Understanding Our Gifted
Guidelines for Writers, 2010
Understanding Our Gifted is a quarterly journal published by Open Space Communications LLC. The readers of this publication are teachers, parents, and counselors of high ability students, in the United States and around the world. Through this publication, we seek to help adults better understand the academic and psychological needs of these students. Specifically, parents are offered insights into the development and characteristics of bright children and techniques for helping to positively support and challenge these children. Teachers are presented with research and perspectives for understanding highly able students in their classrooms as well as tools to provide academically for these students. Above all, we want adults to look at kids as individuals with unique needs that we must try to meet. We seek to explore many different theories and methodologies for understanding and working with gifted students.
It is not the intent of this publication to be a venue for complaining about things that haven’t worked for bright students; instead, we provide information about what can and does work and empower parents and teachers with information to help gifted children be the best they can be.
Though many of our writers are affiliated with universities, this is not an academic journal; therefore, we prefer a more relaxed style of writing that is filled with anecdotal information and examples with real “human” elements. When using children as examples to illustrate points, please use fictitious names so that we do not need to ask for parental permission.
We do have space considerations and ask that if references are used they be limited in number, preferably no more than 10. References will only be included at the end of the article if they refer to citations in the text. We do not use footnotes.
Our style is based on:
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Chicago Manual of Style
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Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
The following must accompany your article:
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A short biography of 2-3 sentences
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Current position
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Contact information, including email address, postal address, and phone number
If there are multiple authors, this information must be included for each author.
TYPES OF ARTICLES: Each issue of Understanding Our Gifted has a theme, which is usually determined at least one year in advance. Potential writers are welcome to request information on upcoming themes. Feature articles run from 2500-3500 words. A limited number of feature articles unrelated to the theme of a particular issue may be accepted.
Each issue also includes columns that address practical issues or opinions. These include parenting techniques, classroom ideas, online resources, affective issues, book reviews, etc. These columns vary in length from 600-3000 words.
We are always open to fresh ideas and suggestions and welcome your thoughts and proposals.
ARTICLE FORMAT: Manuscripts must be submitted electronically as Microsoft Word attachments. The manuscript should be double-spaced, typed in 12-point font, preferably in Times New Roman, with four spaces between paragraphs. Do not indent paragraphs. Use only one space between sentences. Do not add graphics, lines, WordArt, boxes around titles, etc. to your manuscript.
FORMAT FOR TABLES, CHARTS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS: Tables, charts, and illustrations are welcome. Each of these needs to be sent in a separate document with an easily recognizable name, such as “Table 1” or “Figure 3.” Make sure that each has been referenced within the text (e.g., “Insert Figure 1 Here”). Since Understanding Our Gifted is printed in black and white, tables, charts, and illustrations must be submitted in black and white or grayscale in JPEG format. Contact the publication office: dorothy@openspacecomm.com if you are unable to submit a JPEG or have any questions about formatting. If we have any problems with your files we will contact you.
SUBMISSION: Queries or completed articles are welcome. Unsolicited manuscripts should have a lead time of 6-12 months. Submitted articles must be original to Understanding Our Gifted and not previously published in print, on the web, or in any venue. Manuscripts should be emailed as an attachment to the editor at oceangirl19@comcast.net. Material approved for publication may be cut or edited, according to the editor's discretion. Once an article is submitted as final, we cannot accept a rewritten version of that article.
When the issue is completed, you will receive access information for the online version of Understanding Our Gifted which includes your article.
PAYMENT: Open Space Communications LLC does not offer remuneration to writers of articles published in Understanding Our Gifted.
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
Dorothy Knopper, Publisher
Open Space Communications LLC
P.O. Box 18268
Boulder CO 80308303-444-7020 / Fax 303-545-6505
dorothy@openspacecomm.com www.openspacecomm.com
EDITORIAL:
Ann Leggett, Editor
oceangirl19@comcast.netSandra Berger, Acquisitions Editor
sandraberger@erols.com