Does Everyone Doing It Make It Okay?
… and What is School Choice? I’m talking about going to traditional schools. Back in my active speaking, consulting, and test evaluation days, I started many of my speeches by
June 6, 2026
Author
Deborah Ruf, PhD
Deborah L. Ruf, Ph.D., is a specialist in intelligence assessment and individualized interpretations and guidance for both gifted children and adults. Her research, writing, and speaking focuses on school and educational issues as well as related social and emotional adjustments for gifted children particularly those at the highest levels of giftedness.
What Happens When a Smart Youngster Misses the Gifted “Cut-off”?
How much does previous background and “good fit” affect their options and choices by the time they finish high school? Level One people are in the moderately to gifted range
June 5, 2026
Finding the “Right” School for Your Young Child
You already know your child is ahead of agemates. How do you select the best school? I retired from my consultancy in 2018 because I wanted to write follow-up books
June 4, 2026
How a Seasoned Educator Sets Up a Final Exam
And it’s a Zoom online proctored by their smart phone exam! In keeping with my theme of “Through the Lifespan,” (I’ve learned that considering giftedness alone isn’t as important for
June 3, 2026
Giftedness
5 – Ruf Estimates of Levels of Giftedness
Why the 5 Levels? The following information is a general summary of the Ruf Estimates of Levels of Giftedness. There is overlap in each of the levels, and inner qualities — qualities that
June 2, 2026
Teaching Strategies
Do’s and Don’ts for Teachers of Gifted Children
What every parent and teacher of gifted children should know. Photo by CDC on Unsplash This advice is relevant for teachers at any grade level. It’s original title was The Do’s and
May 7, 2026
Bright Adults & Life Stories
Gifted Adults from the Baby Boomer Generation Talk About Social Skills
It’s also called the EQ and IQ Connection Because Some People Navigate Those Waters More easily Than Others. Many highly intelligent people of all ages struggle to feel they fit
May 7, 2026
Social & Emotional Development
When Gifted People Walk That Humility Line—or Not
Most intellectually gifted adults don’t think of themselves as gifted. Smart enough maybe, but not so special as to be gifted. First of all, most intellectually gifted adults don’t think
May 6, 2026
Schools & Educational Policy
How Do Schools Take Care of Moderately Gifted Students?
The same as they take care of most students. Very little new happens before High School. In this post, you will start to see yourself, and even if you don’t
May 6, 2026
Schools & Educational Policy
Are Schools Prepared to Meet the Needs of the Highly Gifted?
Level Two children are highly gifted and the most common in gifted programs. Level Two children and their parents also experienced difficulties finding a good school fit. Level Two children
May 5, 2026