Prairie Logo
 

 

In partnership with parents and the community, Prairie Elementary will educate and develop responsible,life-long learners

 
line decor
  
line decor
 
 
 
 

 
 
Reading

'

Challenging Gifted Readers
Gifted children live in a world of ideas. Parents may have to ask, "Where did you learn that?"
Three main sources in the world of children today are:

  • television
  • internet
  • books
When selecting books, the elements that will challenge a gifted reader include:
  • language
  • structure
  • perspective or point of view
  • ambiguous endings
  • content
Books that have gifted protagonists (Roald Dahl's Mathilda) may also interest the bright reader. Children will not necessarily gravitate toward books that contain these elements. Teachers, parents, and librarians often need to direct young people toward books that will cognitively challenge them. The gifted reader is no exception.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Criterion for books for gifted readers:

  • Language: should be rich, precise, and varied
  • Structure: does not necessarily go from beginning to end, time sequences may be juggled.
  • Point of view: Is the story a narrative? Does the story have more than one narrator?
  • Ambiguous endings: leave the reader with questions and may invite discussion
  • Science and History: well written accounts can provide an inside view

It is important to recognize that good books are good books. Well written books can be appreciated on many levels. They provide depth that will provide the readers with layers of understanding.