{"id":458,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:21","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/heilbronnerauthorsbookongiftedchildren\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:21","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:21","slug":"heilbronnerauthorsbookongiftedchildren","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/heilbronnerauthorsbookongiftedchildren\/","title":{"rendered":"2011 Western education professor authors book on gifted children"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 A teacher for more than 10 years and the mother of three gifted children, Dr. Nancy Heilbronner<\/a>, Western Assistant Professor of Education and Educational Psychology, has a lot to say about the future of some of our brightest students.<\/p>\n

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Heilbronner\u2019s book, \u201c10 Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Child: One Family\u2019s Perspective,\u201d <\/a>which was recently published by Great Potential Press, provides information and support to parents of gifted children. Heilbronner is also a co-author of \u201cThink Data,\u201d along with Drs. Joseph Renzulli and Del Siegle, researchers and educators at the University of Connecticut who specialize in the study of gifted children. In her book, \u201c10 Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Child,\u201d Heilbronner includes the advice and experience of her three grown children, who provide their perspectives on what it was like growing up differently and out of the mainstream. <\/p>\n

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Heilbronner\u2019s main premise is that gifted children have certain academic, social, and emotional needs and that they must be nurtured at home and properly challenged at school. \u201cGifted education is important,\u201d she said. With the recent flurry of school board budget cuts, classes for children identified with talents and abilities are often the first ones to be eliminated. \u201cMany talented students\u2019 needs are not being met,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, what\u2019s happening with the future doctors, scientists and engineers of the world?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Speaking from experience, Heilbronner said that some gifted children become bored in school by less-than-challenging curriculum, often resulting in misbehavior. In addition, she suggested that \u201cthere are many social and emotional ramifications to the elimination of these programs, and talented children may go on to suffer from underachievement.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Heilbronner also discussed other social and emotional issues that affect some gifted students, including the drive to perform perfectly. \u201cPerfectionism may either be healthy or unhealthy, depending on its outcome and whether it enables the child to perform or shuts the child down,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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To assist the gifted child who is discouraged by less-than-perfect results, she suggests rewarding effort instead of achievement, emphasizing the learning process rather than focusing on absolute success or failure.<\/p>\n

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Heilbronner, who teaches in the educational doctorate in instructional leadership program at WCSU, said that gifted children come from all socioeconomic backgrounds. \u201cThere are talented students across the board,\u201d she said. But, she worries that many, especially underrepresented students such as African American and Latino children, are not getting the education that they so desperately need in order to achieve their potential. Her book is designed to raise parents\u2019 awareness about their gifted children\u2019s academic, social, and emotional needs.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEducate yourself about giftedness in order to understand your child. Some people think it\u2019s all about IQ,\u201d she said, \u201cbut it\u2019s not. Be an advocate for your child.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cTen Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Children\u201d is now available from Great Potential Press at www.giftedbooks.com\/products.asp.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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