Companion Activities for Murder on the Orient Express

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Translated into 105 languages, her mysteries have sold billions of copies, surpassed only by Shakespeare and The Bible. In the 1930s, The Orient Express was the most famous and romantic train in the world—a grand hotel on wheels in the golden age of travel in Europe, Asia, and Africa

Socialization means adapting to the needs of the group, whereas social development indicates positive self-concept and concern for the welfare of others.  The former may result in alienation from one’s inner self, while the latter leads to self-actualization. Gifted children have positive social development when they are respected in their families; when their parents value the inherent worth of all human beings; when they find true peers of similar ability at an early age; and when they interact with the mainstream after they have developed a strong sense of their own acceptability.

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | The primary focus of Shark Lady highlights Dr. Eugenie Clark’s scientific accomplishments, but a companion story thread relates how one very courageous woman triumphed in an academic world that had previously been totally dominated by men.

By Theresa Newsom | “We need to make learning something interesting by connecting it to the student. The best thing we can do is excite their passion for learning.”

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Cozy is a beautiful fable that symbolizes the harsh difficulties that face human beings today. In the age of the COVID pandemic, people regardless of their different origins and backgrounds need to huddle together and live in harmony to survive a very cold season of danger and discontent.

An article by Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman | At the age of 4, Michelle read fluently. She skipped second grade. By sixth grade, she stood out among her peers and began attending gifted classes. She learned French and took accelerated courses. Michelle attended Chicago’s first magnet high school for gifted students. She graduated cum laude from Princeton where she did her thesis on “Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community.” She went on to earn a law degree from Harvard Law School. If we abandon gifted programs, as we are being entreated to do once again, we ignore the benefits of gifted programs for diverse students like Michelle Obama. We worsen inequality, because children of privilege have access to a wealth of resources, whereas children with limited means are dependent on public schools to identify and develop their special abilities. 

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | “Ashley Bryan and his work are more than a national treasure; they are one of the great treasures of the world. His astonishing mind and gentle heart bring back our natural optimism about life, without which we can’t actually grow together. He is a gift to us all.” - Virginia Euwer Wolff

An article by Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman | What is overexcitability (OE)? Is there empirical evidence that gifted children and adults have greater OE? Does OE portray gifted children as emotionally needy and peculiar? Why is the concept controversial? Can we distinguish OE from AD/HD, sensory processing disorder, and other issues? How should we respond to OEs?

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Jane Goodall’s life story is a wonderful avenue to use to introduce young readers to the intellectual pursuit of scientific discipline and the world of biography. Here are 3 picture book biographies that celebrate her.

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Barnes & Noble booksellers everywhere participated in the selection of the corporation’s inaugural Book of the Year prize... British author-illustrator Charlie Mackesy’s incredibly exquisite children’s book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, was the overwhelming winner...The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse presents a journey not to be missed.

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Few books in any language have the lasting appeal for both children and adult audiences as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic, The Little Prince, first published on April 6, 1943. Generations of readers and listeners have loved this novella with its fairy tale-like structure and its sweet, gentle, and yet also satirical humor and pathos. Le Petit Prince has been translated into an astonishing 300 languages.

Companion Activities for The Little Prince | Explore the life of Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

The inner experience of giftedness has been neglected in most research and theories, especially in adults. Consequently, definitions of giftedness that exist do not reflect how gifted adults see themselves and in what ways they value their giftedness. Learn more in our newest ADJ Volume!

Companion Activities for The Lost Words | Encourage children to explore the world of nature through Haiku poetry, etymology, nature journals, painting and more.

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | The Lost Words: A Spell Book is one of the most exquisite and important books to be published for children in recent years. Beyond its wondrous beauty there is an urgency to its message. It is a book children need now.

In preparation for the coming school year and the probability that distance learning will continue to be a part of the school experience, the Gifted Development Center’s virtual education leaders group continues to meet.  Members have pooled their collective wisdom to provide support for families in the coming year.

By Kathi Kearney | “For the past 100 years, when educators and researchers have really looked, they have found gifted children of color. It is not the IQ tests themselves that are at fault, but the refusal to look in all racial and ethnic groups for gifted children. These children are there. They are everywhere.”

Companion Activities for New Kid | Imagine what life is like for others, research new holidays and more.

Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | The most highly honored work of juvenile fiction in 2020 is Jerry Craft’s funny, poignant, and insightful graphic novel, New Kid. Craft’s novel should be required reading in colleges and universities for participants in teacher education programs, particularly for those instructors destined for middle schools.