Smart Kids with Learning Difficulties: Overcoming Obstacles and Realizing Potential

by Rich Weinfeld, Sue Jeweler, Linda Barnes-Robinson

Smart Kids With Learning Overcoming Obstacles and Realizing Potential is an engaging must-read for any parent, educator, or counselor of smart kids who face learning difficulties. The authors, who have more than 20 years experience working with and advocating for gifted and learning-disabled children, provide useful, practical advice for helping smart kids with learning challenges succeed in school.

The purpose of Smart Kids With Learning Difficulties is to guide parents and educators toward identifying and planning for smart kids with learning challenges so that they will reach their true potential. This book deals with research and experience the authors have gained from working directly with students who are smart, but struggle in school. The authors present learning and teaching methods that have been applied successfully to both the gifted and talented and the learning-disabled populations. These methods can, and should, be used with all bright kids with learning difficulties, whether or not they have official labels.

Topics covered in the book include identifying and recognizing gifted/learning-disabled students, what the law says about this population, planning and developing accommodations that empower these students, what works and doesn't work in the classroom, tools and checklists to build supportive learning environments, and the roles and responsibilities of parents, students, and school personnel.

For additional information on gifted students with learning difficulties, see Distinguishing Characteristics of Gifted Students With Disabilities , Teaching Gifted Students With Disabilities , and Successful Strategies for Twice-Exceptional Students .

Educational Resource
The Smart Kids authors, Rich Weinfeld, Linda Barnes-Robinson, Sue Jeweler, and Betty Roffman Shevitz, talk candidly about their experiences working with and teaching smart kids with learning difficulties. This interview offers a personal, insightful look into the lives and experiences of these leading experts from America's cutting-edge schools. To read a transcript of their interview, click here.
"Who Are Smart Kids With Learning Difficulties?" is an engaging, interesting excerpt from the recently released book, Smart Kids With Learning Difficulties . This chapter looks at the gifted and learning-disabled population and offers definitions and characteristics of these students. To read the sample chapter, click here

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an older version of this book so I don't know how much of this is still relevant. However, even though it was older it was insightful and had some good suggestions. This includes check lists and observation charts for the educator, parent, *and* the student. It certainly give one a starting point.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful in ways and redundant in others. There are some great suggestions for specific areas of weakness for students but 5 years into my career and I have tried all of these methods.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

My younger daughter wanted me to read this one when she saw it at the library. Provides a brief overview of the topic and initial steps that are in progress nationally to implement organizational changes within youth sports and improvements to equipment and rules to promote safety. Case studies presented were relevant, but perhaps enough to illustrate the need to take brain injury more seriously in youth sports. Also, heavy on the football examples and some examples within wome

[Shauna Elias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too bad more teachers haven't read this book!