A gifted education Legacy Award winner, Understanding the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Students presents a comprehensive treatment of social and emotional development in high-ability learners. The author, a nationally recognized leader in gifted education, discusses theories that guide our examination of the lived experiences of gifted students; social and emotional characteristics and behaviors evidenced in gifted learners; friendships and family relationships that support them; contextual influences that shape their social and emotional lives; and identity development. Moreover, the author examines the complexity of these issues with gifted underachievers, gifted culturally diverse students, and twice-exceptional students. In addition, the book offers a plan for designing a gifted-friendly classroom environment for social and emotional development and a comprehensive collection of resources to support professionals in gifted education research and practice.

The author has more than a decade of classroom experience working with K–12 gifted students and almost 20 years in higher education training graduate students and educators. As a result, this book combines theory that drives our understanding of gifted students with the latest research and practical strategies to implement in addressing social and emotional development with K–12 students. The book is geared toward graduate students with research interests in this area and educators with questions regarding how to support gifted young people in their classrooms.

Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented 2011 Legacy Book Award Winner - Scholars

My professor assigned this text as a major component of our reading. Hebert truly has a heart for students, and the book resonated deeply with me as an educator longing to teach AND edify the young people under my care. As a prior reviewer stated, Hebert offers solid theory as well as practical application. The appendices are very helpful in seeking to carry through in the classroom.

When I used this text for my social emotional class, the students gave it their highest marks. They loved the coverage, the writing, and the insights. It contains good balance between theory, practice, and personal anecdotes in a format that is easy to read.