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This is one of my go-to teaching blogs that provides great tips on providing instruction for 2e students. Many of the activities presented can be used immediately to differentiate instruction for these students.

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Teaching Gifted Kids is Driving me Crazy! I don't know what to do!

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Teaching gifted kids in the regular classroom can be a challenge. Do you sometimes feel like you're "losing it" and don't really know how to meet the needs of these kids when you have so many kids who have IEP's, 504 Plans, or are in the RTI process?

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10 Road Tested Tips for Teaching 2e Students

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10 Road Tested Tips for Teaching 2e Students

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Here are 10 road tested tips that you can implement RIGHT NOW in your classroom to support your 2e students. Strategies such as building relationships and being flexible in your teaching practices helps to support 2e learners in your classroom.

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November 2013 | Volume 55 | Number 11
Pages 5-5

Daina Lieberman

You know the kid-the girl who struggles to read your science textbook but wins first prize at the science fair, or the boy who refuses to complete any work but aces every assessment. Often, that kid is twice exceptional (2e)-gifted, but also negotiating a learning disorder, attention difficulties, or just plain learning differences. In 2006, nearly 70,000 K-12 students were identified as 2e, and those numbers will grow as more districts classify these students.

Studies show that 2e students perform better when they receive some combination of gifted programming, as opposed to solely special education services. With the right amount of support, 2e students can thrive in advanced classes. Here are 10 ways to help your 2e students:

1. Build relationships.
Work with 2e students to improve their weaknesses and build on their strengths. A child who trusts you is likely to ask for help when needed.

2. Differentiate instruction.
Although these students receive accommodations and modifications, some may not self-advocate. Differentiation based on learning profile, interest, and level of readiness will help students learn their strengths and continue to be challenged. Provide multiple, meaningful activities or learning centers to extend their thinking. I often use "Think Tac Toes" as a summative assessment, which lets students choose three activities to complete (create a video, make a Facebook page for a character, write an additional scene, etc.) from a board of nine.

3. Group homogeneously.
It may sound blasphemous, but giving advanced students opportunities to work with other students at the same level can often push their development. In a differentiated classroom, students are at different levels for different skills, so there is time to work in mixed groups as well.

4. Reach out to staff.
Asking psychologists, social workers, or counselors to observe your class can offer different perspectives and solutions to persistent challenges.

5. Remediate.
A frustrated student who comes across as lazy may simply need more guidance or encouragement to overcome his disability.

6. Teach critical and creative thinking.
Explicit strategies, like encapsulation, mind mapping, visualization, questioning, point of view, and analogies keep 2e students engaged and draw on their problem-solving skills.

7. Communicate.
Parents, or the students themselves, may hold the key to unlocking the social-emotional causes that precipitate academic or behavioral problems. Sometimes an honest discussion yields a simple solution.

8. Modify with technology.
Options to type instead of handwrite or record and play back notes or an essay draft can be a relief for 2e students. Even low-tech solutions like graphic organizers can help with sequencing, organizing, and making connections.

9. Teach organizational skills.
Help students set up deadline reminders on their personal electronic devices, create study plans, and reflect on how their effort and planning relate to an assessment outcome. When one of my freshmen failed quizzes because he didn't know how to study (he had never heard of flashcards), I had the entire class share studying strategies.

10. Finally, be flexible.
Despite myths about giftedness, 2e students are just as diverse as all our students. Become comfortable with a messy, noisy classroom; your students are learning.

Daina Lieberman is an English teacher and IB Middle Years Program Coordinator at South Lakes High School in Reston, Va., and an ASCD emerging leader.

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Ten Tips for Teaching the Twice-Exceptional Student

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November 2013 | Volume 55 | Number 11 Pages 5-5 Daina Lieberman You know the kid-the girl who struggles to read your science textbook but wins first prize at the science fair, or the boy who refuses to complete any work but aces every assessment.

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Colorado Dept. of Ed.              2e Guidebook

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Colorado Dept. of Ed.              2e Guidebook

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This guide book created by the Colorado Dept. of Ed. includes  strategies, parenting tips and research articles on supporting 2e students.

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Montgomery Co. Public Schools 2e Guidebook

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Montgomery Co. Public Schools 2e Guidebook

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This guide book includes support materials for instruction as well as staff development materials for teachers.

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This blog provides great instructional tips on supporting 2e students in their learning activities.

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If you've never heard the term, twice exceptional is the label given to kids that are identified as gifted and also have a learning difficulty of some sort. Some may have learning disabilities, anxiety issues, Tourette Syndrome, ADD with or without hyperactivity, sensory processing disorders, while others may suffer from anxiety disorders or depression. The combinations are varied, as are the "symptoms" that lead to a diagnosis... or misdiagnosis.

Twice exceptional {or 2E} kids tend to struggle in a typical school environment.

Their superior intellect helps them compensate for (and mask) their disabilities. Their disabilities tend to "tone down" their intellectual gifts. They come across as class clowns, disruptions, lazy, or average. It is really difficult for the typical school setting to work for them.

That's not to say that some 2E kids don't do well in school. I taught several in my role as a gifted intervention specialist who excelled. We were able to meet their intellectual needs, while still accommodating for their difficulties.

But it's tough to do that. In many classrooms, teachers are facing larger numbers of students, with fewer resources and support systems in place to meet each of their needs. A child that is a disruption in a classroom of 25 is just too hard to deal with. There are 24 others who all have needs that must be met, and only one teacher there to meet them all.

Our son, described as an "extreme thinker" by his teacher, was a challenge in preschool. He talked over people, was bossy, wanted to control how and what games were played, and wanted only his ideas used. But he loved learning from his teachers, and would usually tone it down for lessons. There were only a few kids in his class, so he could usually hijack the discussion, and engage his teachers with sophisticated understandings of the things they were exploring.

Then he entered Kindergarten. He began to struggle socially. He had no problem keeping up academically, but he couldn't stay out of trouble. He complained about learning, he didn't want to ride the bus, and eventually didn't want to go to school. The story still seemed pretty typical to us, so we kept hoping he regain his love of learning - the characteristic that prompted the label "extreme thinker."

In first grade things grew worse. He was in trouble all the time, was losing his schoolwork (work that had never even left the classroom!), and began to ask us if we'd take him out of school. His behavior continued to deteriorate-even at home-and he didn't ask questions anymore. We tried to be encouraging, but we were growing discouraged, too. Finally, when we met with his teacher for his October conference and were told that he was reading at a 1.2 grade level (first grade, second month) when he'd left kindergarten reading beyond the third grade level, we realized that something was very wrong, and we sought help.

Several psychologists, a psychiatrist, pediatrician, and countless hours of research later, we knew what we'd already known with an unofficial degree of certainty-he was profoundly gifted. We also discovered that he struggles with ADHD, marked impulsivity, and sensory processing disorder. The impulsivity we were quite familiar with, and the ADHD wasn't a complete surprise, but understanding the sensory piece really helped us realize that the behaviors he was exhibiting were triggered by something else, and that he'd continue to struggle in a typical public school setting.

After much thought, research, prayer, and discussion, we decided that we'd try to homeschool- something Trevor himself had suggested months before in frustration. Even when we know what to look for, we often miss those signals that are right in front of our eyes. I taught gifted kids. I discussed twice exceptionalities with parents, yet I dismissed those same characteristics in my son. I chalked it up to bad behavior...and horrible parenting.

Then, after having these things identified, I felt even worse for having put him through that frustration for so long. Have you been there? It's easy to feel like you're failing when you're a parent, but when your child is so very atypical, feelings of failure are pretty much a given.

So I did what I always did when trying to figure out something new {and the decision to homeschool was very new to me}... I researched. A lot.

And, while I found dozens of books, essays, reports, and pages discussing the 2E child and how to meet needs while modifying curriculum for him {some that even suggested homeschooling as a smart option}, I had a hard time finding personal accounts of what worked and what didn't.

After having homeschooled my son for five years, and adding a few more children to the mix - one highly gifted and another one twice exceptional - I know that part of this lack stems from the fact that the toolbox for teaching gifted kids... or ADHD kids... or gifted/ADHD kids... or typical kids for that matter... is ever changing. What works now is probably not going to work next week, but it may work again in a few weeks.

All I can say for sure is that twice exceptional kids are puzzles. Each and every one is different from the other, and what works for one may be a complete disaster for another. There may not be a set curriculum that will meet the needs of your learner straight out of the box, but there are strategies to try, and people who have been there that you can bounce ideas off of.
You just have to keep adjusting.
Delight directed learning in the early years is a good option. Enlisting your child to help you create an interest-based curriculum is another. Embracing those rabbit trails that gifted kids tend to want to travel down can be great fun for you and your child.

Ultimately, though, homeschooling your twice exceptional child can be the best thing you'll ever do for him. You'll give him the opportunity to mess up in the place where he is loved most. He can fail and flounder and struggle with you - one who understands and loves him for who he is. Always remember that - he's yours. And he's special. And he's worth it.

I can't say the homeschooling road's been free of bumps and potholes, but it's been infinitely smoother than sending Trevor to school had been, and we know that it's the right choice for him. We're taking one day at a time as we learn how he learns best.

For more information about parenting gifted kids, check out:
What have you learned about your gifted or twice exceptional child since you began homeschooling him {or since he's been diagnosed}, and what strategies have worked for his learning style? For more posts about twice-exceptional kids, visit Hoagies Gifted Education Page and the May blog hop.

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If you've never heard the term, twice exceptional is the label given to kids that are identified as gifted and also have a learning difficulty of some sort. Some may have learning disabilities, anxiety issues, Tourette Syndrome, ADD with or without hyperactivity, sensory processing disorders, while others may suffer from anxiety disorders or depression.

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This blog is another great source for parents of 2e students. Hearing the stories of these 2e parents helps educators to better support these students with their specialized needs.

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Parenting a twice-exceptional (2E) child is not for the faint of heart, folks. I have been doing just that for 7-years. I often tell friends that in order to keep up with Leo I need the following: a decent night of sleep, several strong cups of coffee, my sense of humor, and a prayer. One thing I can say for certain: there is never a dull moment around here. Today, I'm going to share my tips on how to parent a 2E child. Here is my must-have list for parenting your 2E kiddo.

First things first- Are you wondering if your child is gifted/2e?

Now, back to the article. Wondering how to parent a 2e child? Just follow these steps...

Coffee

I wasn't kidding about the coffee. My 7-year-old son, Leo, is profoundly gifted and twice-exceptional. I often say that he's at least twice-exceptional. Leo struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms as well as sensory processing (SPD) challenges, with a dollop of worry thrown in for good measure. He never stops moving, even when he's sleeping. He is like a tornado full of boy, whizzing through my house, climbing my walls, and talking from sun up 'til sun down. I can barely keep up on my best days, folks. Coffee is my survival strategy.

Sense of humor

I'm being serious here. You're going to need a sense of humor because you are going to run into a lot of interesting situations. In our home, we refer to those moments as "Jesus has nipples moments". Sometimes you have only two options: to laugh or to cry. I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather laugh.

Patience

You are going to need heaps and heaps of patience, folks. These children are amazing, and brilliant, and brilliantly, amazingly exhausting. As I said, they can be tough to keep up with. They can be tough to parent. They can be tough to educate. Raising and homeschooling our son has been the most unexpected yet delightful and educational journey of my life so far, and I wouldn't change it for the world, but it is also the greatest challenge of my life so far. Over time, parenting Leo has become easier, but it is still far from easy.

Knowledge

When we first discovered that our son was PG and 2E, I did what I always do when faced with unknown challenges: I read all the books. Reading about giftedness and gifted education, homeschooling, ADHD, SPD, and anxiety helped me to understand my son better and to figure out next steps for his education.

Understand asynchronous development

Once you've read all the books, you'll have a better understanding of your child's unique strengths and weaknesses. In my opinion, the most important thing for folks to understand about gifted and 2E children is the concept of giftedness as asynchronous development. One of the hallmarks of giftedness, asynchronous development refers to the uneven intellectual, social-emotional, and physical development that is so common among gifted children. Put simply, gifted children are often out-of-sync. While the average child develops relatively evenly, the gifted child can be many ages at once. And the more gifted the child- the further to the right on the bell curve- the more asynchronous the child may be. Asynchronous development often becomes less of an issue with time, although difficulties can persist into the teen years. I truly believe that if the public understood giftedness as asynchrony, the gifted world would change for the better. My son is 7-years-old, but he is many ages at once. Physically, he looks like your typical 7-year-old. Cognitively, he is functioning at the level of someone more than twice his age, and yet his social-emotional functioning is lagging behind his chronological age. Being many ages at once has got to be tough for the kiddo, folks, and it certainly makes it challenging to meet the child's educational needs.

Acceptance

This whole 2E thing isn't going anywhere, folks. It's best that you accept it now and come up with a plan of action. Adjust your expectations. In my case, I always assumed my kids would go to public school as I had. Then we had our son tested and the results indicated that his academic abilities were two to six grade levels above his grade placement at the time and I realized that you cannot educate a child with that profile well in a K-3rd grade public school building. I had to adjust my idea of what schooling would look like for our children.

Respect your child's unique learning style

Your child may learn differently than his or her peers. He or she may learn differently than you learn. That's okay. Watch your child learning. See what works best and do that. My son loves to learn through reading, followed by hands-on activities. He is very self-motivated and driven. He can come up with ideas that are more interesting than the ones I dream up. When we first started homeschooling, I assumed that I would be a teacher. I have since learned that my son is often the teacher while I serve as more of a facilitator. If he's interested in bridges, I strew STEM related texts and materials about our house and let him have at it. Most of the time, he's teaching me about what he's learning. That's certainly not how I pictured it in the beginning!

Advocate, Advocate, Advocate

Advocating for your child's unique academic, cognitive, and social-emotional needs could be a full-time job. Arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can garner. When Leo was in public school, I found this book to be quite helpful. Another great read is A Nation Deceived which is available for free. Remember that advocacy is not a one-stop-shop, folks. You are going to need to continually advocate for your child. In order to keep fighting the good fight, you're going to need a support network.

Find a community of parents

This is so important, folks. Parenting a twice-exceptional child can be a lonely venture. You look around at your friends' kids and your kid is just... different. Your child may be more challenging, or more intense, or have unique needs, or may struggle in certain areas. It can be hard to talk about giftedness and its challenges to parents that are not dealing with it. You often feel that you're bragging, and so you say nothing. Listen to me: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There are other parents out there with kids like yours. Find them. Find your people. How? Look online. Check out Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, Gifted Homeschoolers Forum, Davidson, or even do a local Google or Meetup search. If you don't have a group, create one.

Vent to these new friends

I cannot tell you how refreshing it is for me to talk to my friend Colleen about parenting these kids. We can talk about parenting and homeschooling strategies for our kids and bounce ideas off of each other, or I can vent about x, y, or z and she gets it. After talking about all of this, I always feel better. My parenting energy stores feel replenished, my patience renewed.

Find a community for your child

I'm not going to lie, folks, this can be hard. These gifted and 2E kiddos are all so unique. I often hear people say, "If you've met one PG kid, you've met one PG kid" and that's not even factoring in the 2E part of the mix. My son is able to connect and to play with his peers right now. I've watched it in action, but I worry. I worry because I hear the conversations he has with them and I see that, often, his friends do not always catch his references or understand his words. I know that this divide is only going to grow. My son is quirky. It's tough to be a kid these days but it's doubly hard to be a quirky, asynchronous kid. I watch these interactions and I wonder when the divide will grow larger, and I worry about how to find peers like him who can fill it. Leo has a smattering of gifted friends in the area, but I want him to find more. I know that they are out there- I have connected with so many parents and educators of these kids online, but it can be hard to find children like my son locally. That said, it can be done. You just have to work at it. I'm happy to report that just last week we had a play date with another DYS family. Watching Leo connect with his new friends brought tears to my eyes. There was a spark there- a passion- that I haven't seen before. To say the two connected is an understatement. They played together like two 7-year-old boys, but their conversation and vocabulary belied their giftedness. It was awesome!

Take care of yourself

I've just given you a hefty list. I told you that parenting these kids is not for the faint of heart! Listen to me, it is important to take care of yourself. You cannot care for others if you aren't replenishing your parental energy. Find out what self-care works for you and do that. Your entire family will be better of for it!

Tell me, folks... Are you the parent of a 2E child? What would you add to this list? What has helped you on your journey? Share here!

This post has been part of the Hoagies' Gifted Education Page May 2015 Blog Hop on Twice Exceptional Learners. Click the image below to hop to more posts on this topic!

Follow Cait Fitz @ My Little Poppies's board Gifted and Twice Exceptional (2E) on Pinterest.

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Parenting a twice-exceptional (2E) child is not for the faint of heart, folks. I have been doing just that for 7-years. I often tell friends that in order to keep up with Leo I need the following: a decent night of sleep, several strong cups of coffee, my sense of humor, and a prayer.

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Being a parent of a 2e student can be challenging! It's refreshing to know that you are not alone. This blog provides great tips on how to support 2e students at home. Educators can also learn from this blog as well on how to better support parents of 2e students.

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Life with a twice-exceptional child - gifted with a learning disability/difference - can be enormously rewarding and at the same time extremely frustrating when attempting to advocate for an education that meets all their needs.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is circumventing the prevalent mind-set of many school administrators and educators these days who simply do not believe twice-exceptional children exist. It has become increasingly disturbing to read articles in major media outlets that our children are simply spoiled brats who need a little discipline like in the 'old days'.

A recent study reported in Gifted Child Quarterly (Vol 59 No 2 April 2015), "The Advocacy Experiences of Parents of Elementary Age, Twice-Exceptional Children", found that parents of twice-exceptional children fight an uphill battle throughout their child's school years. Only after educating themselves about school policies and learning how to use appropriate educational terminology when talking to school officials did they have any success; often sacrificing any sense of working 'with' the school. They found that rarely did school personnel act in the best interest of the child. Parents eventually lost faith in the system and simply did their best to monitor their child's school for compliance of any meager accommodations gained in the advocacy process.

"Parents felt that school officials were not living up to their professional responsibilities, and feared that one advocacy error on the parents' part could potentially impede their child's future." (GCQ 59 (2) p. 114)

Advocating for the twice-exceptional child is like a never-ending story filled with disingenuous gestures from school officials and lack of respect for parents. Ask any parent who has walked this path and the tales reflect an eerie similarity. Few have happy endings. Perseverance, tenacity, and a thick skin become indispensable life-skills for these parents.

Parents in the above-mentioned GCQ study were driven by a longing that ultimately their child would achieve happiness, and become a self-sufficient and productive member of society. There was, however, a disconcerting sense that ultimately their child's disability would over-shadow their potential.

When giftedness is identified, the disability is often ignored. In other cases, the disability may render a request for identification of giftedness unattainable. And to add insult to injury, parents who obtain an official diagnosis from private non-school professionals often find that the results are unacceptable in most school districts.

Parents are not the only ones who can benefit from further education. School administrators and teachers who take the time to learn about twice-exceptionality are found to be more empathetic and willing to develop a collaborative relationship with parents. The GCQ article references research (many listed below) conducted over more than two decades which firmly establishes that a child can be both gifted and have a learning disability.

How can this situation be improved? What has to change? Well, for starters, the well-being of each individual child needs to be front and center. They are not simply reflections of data mined from standardized test results. One-size-fits all education plans do not work with these kids. Identification of giftedness cannot supplant the necessity of accommodating any co-existing learning disabilities.

What has been your experience in advocating for your child? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

This post is a part of this month's Hoagies' Blog Hop: 2ekids. Please check out the other blogs by clicking on the link below!

References from GCQ Article:

Gifted Children's Challenges with Learning and Attention Issues

Photo Courtesy of Photo Courtesy of If This is a Gift,Can I Send it Back?: Surviving in the Land of the Gifted and Twice Exceptional (Amazon) by Jen Merrill and GHF Press
Pixabay
Pixabay

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Advocating for the Twice-Exceptional Child

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Life with a twice-exceptional child - gifted with a learning disability/difference - can be enormously rewarding and at the same time extremely frustrating when attempting to advocate for an education that meets all their needs. Perhaps the biggest challenge is circumventing the prevalent mind-set of many school administrators and educators these days who simply do not believe twice-exceptional children exist.

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Listen to Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Ungifted and Twice-Exceptional, discuss topics about the brain, creativity and behavior.

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Welcome to The Psychology Podcast. In each episode, we talk with inspiring scientists, thinkers, and other self-actualized individuals who will give you a greater understanding of yourself, others, and the world we live in. Scott Barry Kaufman explores the depths of human potential and tries to get a glimpse into human possibility in every episode.
Publisher: iHeartRadio

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The Psychology Podcast with Scott Barry Kaufman

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Welcome to The Psychology Podcast. In each episode, we talk with inspiring scientists, thinkers, and other self-actualized individuals who will give you a

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Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy

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Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy

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This organization created by Lachan V. Hannon's experiences with her son being on the autism spectrum. This website provides workshop opportunities for parents and advocacy events for the support of 2e students.

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Greater Expectations Teaching & Advocacy Center

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Father's Day Dad's Connection Group June 11, 2016
presents the film screening of

AUTISTIC LIKE ME: A Father's Perspective

Burlington County Library Westampton, NJ

'Meet the Director' Reception @630p
Screening Begins @ 700p
Q & A Discussion immediately following

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Greater Expectations Teaching & Advocacy Center

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Father's Day Dad's Connection Group June 11, 2016presents the film screening of AUTISTIC LIKE ME: A Father's Perspective Burlington County Library Westampton, NJ 'Meet the Director' Reception @630pScreening Begins @ 700pQ & A Discussion immediately following

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Seth Perler - Executive Function and 2e Coach

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Seth Perler - Executive Function and 2e Coach

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Seth Perler specializes in educating others about the gifts and talents of 2e students. His website provides helpful videos, tips and strategies that can be easily implemented within the world of 2e students.

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Seth Perler Executive Function Coach - Executive Function & 2e Coach

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This website provides lots of research-based articles and best practices for 2e students.

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What's not often well-known or well-understood is that students who are gifted may also have a special need or disability- just as students with disabilities may also be gifted. The term "twice-exceptional," also referred to as "2e," is used to describe gifted children who, have the characteristics of gifted students with the potential for high achievement and give evidence of one or more disabilities as defined by federal or state eligibility criteria. These disabilities may include specific learning disabilities (SpLD), speech and language disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, autism spectrum, or other impairments such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Like other gifted learners, 2e students are highly knowledgeable and talented in at least one particular domain. However, their giftedness is often overshadowed by their disabilities, or these students may be able to mask or hide their learning deficits by using their talents to compensate. Sometimes a twice-exceptional child's special education needs are overlooked until adolescence or later, or are never identified throughout his or her life.

Twice-exceptional children often find difficulty in the school environment, where organization, participation, and long-term planning play a role. They can be highly creative, verbal, imaginative, curious, with strong problem-solving ability, and a wide range of interests or a single, all-consuming expertise. However, at school, they may have difficulty keeping up with course rigor, volume, and demands--resulting in inconsistent academic performance, frustration, difficulties with written expression, and labels such as lazy, unmotivated, and underachiever. All this may hinder their excitement for school and be detrimental to their self-efficacy, self-confidence, and motivation.

How does twice-exceptionality look at school and at home?

What the Teacher Might See

What the Parent Might See

I wish there was an answer for what is going on with one of my students this year. "Jim" is a bright, highly motivated 10-year-old who enjoys the STEM problems we cover in class. He's a walking encyclopedia on the planet Mars and recent missions; he's even designed his own plans for a new Mars rover. Despite this, Jim is extremely quiet and withdrawn, does not seem to have any friends, and rarely looks me in the eye when I try to talk with him about Mars or other subjects.

What can parents do to help?

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What's not often well-known or well-understood is that students who are gifted may also have a special need or disability- just as students with disabilities may also be gifted.

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This awesome website seeks to support the social and emotional needs of gifted children. These articles provide more insight in supporting 2e students in school and at home.

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This Facebook Group brings together network of educators of gifted children. This group is a great way to connect with other educators on creating meaningful learning experiences for gifted students.

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Ideas and Resources For Classroom Teachers Who Educate Elementary Gifted Students This group is for general education classroom teachers who educate gifted students within the regular classroom...

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Here is a list of different tech tools that are useful for providing adaptive instruction for 2e students.

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This article is an excerpt from "The Importance of Designing Responsive Curriculum Using Strength-Based Approaches," by Jann H. Leppien, Ph.D., and Teagan M. Thomas, 2016.

Technology is an important tool to have and understand how to use, especially in today's fast-paced and innovation-driven society. We must prepare our 21st-century students for a world driven by technology, especially when they are looking for careers after their years of schooling. Thus, we must help increase students' adaptability and flexibility by allowing them to be responsible for their learning, to think critically, to problem solve, and to work both as an individual and cooperatively (Nugeni, 2001).

Technology is well suited to today's students' learning preferences. It can also increase student engagement and understanding of a topic, enhance their creative production and critical thinking abilities, and attend to their ability to process large amounts of information quickly (Siegle, 2004).

Technology and 2e Students

Perhaps most importantly, technology can be the key to unlocking 2e students' potential, allowing them to concentrate on the content being taught rather than worry about the things they struggle with (Winebrenner, 2003). Students enjoy the use of technology because it allows them to work independently and receive "just-in-time" support when needed. Essentially, 2e students use technology to enhance their lives - not only to compensate for what they may not be able to do, but more so to focus their attention on what they can do and to further explore areas of interest. Furthermore, technological aids, such as text-to-speech or organizational apps, enable 2e students to freely communicate their thinking in a way that suits their needs and, in turn, maximizes their learning and school experience.

Technology Tools for Learning

Technology tools such as Apple apps and online resources can be used in a way that allows for digital scaffolding (support), flexible formatting, and engaging activities that enhance classroom instruction. The best educational technology tools for any student, especially gifted students, must have the following features:

Be motivating and engaging

Consist of high-quality content, hardware, and software

Have pretesting to ensure that content is at the student's level

Be differentiated for level of thinking and speed
(Sheard, 2012).

As stated by the Virginia Department of Education (2010), assistive technology assures access to education and "maximizes efficiency and functionality for all students," no matter their disability (p. 6). For instance, an assistive writing app can help a student who struggles with proper sentence formation figure out how to correct sentence structure errors. It can also provide the student with a multisensory approach that makes learning more meaningful to the student. Taking these worries out of the equation allows 2e students to become better writers and focus on what they want to express.
When selecting technology, consider the following:

What they need. What is their disability, what accommodations do they need or are required on their IEP, and what strengths and interest areas do they have? What technology support tools and devices do students currently use to facilitate and enhance their learning?

The environment. How and where will the student use the technology? For example, does it need to be portable?

The level of intellectual demand. What knowledge, skills, and attitudes are required from students in order to successfully complete an assigned learning task?

Finally, examine the features of the technology tool and how it will function for the student and the environment (Vize, 2013). Then begin to search for technology tools to support these learning requirements.

Technology serves multiple purposes in the education of 2e students, enhancing their learning while compensating for their challenges (Edyburn, 2006). In addition, technology can enable students to gain access to a wealth of resources to escalate their levels of expertise while serving as an effective tool for leveraging their strengths.

Top Technology Tools

Here's our list of the top 12 technology tools for 2e students...

1. Explain Everything ( http://explaineverything.com) - a design tool for annotating, animating, and creating narrative explanations and presentations. It serves as an interactive whiteboard and enables students to import documents, videos, and presentations. Students can use the recording function to record their writing and their voices about a key concept they are learning.

2. Rev ( www.rev.com) - an app designed for both the iPhone and iPad as well as Android devices. Rev provides students with a way of communicating and sharing their thinking. It serves as a voice recorder that allows users to download and save recordings as well as to organize and edit speech-to-text transcriptions.

3. Browsealoud ( www.texthelp.com/en-us/products/browsealoud) - software that reads and translates information aloud from places like websites and other online sources. Browsealoud facilitates access and participation for those who have visual or auditory impairments, engaging users with natural voices and in multiple languages.

4. Evernote (https://evernote.com) - an app for Apple and Windows products that provides a single workspace where users can write, collect thoughts, hold discussions, and present ideas. It gives students a means for organizing information as well as taking notes, annotating text, completing assignments, and creating school projects. In addition, Evernote syncs information to almost any device, enabling students to share their work.

5. Padlet ( https://padlet.com) - a flexible app designed for the iPhone and iPad that functions as an open canvas for blogging and creating multimedia products. It enables users to attach videos, add audio recordings, insert photos, compose passages, or upload documents. The app lets students easily customize their Padlet creations, sharing and editing them among various contributors.

6. Do it (Tomorrow) ( www.tomorrow.do) - an organizational app for Apple and Android devices which allows users to set reminders for daily tasks (but also makes it easy to push tasks off to tomorrow). The simple interface of Do it (Tomorrow) lets users view past tasks, delete tasks, delay tasks to another day, sync to-do lists to other devices, and back up information to the cloud. This app is handy for setting and maintaining short- and long-term goals.

7. GoAnimate ( https://goanimate4schools.com) - an online resource that engages students in a safe environment and in a fun and interactive manner. The app enables students to produce videos, creating characters, scenes, and plots that illustrate their learning of content. In addition, it provides students with language skill practice and incorporates text-to-speech technology. Teachers can use the app to introduce lessons, create presentations, and check for understanding. The app is also a useful tool for educators using a "flipped classroom" model for delivering instruction online. With GoAnimate, they can produce animated videos, lectures, lessons, and assessments to enhance learning outside the classroom, reserving class time for collaborative work, concept mastery exercises, and experiments.

8. WordQ/SpeakQ ( www.goqsoftware.com/wordQspeakQ.php) - software resources that can be used together to provide students with help communicating their thinking and fixing writing mistakes. WordQ suggests word choices and also provides constructive feedback. SpeakQ allows students to dictate words into documents. When used in combination, the two apps have text-to-speech capabilities and help students with writing skills such as spelling, proofreading, and grammar.

9. Announcify ( http://gdriv.es/announcify) - a text-to-speech app that reads out loud a variety of information, including calendar events, text messages, websites, or even whole documents. Students can customize it to their liking.

10. Blabberize ( http://blabberize.com) - a website resource that allows students to animate any image to make it speak. The user just specifies the part of the image that should speak and then uploads the audio recording. This tool provides a great opportunity for students to both be creative and develop their language skills.

11. Livescribe Pen ( www.livescribe.com) - an actual pen that captures everything the user hears and writes, and then transcribes it into a format suitable for Android and Apple devices. This organizational tool can help students keep track of assignments in a way that fits their learning style. A variety of Livescribe pens are available, including the Echo Smartpen, which transfers recordings into a PDF or audio file, and the Sky Smartpen, which transfers data into Evernote files.

12. EDpuzzle ( https://edpuzzle.com) - an online tool that helps teachers and students share videos and audio files. The intention is to make learning more accessible and multisensory. EDpuzzle allows users to edit video and audio files, create quizzes, and share products through multiple social media outlets. In addition, it enables teachers to monitor the content experienced by students.

References

Edyburn, D.L. (2006). Cognitive prostheses for students with mild disabilities: Is this what assistive technology looks like? Journal of Special Education Technology, 21(4), 62-65.

Nugeni, S. (2001). Technology: Focus, facets, and the future. Gifted Child Today, 24(4), 38-45.
Sheard. W. (2012).Education technology for our children. SENGVine. Retrieved from https://sengifted.org/archives/articles/education-technology.

Siegle, D. (2004). The merging of literacy and technology in the 21st century: A bonus for gifted education. Gifted Child Today, 27(2), 32-35.

Virginia Department of Education. (2010). Infusing assistive technology for learning: Assuring access to all students. VA: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education.

Vize, A. Using assistive technology. Practical Primary, 37-41.

Winebrenner, S., (2003). Teaching strategies for twice exceptional students. Intervention in School and Clinic, 38(3), 131-137.

Jann Leppien, Ph.D., is the Margo Long Endowed Chair in Gifted Education and Associate Professor in the School of Education at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. She has served on the board of the National Association for Gifted Children and currently serves on the Diversity Committee. She is also a board member of the Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving Students (AEGUS) and serves on the advisory board of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development. In addition, she is President of Edufest, a summer teaching and learning institute held in Boise, Idaho (www.edufest.org).
Teagan Thomas, a graduate student at Whitworth University, is obtaining her degree in gifted and talented education. She is also a graduate assistant for Whitworth's Center for Gifted Education, working under the direction of Dr. Jann Leppien. Ms. Thomas is a 2015 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow and was selected by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions to travel to the Arctic Circle to research the region's climate and ecosystem in order to develop advanced learning opportunities for middle school science students.

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Revealing Strengths of 2e Students by Using Technology

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This article is an excerpt from "The Importance of Designing Responsive Curriculum Using Strength-Based Approaches," by Jann H. Leppien, Ph.D., and Teagan M. Thomas, 2016. Technology is an important tool to have and understand how to use, especially in today's fast-paced and innovation-driven society.

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Here are a few extra resources and websites to explore to help you provide instruction for your 2e students.

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This site is transforming into The 2e Resource, a place where the 2e community can come for information about raising, teaching, and working with twice-exceptional young people. It will be a place to learn about current happenings and access articles by experts in the field from the newsletter archives. Soon The 2e Resource will have a brand new website. 'Til then, here's a sample of what we have to offer.

Important news about changes to
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Read it here.

Comes twice a month, loaded with pointers to articles and resources for the 2e community. It's free!

See a sample briefing.

Informative, easy-to-understand booklets (print or PDF) for parents, teachers, and others. Great for expanding your own understanding of twice-exceptionality or for helping others better understand these often misunderstood kids.

A New Title in the Spotlight on 2e Series

It's What 2e Students Need: Setting Up 2e Learners for Success. This latest addition to the series, based on research from the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy, looks at the six factors critical to 2e students' success. Find out more and order here.

Check out our Blog.

Find the latest news and information of the interest to the 2e community - giftedness, ASD, dyslexia, resources, and more. See the most recent post. See all past postings.

Looking for a good book for a 2e Reader?

See our book columnist Bob Seney's most recent annual list of top picks for gifted and 2e kids. Also, check out the newest addition to our Spotlight on 2e Series, Bob Seney: On Books. It's a collection of Professor Seney's columns from 2e Newsletter, filled with recommendations for books for gifted and twice-exceptional young people. Find it!

Find a service provider in our 2e Provider Database.

Check out our database of professionals who provide services to the 2e community. You can find a provider at http://2eproviders.info. You can refer a provider at http://2eproviders.info/submit; use 2edb as a username and access77 as a password.

In search of a school for your 2e child?

See our updated information on private schools for 2e kids, part of our listing of schools and programs for twice-exceptional children.

Free Information!

Take advantage of the many free resources available on our website. You'll find 15 years' worth of columns by current and past columnists ranging from reviews of book for 2e readers, to technology tips to help 2e learners, to experiences shared by parents of 2e children. Browse through nearly 50 articles on a host of 2e-related topics. Read about research-based teaching strategies that work for 2e learners. And visit the Advocacy area of our website, where you'll find articles, resources, and a valuable listing of Department of Education clarifications of federal law as it pertains to twice-exceptional students.

2e on YouTube

Have you visited our YouTube channel, Your2eTV? There you'll find a video on "the basics of 2e" that tells what twice-exceptionality is all about. And there's more - a video that features 2e expert and educator Susan Baum, Ph.D., providing tips to both parents and educators; a video featuring Beverly Trail, Ed.D., author of the book Twice-Exceptional Gifted Children (from Prufrock Press), who offers tips for educating twice-exceptional students; and a video by educational consultant Matthew Wanzenberg on the transition from high school to college for twice-exceptional students and how a coach can help during that transition.

5 Things You Can Do to Be More Engaged in the 2e Community

We understand that whatever role you have in the 2e community (and some of you have multiple roles), you're likely to be challenged for time. That said, we'd like to offer some ideas for ways in which we can all strengthen our community. Read more.

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This site is transforming into The 2e Resource, a place where the 2e community can come for information about raising, teaching, and working with twice-exceptional young people. It will be a place to learn about current happenings and access articles by experts in the field from the newsletter archives.

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This "all things gifted" website provides lots of resources, articles, books and activities that are tailored to support parents, teachers, and gifted students. The link below takes you to 2e resources.

https://www.hoagiesgifted.org/twice_exceptional.htm

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The Tilt Parenting podcast is a great resource to hear different perspectives of child development experts. You can search for episodes by topic to get specific information for your needs.

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With more than 250 episodes and 3 million downloads, the Tilt Parenting Podcast is a top podcast about learning disabilities, special education, ADHD, autism, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, and more. The weekly show features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents, as well as insightful conversations between Debbie and her differently wired child, all aimed at supporting parents raising differently wired kids.

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A podcast about parenting children with learning disabilities and more

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With more than 250 episodes and 3 million downloads, the Tilt Parenting Podcast is a top podcast about learning disabilities, special education, ADHD, autism, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, and more. The weekly show features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents, as well as insightful conversations between Debbie and her differently wired child, all aimed at supporting parents raising differently wired kids.