Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative, & Challenging

Teaching adolescents can be quite challenging. Dr. Judy Willis, a neurologist and teacher, explains the inner workings of the adolescent brain. She uses the findings of brain research in her classroom to explain how parents and teachers can trigger untapped inspiration in students. Middle school education has often been a black hole for gifted students, seldom providing adequate challenge. By understanding how the brain works, however, we can make learning for all youngsters exciting and stimulating. The information and advice in this book will help parents and teachers design positive and rewarding learning experiences that will then be stored in long-term memory rather than deleted or filtered out.

About the Author :
Dr. Judy Willis, a board-certified neurologist combined her 15 years as a practicing neurologist with ten subsequent years as a classroom teacher to become a leading authority in the neuroscience of learning. With her unique background neuroscience and education, she has written nine books, more than 200 articles, and lectures internationally.

Review :

"A welcome and much-needed resource. Willis shows how neuroscience, teaching, giftedness, and adolescence connect to inform best practice for parents and teachers. She provides sensible 'neurological strategies' that are aligned with a mastery orientation for learning. Readers will be informed and inspired." -Dona J. Matthews, Ph.D., and Joanne F. Foster, Ed.D., Co-authors of Being Smart About Gifted Children: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators

"This new book on working with middle school gifted students is refreshing in its no nonsense approach to the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing their needs. It also provides important up-to-date information on understanding current neuroscience research that may be useful to understand in crafting interventions and working with these adolescents on a daily basis as a teacher or parent. I was truly impressed by the tone and style of the author in making the book accessible reading to multiple audiences. I believe it is must reading for middle school educators and the parents of middle schoolers everywhere." - Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D., Executive Director, Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary, Past President, National Association for Gifted Children

"Dr. Willis explains the findings of brain-based research in learning and development as it applies to the real lives of gifted children, their teachers, and school reform. It is gratifying to see someone in gifted education focusing on the source of gifted intellect--the brain." -Paul Beljan, Psy.D., ABPN, Neuropsychologist, Co-author of Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults