Basically a long list of resources for clubs, contests, activities that are mostly independent groups/companies. I was hoping more for a list of activities that were not reliant on formal programs and more ideas that could be customized for individual students- not what this book is. I felt like this book would be more effective as a website with links and lots of updates. This book is aimed at teachers who are interested or have the responsibility of setting up programs for their students in school. It would be a good resource for a gifted program at a school. ( )

As a parent of at least one gifted student, this gave me some ideas for how I could enrich all of my kids' lives, but especially hers. The only downside for us was that the book seemed aimed at late elementary and middle school, while I have a primary student. ( )

This is a good resource for educators, club advisors, homeschoolers, and others who need ideas, activities, and/or competitions to keep their gifted leaner engaged. Parents could use this resource too! I was particularly impressed by the inclusion of all content areas. This even includes leadership and creative thinking. There is a thorough description of each activity as well as the websites and contacts to sign up. These are the types of activities that need to be included in our schools. What a way to motivate, engage, and inspire our gifted young people! Thank you. ( )

Another fine addition from Todd Stanley, this work is aimed at in service educators of gifted students, but could also be used by home schools, administrators and even parents to search out extracurricular activities. Stanley not only divides the work into subject matter of English Language Arts, Maths, Science, and Social Studies. He also includes chapters on Leadership and Creative Thinking. So there is something that might reach out to most students. The work includes groups that some are nearly one hundred years old to ones that have come about in recent years. Stanley includes not only links to these groups, but explains how to set up the group and how it operates on a small scale. Stanley also gives the costs to be a part of the National Organizations in many cases or refers the reader to the site where current information can be found. This work is one that surely could be not only added to media centers as since it does cover the major core courses and could be used by more than one educator in just one field. This work is meant to not only be used during the school day, but to give gifted and other students exposure to clubs and groups that will give them life skills that they can use thru out their lives and pass down to their children as well. Skills that will make better citizens of the world. The cost of #34.95 is well worth it for the amount of information contained within its cover. ( )

As a parent of two gifted children (now in their early 30s), and active as a volunteer in their classrooms and in their extra-curricular activities, I was pleased to see programs from 20-25 years ago that they participated in (and that I assisted in) described in this book: Destination Imagination (fosters creativity), National Geographic GeoBee, and Continental Math League. I was also pleasantly surprised to see activities that were around when I was in school (45-55 years ago): Model United Nations, DECA, and mock trials. Other intriguing activities include America's Battle of the Books, Invention Convention, Future City Competition, and the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. Well-known gifted educator Todd Stanley provides the who-what-when-where-why-how for 28 established academic extra-curricular activities, plus a suggestion for a "homegrown" activity in each of the four major subject areas (math, science, language arts, and social studies), as well as leadership and creative thinking. Of course, these activities can and should be used for all students, and parents, not just teachers, should get involved. ( )