GT Update for NISD Educators - Choose Your Own Adventure

Have your own topic in gifted education you want to explore in depth? Here’s your chance to do some reading and to earn 4 hours for your annual GT Update. Select a book in gifted education. Here are some of my favorites just to get you started. Read your book and take notes as you read. After you read your book, it’s time to review it for others. While a book review has certain components to it, the format can take several mediums - a written review, podcast, or video.

All submissions are due no later than March 1, 2026.

Plan your book review using these guidelines:

All book reviews start with an opening statement that includes the title and author.
What does the book promise to deliver to the reader? In other words, why did you choose this book? Does it accomplish what it sets out to accomplish? Do you feel like your questions were answered?
What is the tone of the book? Is it humorous and easy to relate to, or is it more dry and academic?
Include a favorite or meaningful quote from the book
What is your overall impression of the book? Suggested points to include:
- Was the book written in a way that you as a reader could easily relate to?
- What was your favorite part of the book?
- Do you have a least favorite part of the book?
- If you could change something, what would it be?
- Are there photos or illustrations? If so, are they effective in enhancing the book’s message?
- Would you recommend this book to anyone? Who? Why?
- What type of reader would enjoy this book?
How many stars (out of five) do you give this book?

Have your plan in place? What form will your book review take? A blog post on your eportfolio? Maybe a podcast using a tool like Anchor? Or do you want to create a book trailer using something like WeVideo, iMovie, or Screencastify?

Once you’ve created your book review, submit your work here.

Struggling to find just the right book? These are some of the most widely read books across all areas of gifted education. You can't go wrong with any of them.

The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Ungifted by Scott Barry Kaufman
A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children by James T. Webb (may be found in some campus libraries)
Removing the Mask: Giftedness in Poverty by Dr.Paul D. Slocumb and Dr.Ruby K. Payne
Fostering Creativity in Gifted Students by Bonnie Cramond, Ph.D.
Re-Forming Gifted Education by Karen B. Rogers, Ph. D.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Living with Intensity by Susan Daniels and Michael M. Piechowski
Barefoot Irreverence: A Collection of Writings on Gifted Child Education by Dr. James Delisle
Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD and Autism by Diane M. Kennedy and Rebecca S. Banks with Temple Grandin
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Educating Gifted Students in Middle School: A Practical Guide by Susan Rakow
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children by Bonnie Zucker (may be found in some campus libraries)
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Teach Your Child How To Think by Edward de Bono
The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for True Self by Alice Miller
Creative Schools by Sir Ken Robinson
In the Eyes of the Beholder Critical Issues for Diversity in Gifted Education edited by Diane Boothe and Julian C. Stanley
Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades by Sylvia Rimm

The following books can be found in your school's professional library:

Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children by Bonnie Zucker
Letting Go of Perfect: Overcoming Perfectionism in Kids and Teens by Jill Adelson
Not Now, Maybe Later: Helping Children Overcome Procrastination by Joanne Foster
Helping Gifted Children Soar by Carol Ann Strip & Gretchen Hirsch
Make Your Worrier a Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Child's Fears by Dan Peters
Smart Boys: Talent, Manhood, and the Search for Meaning by Barbara A. Kerr & Sanford J. Cohn
Smart Girls: A New Psychology of Girls, Women, and Giftedness
Twice-Exceptional Gifted Children: Understanding, Teaching, And Counseling Gifted Students by Beverly A. Trail
What to Do When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough by Thomas Greenspoon