Gifted Role Models in Literature and Film

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Gifted kids derive many benefits from reading books and watching films with gifted characters. Positive gifted role models in books and movies show gifted kids they are not alone; that there are others like them. These role models can help kids to learn how to appropriately interact socially with age-peers and adults. How characters are portrayed is a powerful way of influencing the views of younger readers and film goers; and can positively impact their lives.

Today there are many places where one can find books and films with gifted characters for gifted students and children. Websites and blogs have become rich resources for book lists for above-level readers.There are book publishers who specialize in books about and for gifted students and children. Films with gifted characters can be chosen (subjectively) via movie data bases.

Current books recommended for gifted kids by our chat participants included Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter, Magic Tree House, Surviving the Applewhites, A Wrinkle in Time, Chronicles of Narnia, Archibald Frisby, and Tuck Everlasting. Other included Divergence, Hunger Games, Maze Runner, The View From Saturday, The Mysterious Benedict Society, The UnWanteds, Half Magic, Franny K. Stein, Percy Jackson, The Giver, Ender’s Game, and Harriet the Spy.

Recent movies recommended by our chat participants for gifted kids included the Harry Potter series, Big Hero 6, The Imitation Game, How to Train Your Dragon, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Queen of Katwe, Little Man Tate, Searching for Bobby Fischer, October Sky, Apollo 13, August Rush, Kim Possible, and Inside Out. A transcript of this chat may be found at Storify. Please see the links below for more suggestions.

Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at 13.00 NZST/11.00 AEST/1.00 UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.

About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com