About
GiftedandTalented.com provides online coursework targeted at academically advanced K-8 learners, with emphasis on mathematics, language arts, and critical thinking. Courses are delivered through self-paced or teacher-facilitated formats.
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GiftedandTalented.com was a McGraw-Hill online learning site built around Redbird Mathematics: Advanced Edition, an adaptive math program for kindergarten through grade 7. Cathy Duffy's review states that the product was discontinued as of July 2025, so this review is a record of what the program was and not a current buying recommendation.
Last updated: 2026-10-03 · Every Homeschool Editorial Team
At a glance
| Method | Online academy / subject-specialist / adaptive math (historical) |
| Worldview | Secular, per Cathy Duffy |
| Grades | Math K-7 per Cathy Duffy; the archived 2017 site also listed Language Arts & Writing for grades 2-7 and algebra courses for grades 8-12 |
| Formats | Digital, self-paced adaptive courses; the archived 2017 site also describes optional tutor support |
| Cost tier | Not applicable; discontinued as of July 2025 |
| Parent intensity | 2 (Cathy Duffy lists parent or teacher instruction as minimal) |
| ESA-common | Not applicable; discontinued |
| Accredited | Not verified |
| Website | giftedandtalented.com (redirects to McGraw Hill's PreK-12 page, which does not mention Redbird as of October 2026) |
Our scoreboard (1-5)
| Criterion | Score | One-line reason |
|---|---|---|
| Academic rigor | 4 | Cathy Duffy calls it one of the most thorough online math programs for the elementary grades |
| Ease of teaching | 5 | Software-driven; some students needed someone available to help with instructions, per Cathy Duffy |
| Content quality | 4 | Instruction, examples, guided practice, word problems, and digital manipulatives |
| Flexibility | 4 | Self-paced; the enrolled grade level could be changed, with earlier work kept only in summary form |
| Value for money | 3 | Not scored on price; the product is discontinued and no current price exists |
| Worldview scope | 5 | Secular |
| Visual/design | 4 | Games, videos, and project activities, per Cathy Duffy |
| Support resources | 2 | Product discontinued; no current support channel confirmed |
Who the publisher is
The 2017 archived GiftedandTalented.com home page described the site as offering advanced learning developed by Stanford University and carried a McGraw-Hill copyright notice.
The domain no longer hosts that site. As of October 2026, giftedandtalented.com redirects to McGraw Hill's PreK-12 page, and a search of that page found no mention of Redbird. Cathy Duffy's Redbird Mathematics review lists McGraw Hill Education as the publisher and states that the product was discontinued as of July 2025.
The core pedagogy
Per Cathy Duffy's review, Redbird Mathematics was adaptive within a chosen grade level. The publisher said the courseware adapted to right and wrong answers and the order of those responses, advanced faster as a student answered correctly, and showed problems in a different way after a wrong answer. Lessons included instruction, examples, and guided practice before independent work, along with word problems, real-world applications, digital manipulatives, and games. Beginning with grade 2, students also completed an online project-based learning activity.
Cathy Duffy's review also notes that Redbird Mathematics was geared toward gifted students but suited average students who might need to work below grade level, and that completing the K-7 program would prepare a student to move quickly through a pre-algebra course. At the upper levels, her review notes videos and interviews with working professionals that introduced STEM careers.
A day in the life
The publisher's pages that described daily use are no longer available, and this review does not estimate session length. Cathy Duffy's review states that students would need little parent or teacher instruction, that lessons changed format often so students were not stuck on endless problems of one sort, and that some students would need someone on hand to help read instructions or sort out unfamiliar lesson presentations.
What they did exceptionally well
Adaptive sequencing. Cathy Duffy's review describes the program as exceptionally good at developing conceptual understanding, and states that it reduced the number of questions for students who were moving quickly while never skipping a concept.
Variety of lesson format. The review describes games that required current-lesson math skills, including a bridge-building game for younger students and a programming-style game for older students.
What they did poorly
Product discontinuation. The product is no longer sold, per Cathy Duffy, and the site that carried it now redirects to a general McGraw Hill page.
Switching grade level reset reporting. Cathy Duffy notes that if a family switched the grade level, earlier work was kept only in summarized form and future reports reflected only work done at the new level.
Paper-and-pencil practice. Cathy Duffy's review states that the only reason to supplement would be to give students more paper-and-pencil practice with computations.
Who it fit / who it doesn't
Redbird suited: an academically accelerated or average K-7 student who works well independently, with a parent available for occasional help; a family wanting a secular adaptive math program.
No longer an option: any family looking to enroll now. Families seeking an elementary math program with a problem-solving emphasis can look at Beast Academy, which lists books and online learning for ages 6 to 13, or at the live classes for advanced learners offered by AoPS Academy, which lists small live classes for grades 1-12.
Cost honest assessment
No current price can be stated. The product is discontinued as of July 2025 per Cathy Duffy's review, and the Homeschool Buyers Club search results for Redbird, the club that review named as the easiest and least expensive way to subscribe, showed no Redbird listing as of October 2026.
ESA eligibility notes
Not applicable. A discontinued product cannot be submitted for reimbursement, and families should not rely on earlier statements about marketplace eligibility.
Alternatives
- Beast Academy, a family would choose Beast Academy for elementary math books and online learning (self-paced Levels 1-5, with live classes for Levels 2-5) built around problem solving, per the publisher's home page.
- Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Online and AoPS Academy), a family would choose AoPS for math texts and online classes for grades 5-12 and small live classes for advanced learners in grades 1-12.
- Johns Hopkins CTY online courses, a family would choose CTY for the online courses that the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers to gifted students.
Signature products
- above-grade content
- self-paced or facilitated
- K-8 gifted focus
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