Skip to content

Showing results for:"twice exceptional"

  • All about twice-exceptional students

    Some kids with learning and thinking differences have exceptional skills in certain academic areas. These kids are sometimes called twice-exceptional learners. (You may sometimes see this abbreviated as 2e.) Learn more about these gifted students, their challenges, and how to help.

  • A government reminder to schools: Don’t overlook twice-exceptional kids

    Many gifted children also have learning or thinking differences. But if theyre doing well in school, their issues may not be recognized. Schools can be reluctant to evaluate kids like these for special education services. So in 2015, the Department of Education (ED) . The message? Students who are

  • 7 myths about twice-exceptional (2e) students

    Some students with learning and thinking differences have outstanding skills in certain academic areas. These kids are often called twice-exceptional (or 2e) learners . Theyre exceptional in two ways. Theyre gifted, and they have learning differences. They also face unique challenges . These includ

  • The challenges of twice-exceptional kids

    - Children can be gifted and also have learning and thinking differences. - Many of these children go through school without being identified as having special talents or needs. - You can help your child get more support. Your child is gifted and needs special education ? Many parents are all

  • How the documentary “2e: Twice Exceptional” made me a more hopeful parent

    Im always wary of telling people my sons are twice exceptional , or 2e. It means theyre intellectually gifted and have learning differences. I could explain this to people. But I worry theyll stop listening after I say gifted. Sometimes I feel like people think one E makes up for the other E. As

  • A unique IEP solution for our twice-exceptional son

    Because of our older sons high test scores and big vocabulary, his teachers have often suggested that he be placed in gifted and talented (GT) classes. But since he also has issues with executive functioning , social skills , and learning, its not that simple. Back when he was 8, my son got his fir

  • 12 questions to ask the school about 2e students

    What do you need to know about how your childs school supports gifted students with learning and thinking differences ? One key question is whether the school is aware of the Department of Educations guidance around supporting twice-exceptional (2e) learners . See a list of other questions to ask t

  • The long, winding road to identifying my son’s learning issues

    When my oldest son Lorenzo was in Pre-K, we did all the things we were supposed to do to help him get ready to read. We read him an entire librarys worth of childrens books, poems, and magazines. We read aloud street signs and even TV captions. We sang dozens upon dozens of nursery rhymes and playe

  • Why the school with the highest test scores wasn’t the right fit for my child with ADHD

    Im the mother of a twice-exceptional son who just started sixth grade. Tay is gifted. He also has ADHD , anxiety , high-functioning autism, and epilepsy. Despite these challenges, he finished elementary school above grade level in math, and almost above grade level in English language arts. I was

  • In It

    When gifted kids need accommodations, too

    Meeting the needs of kids with learning and thinking differences can be a lot. Add giftedness into the equation, and parenting takes on a whole additional dimension. Meeting the needs of kids with learning and thinking differences can be a lot. Add giftedness into the equation, and parenting takes

  • The Opportunity Gap

    Twice-exceptional Black and brown kids

    Kids who have learning and thinking differences can also be gifted. But what does being twice exceptional mean when youre marginalized? Kids who have learning and thinking differences or other disabilities can also be gifted. This is known as being twice exceptional, or 2e. But what does twice exce

  • The emotional toll of slow processing speed on my daughter

    My daughter had a fake evaluation in the eighth grade. One of my friends was taking a graduate course on evaluating for learning differences and used my daughter as a practice subject. But while the evaluation wasnt real, the test results were. My daughters language scores were off the charts. That

  • Kids with multiple learning and thinking differences: What you need to know

    - Its common for kids to learn and think differently in more than one way. - Different challenges need different kinds of support. - Kids with multiple challenges can thrive in school and beyond. Do you wonder why even though your childs reading differences are being addressed at school, writin

  • Video: How a diagnosis in adulthood changed one woman’s perspective

    Yimeng had always struggled in school. Reading was a challenge for her, and she had difficulty staying on top of tasks. But it wasnt until she was thriving in graduate school at the School of Visual Arts that she began to suspect there might be a specific reason for her struggles. Watch Yimengs st

  • Why I love my dyslexic brain

    A few weeks ago, something happened that reminded me why Im grateful for my dyslexic brain. Im a teacher, and I was working in the classroom with my students. I was going from table to table, patiently giving out directions and handing out sticker rewards as the kids bombarded me with questions. I

  • My Child’s Dyslexia and ADHD: How They Blended Together

    My son first received an IEP at the end of second grade, when the school identified him with a specific learning disability . At the time, it felt like we had gotten answers to our questions. Our bright son was struggling to master some very basic skills in school. Now, with the IEP, we could move

  • Video: How art helped a struggling student better understand himself

    Many kids with learning and thinking differences build self-esteem through their strengths and talents. For some, thats sports. For others, its science. For Marcos Allen, the winner of the from the National Center for Learning Disabilities, it was art. Watch this inspiring story as he talks about w

  • ADHD Aha!

    Twice exceptional: Raising a gifted son with ADHD (Emily’s story)

    From a very young age, Emilys son would have meltdowns and get intensely angry. He was also really bright. From a very young age, Emily Hamblins son would have meltdowns and get intensely angry. He was also really bright. He was ahead of the curve academically and scored in the 99th percentile on

  • Embracing my dyscalculia made me a better student

    As I walked into the Disability Resource Center at Arizona State University, I thought about everything I d gone through to get there the hours of tutoring, relearning years of math, and coming to terms with my learning differences. The building was nearly silent because it was summer and school wa

  • Celebrity quotes: Learning from challenges

    Celebrities with learning and thinking differences are often willing to share what those challenges have taught them. Heres what nine famous people with ADHD , dyslexia , and more have to say. Orlando Bloom, actor Dyslexia If you have kids who are struggling with dyslexia, the greatest gift you ca

  • How I owned it: 3 college application essays

    Many students (and families) wonder if its a good idea to disclose their learning and thinking differences in their college application essay. Whether to disclose is a personal decision. But for these three students, all mentors with Understood founding partner , it was a positive move. Here are

  • 4 challenges of English language learners who learn and think differently

    - You can ask the school to evaluate your child for learning and thinking differences. - It can be helpful for you to get to know your childs ESL or bilingual teacher. - Your child may need special services in a language other than English. English language learners (ELLs) with learning and thi

  • Early ADHD Diagnosis? Don’t Forget About Learning Issues

    As a neuropsychologist , its my job to evaluate kids for learning and thinking differences. Over the years Ive seen many kids whose learning differences werent picked up until late grade school or middle school. Ive even seen kids who werent evaluated until high school or college. And often, these

  • STEM stars who learn and think differently

    Today, theyre leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). But as kids they struggled in school with things like reading and writing. Some have been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD . All are celebrated for thinking outside the box. Click on the link above to downloa

  • We can’t all be Richard Branson: The case for expanding dyslexia success stories

    We all know who they are. Richard Branson. Whoopi Goldberg. Gavin Newsom. The individuals who overcame dyslexia and other learning and thinking differences to become famous entrepreneurs, politicians, artists, athletes, scientists, filmmakers, media personalities and more. Theres no shortage of cul

  • Celebrities with dyslexia, ADHD, and dyscalculia

    - There are lots of famous people who learn and think differently. - Many of them found ways to use ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia as an advantage in their field from acting to sports to journalism. - Celebrities like Octavia Spencer and Ryan Gosling are just two of many examples. Some of the

  • What are learning and thinking differences?

    - Learning differences are common. - They impact skills like reading, math, writing, and focus. - The challenges are lifelong, but people can still thrive. Learning and thinking differences are lifelong challenges that impact skills like reading, writing, math, and focus. Theyre caused by diffe

  • My kids have both autism and learning and thinking differences, and it’s complicated

    I have three children. Two of my kids have autism , two have learning and thinking differences, and one has neither. That sounds like the beginning of a brain teaser or a logic puzzle, but its not. Its just my reality. Recently, my younger son was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in addi

  • Why “just try harder” is a myth

    He must try harder, I heard Mrs. K say. I was eavesdropping outside my third-grade classroom, sitting there on the cold linoleum floor. These words slithered from my teachers mouth in a tone that sounded condescending, even to my 9-year-old self. Mrs. K was a plump woman who only looked happy becau

  • 8 teen and tween books with characters who learn and think differently

    When we relate to characters, or when the topic is something that reflects our own lives, books are often more meaningful (and fun to read). Check out these great reads for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers who learn and think differently. They feature characters with ADHD, dyslexia, and other di