A Good Resource

Liz Mallegni, WATG Board Member
​I am always on the lookout for resources that help me be a better parent and educator. Recently, a friend and parent of a twice-exceptional (2e) student shared an inspiring podcast that is geared toward homeschool families, but also fits the needs of parents of 2e and gifted students. Homeschooling “Fringy Kids” with Heather Boorman, which can be found on the site Raising Lifelong Learners, hits on many topics such as giftedness, intensity, family and creativity. The author, Colleen Kessler, encouraged me to explore how we identify and service 2e students to provide more appropriate opportunities and to help their teachers provide meaningful learning experiences. In this podcast Boorman mentioned the book, The Spark: a Mother’s Story of Nurturing Genius by Kristine Barnett. After reading this book, I am driven to recommend this resource to all parents and teachers of gifted students. Barnett’s message, written through the compelling narrative of a mother’s determination to do what is best for her 2e child, is that while we might not all be parents of a 2e child, we need to ignite the SPARK in our children, our students – to feed their curiosity and not suppress their creativity. Through my position as a talent development coordinator, I consistently address the fact that there is no “silver bullet” or a “one-size-fits-all” approach to educating gifted and 2e students. Every one of our children bring a new set of unique abilities, passions, interests, and quirks that will challenge educators and their parents alike. And that is why parenting and teaching is fun.