Free Gifted Guidebooks

These extensive guides written by the Davidson Institute professionals have been specially designed to assist families in finding the most appropriate educational setting for their exceptionally bright child. Through a wide variety of articles and tools, families are guided through a process for implementing their decisions effectively.

These guidebooks can be downloaded at no cost.

Early College – Considering the Options: A Guidebook for Investigating Early College Entrance
For Parents (PDF version)
For Students (PDF version)

The Davidson Institute and Nancy Robinson, Ph.D., teamed up to write these two guidebooks designed to help parents and students assess one’s readiness for early college entrance.

Gap Year – Considering Your Options: A Guidebook for Investigating Gap Year Opportunities
(PDF version)

This guidebook is a tool for both parents and students who are considering a gap year as an educational option. A gap year is essentially a “break from formal education to become more immersed in another culture, to volunteer domestically or abroad, to gain experience and maturity…”. Taking a gap year is becoming more common in the United States, and can be even more common for students who graduate from high school earlier than expected. In this guidebook readers will find information on gap year options for students under the age of 18, the pros and cons of taking a gap year, what colleges think of students who pursue a gap year and much more.

Giving Back – Giving Back: A Guidebook for Volunteerism and Community Service
(PDF version)

Community service and volunteer work are not only rewarding ways to do something good, but also provide wonderful educational, professional and personal growth opportunities. This guidebook by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development provides resources, strategies and valuable information for gifted students and their parents to think about when considering the who, what, where, when, how and why questions associated with Giving Back.

Homeschooling – Considering Homeschooling: A Guidebook for Investigating an Alternative Path to Education
(PDF version)

This guidebook is a valuable tool for parents who are considering homeschooling. Readers will find information on homeschool curriculum, applying to college, cost considerations, networking with other families, homeschool laws and more.

Mentorships – Mentoring Guidebook
(PDF version)

Mentors can teach and inspire your gifted child. This guidebook by the Davidson Institute outlines how to search for a mentor, different types of mentoring relationships, and what characteristics great mentors have.

Twice-Exceptionality – Twice-Exceptionality: A Resource Guide for Parents
(PDF version)

This guidebook is meant to act as a launch pad for parents to learn more about twice-exceptionality, the process of identification and assessment, and how to support children who are 2E intellectually, emotionally and socially. This guidebook includes first-hand stories from families navigating the 2E world, interviews with experts, resource highlights, practical parent tools, and much more. See also the 2e Guidebook Resources and Bibliography.