• This text offers teachers of the language arts and of high ability learners important approaches in promoting talent development in all learners. Developing Verbal Talent also provides a theoretical and research-based approach to applying practical techniques for teaching language arts at elementary and middle school levels. The book emphasizes the importance of students' constructing meaning for themselves through the study of rich and complex literature and the translation of that study into response journals, persuasive writing, debate, and special projects. The ideas in this text were developed by educators from language arts, gifted education, as well as classroom practitioners who collaborate on what works with high ability learners in classrooms. The text responds to the questions of how to meet the needs of the best students in an inclusionary classroom setting and how to challenge all learners more effectively in the language arts.

Developing Verbal Talent was organized to provide students with important theory and research in the language arts and talent development while providing practical translation of those ideas into classroom activities and teacher-generated commentary.