Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do people mean when they talk about “gifted and talented” programs in schools? What is the purpose of these programs? Do they achieve this purpose?

Teaching Suggestion: In Ungifted, Donovan is accidentally chosen to attend a gifted and talented school. Many students will be aware of what this means, but if you identify gaps in their understanding, you might offer them the first resource on the list below. Fewer students will have a solid understanding of the purposes and efficacy of these programs. The second and third resources in the list are intended to offer some insights into this area. After students have been exposed to this information, you might ask them what ideas they have for improving gifted and talented education.

• This article from NPR offers a basic introduction to gifted and talented education.
• This factsheet from Western Kentucky University discusses research into common ideas about gifted education.
• This article from The Washington Post explores the mixed findings from research into the effectiveness of gifted and talented education.