Gifted Girls
Gifted girls are at a greater risk due to the sociocultural influences that often cause them to become underacheivers. Social pressures can cause a gifted girl to lose motivation, confidence, and ultimately not reach their potential. This is especially true in the areas of mathematics and science. It is important to remember that the academic success of gifted girls is closely tied with their social-emotional needs.
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Articles
"Middle Matters: Guiding Girls through the Middle School Maze" This article, written by Dr. Susan Rakow (2008) provides parents and educators with information and tips about a very challenging time in many gifted girls' lives - middle school. "Many Gifted Girls, Few Eminent Women - Why?" This article, written by Anita Gurian, discusses possible reasons as to why gifted girls seems to fade as they reach adulthood. "Social Emotional Issues Faced by Gifted Girls in Elementary and Secondary School" This article, written by Sally Reis (2002, provides information about issues that are faced by girls when it comes to their social/emotional development, mainly in junior high and high school. Books for Parents & Educators
Smart Girls: A New Psychology of Girls, Women, and Giftedness By: Barbara A. Karr Nurturing the Gifted Female: A Guide for Educators and Parents By: Joy L. Navan Living with Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Children, Adolescents, & Adults By: Susan Daniels & Michael M. Piechowski Special Populations in Gifted Education Edited by: Jaime A. Castellano & Andrea D. Frazier Growing Up Gifted By: Barbara Clark Books Featuring Gifted Girls as Main Characters
Anastasia Krupnik by: Lois Lowry Ella Enchanted by: Gail Carson Levine Harriet the Spy by: Louise Fitzhugh Ida B. ... and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by: Katherine Hannigan Matilda by: Roald Dahl Millicent Min, Girl Genius by: Lisa Yee The Mysterious Benedict Society by: Trenton Lee Stewart Stargirl by: Jerry Spinelli A Wrinkle in Time by: Madeline L'Engle |
 Strategies for Gifted Girls
▪Strong social emotional support based to help deal with issues such as perfectionism, body image, teenage angst, confidence, and self-concept ▪Opportunities to strengthen female and mother/daughter relationships ▪Support for career counseling and mentorships ▪Awareness of gender bias in classrooms ▪Activities that encourage assertiveness and independence ▪Role models and mentors that value higher education and careers traditionally held by males |