Inspiring Middle School Minds: Gifted, Creative, & Challenging : Brain- and Research-Based Strategies to Enchance Learning for Gifted Students

"A welcome and much-needed resource. Willis shows how neuroscience, teaching, giftedness, and adolescence connect to inform best practice for parents and teachers. She provides sensible 'neurological strategies' that are aligned with a mastery orientation for learning. Readers will be informed and inspired." -Dona J. Matthews, Ph.D., and Joanne F. Foster, Ed.D., Co-authors of Being Smart About Gifted Children: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators # "This new book on working with middle school gifted students is refreshing in its no nonsense approach to the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing their needs. It also provides important up-to-date information on understanding current neuroscience research that may be useful to understand in crafting interventions and working with these adolescents on a daily basis as a teacher or parent. I was truly impressed by the tone and style of the author in making the book accessible reading to multiple audiences. I believe it is must reading for middle school educators and the parents of middle schoolers everywhere." - Joyce VanTassel-Baska, Ed.D., Executive Director, Center for Gifted Education, College of William and Mary, Past President, National Association for Gifted Children # "Dr. Willis explains the findings of brain-based research in learning and development as it applies to the real lives of gifted children, their teachers, and school reform. It is gratifying to see someone in gifted education focusing on the source of gifted intellect--the brain." -Paul Beljan, Psy.D., ABPN, Neuropsychologist, Co-author of Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults

Dr. Judy Willis, a board-certified neurologist and middle school teacher in Santa Barbara, California, has combined her training in neuroscience and neuroimaging with her teacher education training and years of classroom experience. She has become an authority in the field of learning-centered brain research and classroom strategies derived from this research.Dr. Willis is on the board of directors of the Hawn Foundation for mindfulness education programs organized by Goldie Hawn, and has traveled internationally with actress Goldie Hawn to make presentations about mindful teaching and learning. They were 2009 Featured Speaker Co-Presenters at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) National Conference.