offers a plethora of solid parenting suggestions, and a useful question/answer section. The book includes over 20 pages of first-class resources and references. One comment: Given the paradigm shift towards homeschooling among many gifted parents today, it's curious that this option rates only a nominal mention in the book. Homeschooling is neither Dr. Strip's emphasis nor her area of expertise. But there's enough other pertinent material to make it a worthwhile read for homeschooling parents. The techniques are relevant and valuable in any educational setting. Helping Gifted Children Soar may well become the gifted equivalent to Dr. Spock or Penelope Leach on your home reference shelf. Together with Guiding the Gifted Child (Webb, Meckstroth and Tolan) and Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom (Winebrenner), it's a terrific resource for your child's teacher, gifted specialist, principal, or school library.
Rating:
Summary: Helping Gifted Children Soar
Review: Helping Gifted Children Soar (A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers) by Carol A. Strip, Ph.D with Gretchen Hirsch. Gifted Psychology Press, 270 pp. Reviewed by Nadine Huffman and Elizabeth Glier During our combined 20+ years of parenting and teaching our gifted children, we've read countless books on giftedness, which have yielded various reactions and degrees of satisfaction. Like the porridge in the three bears' cottage, many seemed "too hot" or "too cold" - too simplistic, too academia-oriented, too esoteric. Only a select few were "just right," worthy of recommendation and a place in our home libraries. So when we set out to review Carol Strip's Helping Gifted Children Soar, we were, quite frankly, a bit skeptical. Indeed, the book has a great pedigree. It's published by Dr. James Webb's (co-author of Guiding the Gifted Child) Gifted Psychology Press. But would its claim, "A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers" prove to be justifiable, earning it a permanent place on our bookshelves? Fortunately for the gifted community, this book falls into the "just right" category. It's excellent for teachers, and even better for parents. Dr. Strip's breadth of experience -- as a regular and gifted classroom teacher, gifted program administrator, and university professor - serves her exceedingly well. Since working within the educational system is her forte, the book is loaded with comprehensive advice and concrete suggestions on how to meet children's educational needs. Written in laymen's terms, the book is extremely readable. Particularly incisive sections include defining smart vs. gifted; selecting optimal teachers; exploring learning options (e.g., acceleration, curriculum compacting, and pull-outs); characteristics of good gifted programs; and effective parent/teacher communication. Dr. Strip also offers a plethora of solid parenting suggestions, and a useful question/answer section. The book includes over 20 pages of first-class resources and references. One comment: Given the paradigm shift towards homeschooling among many gifted parents today, it's curious that this option rates only a nominal mention in the book. Homeschooling is neither Dr. Strip's emphasis nor her area of expertise. But there's enough other pertinent material to make it a worthwhile read for homeschooling parents. The techniques are relevant and valuable in any educational setting. Helping Gifted Children Soar may well become the gifted equivalent to Dr. Spock or Penelope Leach on your home reference shelf. Together with Guiding the Gifted Child (Webb, Meckstroth and Tolan) and Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom (Winebrenner), it's a terrific resource for your child's teacher, gifted specialist, principal, or school library.
Rating:
Summary: Helping teachers/parents be wind under gifted child's wings
Review: Helping Gifted Children Soar ... provides wise, clear and reassuring guidance for parents and teachers who wish to encourage and develop the gifted children in their lives. Strip/Hirsch clearly promote partnerships among all players (including the gifted child, not just the adults), lightening everyone's burdens through realistic expectations, appropriate communication and mutual respect. They appreciate that gifted children are, after all, children, and whole human beings outside of the "gifted" context, and offer readers tools and permission toward relaxing and enjoying the journey. The guide is practical and insightful for the seasoned teacher as well as parents who suspect/know their child is gifted. For those at the "suspect" stage, Helping Gifted Children Soar provides a list of testing and screening methods employed by schools. Various learning options are then outlined, with the pros and cons for different learning styles and personalities, so that intelligent choices can be made, based on individual needs. Next, the guide helps everyone work effectively with/through the other players' environment (home or school) -- always keeping the child's unique makeup and needs central. Includes an Appendix of resources that address the social and emotional needs of gifted children, parenting gifted children, diversity and multiculturism, legal issues, curriculum options, creativity and perfectionism. The writing is lyrical, yet spare -- a joy to read. Organization is clear and sections are thoughtuflly developed, without apparent gaps in process or special needs. A Q&A chapter provides anecdotal development of solutions to common concerns. Yes, the book provides hope, as Strip intended, and also provides approaches and processes that will help gifted children soar.
Rating:
Summary: An invaluable, informative guide
Review: Helping Gifted Children Soar is highly recommended reading for parents and teachers as it explains the difference between "smart" and "gifted"; what the term "gifted" precisely means; and the difference between "gifted" and "talented". Carol Strip and Gretchen Hirsch survey the problems associated with being "gifted"; the types of programs that exist in the public school system for the gifted and talented; how children are selected for special programs in schools; and how a parent can be certain that their school is offering the right thing for their child. With special programs for gifted children being mandated by most states, Helping Gifted Children Soar is an invaluable, informative guide, resource, and reference.
Rating: 
Summary: Only applies to public school students
Review: Helping Your Gifted Child Soar IN PUBLIC SCHOOL would be a more appropriate title. Anyone interested in giftedness as a life issue, in strategies for enhancing it as a life issue apart from school, or in dealing with giftedness as it applies to learning generally, regardless of setting, will be disappointed. Those who do, however, have questions principally about helping their children in the public school system will find it quite satisfying. This homeschool mom wanted something else.
Rating:
Summary: A Gifted Book
Review: I wish Helping Gifted Children Soar: A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers was in existence when my gifted son was young. How fortunate for those who now have it available to them. This book is like a sage who takes you by the hand and guides you through the world of giftedness, a territory that was unfamiliar to me when my son was growing up. "Eureka!" came to mind a number of times as I read instances and examples that now shed light on a number of areas relating to my son's development. The wide range of topics covered by this book is stunning ... the physical, social, intellectual, and emotional aspects of the gifted child. The content, written with clarity, provides in-depth guidelines for parents and teachers and demonstrates the importance of parents and teachers serving as allies in their understanding and support of the gifted child. Also included are real-life examples of gifted children and an informative reference section. Appealing and very helpful is the Table of Contents, which not only includes chapter titles, but also chapter subheadings, allowing one to locate topic information immediately. Kudos to Carol Strip and Gretchen Hirsch for their dedicated and important work.
Rating:
Summary: A Gifted Book
Review: I wish Helping Gifted Children Soar: A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers was in existence when my gifted son was young. How fortunate for those who now have it available to them. This book is like a sage who takes you by the hand and guides you through the world of giftedness, a territory that was unfamiliar to me when my son was growing up. "Eureka!" came to mind a number of times as I read instances and examples that now shed light on a number of areas relating to my son's development. The wide range of topics covered by this book is stunning ... the physical, social, intellectual, and emotional aspects of the gifted child. The content, written with clarity, provides in-depth guidelines for parents and teachers and demonstrates the importance of parents and teachers serving as allies in their understanding and support of the gifted child. Also included are real-life examples of gifted children and an informative reference section. Appealing and very helpful is the Table of Contents, which not only includes chapter titles, but also chapter subheadings, allowing one to locate topic information immediately. Kudos to Carol Strip and Gretchen Hirsch for their dedicated and important work.
Rating:
Summary: How to Advocate for Gifted Children in Public Schools
Review: It reviewed familiar concepts I have previously read about the distinguishing characteristics that help define gifted. Those characteristics include: (1) gifted children differ from mere smart children in the profundity of their cognitive abilities and the gifted upper levels can only be achieved with genetic endowments that no amount of education can compensate for, (2) Gifted children need additional support systems to navigate their way through school similar to how mentally challenged children need additional support systems to navigate through school, and (3) Gifted children are a tremendous workload for their parents to manage. The bookfs strength was in telling the reader how to effectively advocate for onefs gifted child in the public school system. It wasnft too specific on how to properly homeschool gifted children and did not address much about the college years or beyond. My favorite parts, as usual were the real life examples or scenarios of gifted children going through the highs and lows of their giftedness with their friends, teachers, and parents. Gifted people can be so easy to ridicule because they are often full of insecurities and social shortcomings. The book lead me to three moderately useful websites on the subject of giftedness by referring me to twenty-one websites.
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