This book gives parents an insiders look at how the selection process for special programs really works. It answers questions such as how schools identify gifted students and who gets tested and why. It also discusses the question of whether gifted classes are right for your child. It reveals what the signs of giftedness are and why every parent should recognize the signs of this as well as learning disabilities. This book presents the common discussion of … More >>
#1 by Carolyn K. on July 2, 2010 - 12:45 pm
Not just every parent of a gifted child, but every teacher and every guidance counselor of gifted children, too, should read Parent’s Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education. Palmer explains all in one book, what it took me years of talking to dozens of gifted professionals to learn for myself. And Palmer makes it easy to read, with review points at the end of each chapter – if you’re in a hurry, read the review points first, and pick the chapters that answer the questions you have right now. But read the whole book cover to cover when you have time – it’s worth it!
What do IQ tests measure, and what don’t they measure? What’s the difference between group and individual tests? How about surveys? What are the different kinds of scores that result from these tests: standard scores, percentiles, and age-equivalent scores? How are gifted children identified by these tests? Which groups of children are commonly under-identified? How does identification vary from school district to school district and state to state? And besides test scores, what are the characteristics commonly found in gifted children?
But Parent’s Guide to IQ Testing and Gifted Education is not just about tests and testing. It describes various gifted education programs, and how those programs may or may not serve your gifted child. Are there disadvantages to being gifted? Palmer describes common sensitivities of the gifted child, and the possible effects on the child’s self-esteem.
Gifted children may also suffer from learning disabilities, much to the surprise of parents and teachers alike. In Part III, Palmer points out possible LDs, and identification methods for gifted children with memory, attention, vision or auditory processing problems, and more. What are the options for gifted and learning disabled, also called twice exceptional children? IEPs, resource rooms, aides and more, are discussed.
Palmer concludes with a history of the measure of intelligence, IQ tests and testing, nature and nurture, and other discussion topics.
If you are the parent of a gifted child, or you suspect you’re the parent of a gifted child, you should read this book. And if you are a teacher, you should read this book to learn more about the gifted children in your classroom.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by E. Stern on July 2, 2010 - 3:27 pm
I was interested in learning about IQ testing because I’m considering enrolling my son in a gifted program. I was thrilled to find this book as it answered so many of my questions. It’s really written for parents, not academics. This book was especially helpful because it helped explain that many of the behaviors I’m noticing in him are actually because of his giftedness. This is a fabulous resource for anyone who wants to learn how to navigate the IQ testing process. It also helps you understand how the tests are used and what the scores mean.
I highly recommend this book to any parent!
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Karen Roseli on July 2, 2010 - 5:15 pm
This book was recommended to me by a friend when my child was going through the gifted testing process at school. As far as I know, this is the only book written for parents like me whose kids are being tested and who need to understand gifted screening, IQ testing, gifted programs, and different school options. This book is written by an educational psychologist who has lots of experience and great insider advice for novice parents. This is a great reference for parents – highly recommended!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by S. Powell on July 2, 2010 - 7:44 pm
We were curious about our daughter’s advanced abilities and wanted more information. Dr. Palmer’s book explained the process of IQ testing and the different aspects of identifying gifted children, as well as explaining gifted education and other educational options. This book helped guide us through the process of identifying our daughter’s needs and has assisted us in our ability to advocate for her. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is curious about their child’s intelligence and wants some direction and help getting answers. It is a reference we refer to often.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Deborah L. Ruf on July 2, 2010 - 7:51 pm
Palmer’s book is a good little guide except, unfortunately, for the incorrect and misleading description of the meaning of IQ scores.
This is a clear, handy guide to the world of IQ assessment and gifted children. I recommend it heartily, but I must add a strong caveat that the author and I have already discussed: Palmer describes score ranges for different levels or degrees of giftedness that seriously understate the meaning of scores above 135 IQ, mis-stating how highly intelligent and different-from-others these children really are. For example, on pages 18-19, he uses outdated descriptions and score ranges that no longer hold merit, and this is a significant error. The most recent test to use such scores, the old Stanford-Binet (Form LM), was last updated in 1972 and has been replaced. That test is no longer considered valid, and further, the wide score ranges reported by that test seriously confuse those who would need to depend upon them today. Current valid group and individual tests (described nicely in his book) report scores on a normalized bell curve and tend to reach their limits at 150 IQ. Someone who scores at 144 on a current test, for example, is “exceptionally” to “profoundly gifted,” not “moderately gifted” and in need of few academic adjustments, as Palmer claims. A score of 144 is almost three standard deviations above the mean score, meaning a score in the top 0.2%. Such a child is not “moderately gifted” and will need learning adjustments. On page 82 he states, “Bear in mind that many children whose IQ measures in the moderately gifted range (130 to 145) can thrive in a general education program.” It is true in some academic settings, what I call a Type III School, that children at the low end of this range will thrive in the regular setting, but for children above 135–and certainly above 140–major adjustments are necessary. Again, this confusion stems from using a no longer valid test score range.
Most educators and psychologists are somewhat confused about how today’s scores relate to scores from older tests, resulting in many professionals overlooking level of giftedness as an important issue related to classroom and social adjustment. As the author of Riverside Publishing’s Use of the SB5 in the Assessment of High Abilities (2003), I encourage parents to read the free bulletin, available on the Riverside website, in order to fully understand the meaning of any gifted-level IQ scores.
All that said, Dr. Palmer covers every imaginable issue and question parents might have when they consider whether or not their child is gifted and whether or not to have their child assessed. I know of no other book or guide that covers these topics so clearly. Just be aware that his descriptions of IQ ranges and meanings of the scores are incorrect.
Rating: 4 / 5