November 14th Guest Lecture

“How to Advocate for your Gifted Child while Building Bridges with Teachers”

DATE:  Thursday, November 14th, 2013

PLACE:  Greenfield Elementary library located at 2550 E Elliot Rd. in Gilbert

TIME:  7-8pm.  Members are invited to come early at 6:45pm or stay until 8:30pm to network with other parents.

A gifted child’s needs and strengths are often one and the same. Come hear expert Erica Bailin speak on how we can advocate for our gifted children while building a supportive relationship with teachers.  

Presented by Erica E. Bailin, ME.d., an Academic Professional at the Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy [HYSA] on Arizona State University’s West Campus.  She is a gifted specialist with expertise teaching English, Social Studies, Technology and specializes in the creation of game-infused thematic curriculum using digital tools. She has worked as a classroom teacher, gifted cluster teacher, gifted pull-out teacher for honors reading and mathematics, and a gifted specialist for the Digital Learning Center for the Gifted. She has been involved in curriculum development projects, provided local and international professional development classes for educators interested in technology, student engagement, games, and gifted education. She presents at seminars and conferences for gifted students, educators in gifted education, administrators, and parents of gifted children. 

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Master's degree in Educational Technology from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Social and Cultural Pedagogy from the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Her research interests include educational technology, gaming and its impact on society and cultures, goal setting, community partnerships, social identity, global education, and reality television, popular culture and its impact on youth. She is also a student fellow for the Center for Games and Impact at Arizona State University, a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education, and a member of the Board of Directors for Arizona's Association for Gifted and Talented. 

Mark your calendars for the remaining dates of our 2013-2014 Guest Lecture Series!  

• Thursday, November 14, 2013
• Thursday, January 23, 2014
• Thursday, April 10, 2014

We look forward to seeing you Saturday, Nov. 2 for Earth and Space Exploration Day!

Earth and Space Exploration Day, hosted by Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration, has experienced remarkable growth over the past several years. Pre-registration is encouraged to ensure that visitors are able to secure tickets for the astronomy shows and other ticketed activities. It also helps us anticipate the number of people that will attend Earth and Space Exploration Day 2013 and allows a speedy check in for you and your family.

PRE-REGISTRATION LINK: https://nasa.asu.edu/ESE-Day-Registration?destination=ESE-Day-Registration

WHEN
Saturday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE
Arizona State University Tempe campus - Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV (ISTB 4) - located on the corner of McAllister Ave. and Terrace Rd. Public parking is free in any ASU lot south of University Avenue on Nov. 2. The most convenient parking is available in the Rural Road parking structure (#4) on Lemon St. and Rural Rd., and the Tyler Street parking structure (#2) on the corner of Tyler Street and McAlister. A parking map is available at: www.asu.edu/map.

WEBSITE
http://sese.asu.edu/earth-and-space-exploration-day

DETAILS
Earth and Space Exploration day is a free annual fall event hosted by the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) on ASU's Tempe campus inside/outside ISTB 4. The SESE community offers special science-related activities from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for students age five and up, families, educators and anyone interested in exploring Earth and space alongside real scientists. One of the biggest attractions is ISTB 4 with its Gallery of Scientific Exploration offering a variety of interactive exhibits and the Marston Exploration Theater, which will be running 3-D astronomy shows throughout the day. Visitors can see a replica of Curiosity rover, explore Tempe Butte on a guided field trip, pan for gold, watch science demos, dig for meteorites, bring rock samples for Dr. Rock to examine and so much more! Dr. Rock will be available to analyze rock samples and children are encouraged to bring samples from their backyard for analysis.

Get Informed on the Gilbert Public Schools Override

This November election Gilbert Public Schools is asking for a 6.6% override, a continuation of the current rate, which is decreased from the 10% rate of last year.  

Do you have questions about the GPS override?  If so, click here to visit the GPS Override FAQ page.

GPS held public forums in September and October to explain the override and address questions from the community.  If you were not able to attend one of these forums, click here to watch a video of the forum on the GPS website.

How does the Gilbert override request compare to the requests of other districts in the East Valley?  Click here to read an article in the East Valley Tribune.

Gilbert Public Schools - An "A" District

Interested in viewing a neutral and brief report on how GPS handles their finances?  Click here to visit the recent Arizona Auditor General’s Report on Gilbert Public Schools.

We encourage members of the GPS community to become an informed electorate.  Please vote on November 5^th.

Guest Lecture Series Review

Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted hosts a Quarterly Guest Lecture Series

Over 60 in attendance at September's Guest Lecture

September's Guest Lecture Topic:  Strategies for promoting Social and Emotional Growth in Gifted Children

Amber and Heather did a great job explaining Intensities that are often experienced by gifted people.  As a parent it helped me understand some of my son's behavior in a different light.  I recognized that he and I think differently and there is nothing wrong with that.  It helped me to understand the world through his perspective as well.  I also appreciated that Heather and Amber both had personal experience with their family members they were able to share as well as practical strategies for us to use with our children.  My husband and I were able to get a mutual understanding and were able to build some strategies together to use at home.  It has been so helpful.

It was also great to see so many other parents there.  I liked that we were able to see other parents who were from our son's school.  I also really appreciated that the meeting was kept to an hour.  We chose to stay after to chat with a few parents we met, but I appreciated the prompt start and end of the meeting.

Review written by Kristina Park

Next Guest Lecture:  Thursday, November 14th, 2013

Topic:  How to advocate for your gifted child while building bridges with teachers

Location:  Greenfield Elementary Library, 7-8pm

2013 Annual AAGT Parent Institute - Sat.,Oct.5th

LOCAL EVENT - SATURDAY, OCT. 5, 2013

Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented

To Interested Parents and Teachers for the AAGT  Parent Institute-

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open on our website!  Please go to our website http://www.arizonagifted.org/ and click on the Parents Tab. There will be a drop-down menu and please click on Parent Institute.  Here is where you will see a large Register Now link. 

The 2013 AAGT Parent Institute will be held Saturday October 5, 2013 at the ASU Preparatory Academy.  We know you will find the day informative and inspiring! 

Additionally, while you are attending the Parent Institute, your child/children can attend our Super Saturday, Enriching Your Potential Program, for students K-8!  Registration is now open at the same link.

TEACHERS: You can receive Professional Development Hours when you attend this event!

We look forward to seeing you at the 2013 AAGT Parent Institute!

Sincerely,

Patty Messer and Melissa Stockton

Co-Chairs, AAGT Parent Institute & Children's Super Saturday Enrichment

Questions:  officemanager@arizonagifted.org

§  AAGT Parent Institute “Reaching For Your Potential”

§  Date: Saturday, October 5th, 2013

§  Time: 9:00AM – 4:00PM

§  Who: Arizona’s Parents, Grandparents, Educators

§  What: Seminars on parenting gifted children; Opportunities to connect and network with other parents of gifted children

§  Where: ASU Preparatory Academy, 735 E. Fillmore St., Phoenix, AZ 85006

§  Keynote: Dr. Bertie Kingore, International consultant and author

§  Children’s Super Saturday Program: Enriching Your Potential for Students in Grades K-8 - Register your child and provide them the opportunity to have fun and be creative while you learn. You can register your child when you click the REGISTER HERE link at the top of the page on the website.  http://www.arizonagifted.org/parent-institute-2014/

News Around GPS

GPS Override Election

Gilbert Public Schools is having an override election on November 5^th, 2013.  The override is for 6.6% in contrast to the 10% override that was requested of voters on the 2012 ballot.  As members of the Gilbert community we can share our voice regarding whether we want GPS to receive $5.8M in funding or $11.6M.

For more information about the 2013 GPS override election please visit - 

1.     GPS website for FAQs

2.     http://citizensforstrongschools.com/

3.     You may also wish to attend a GPS community forum this week to learn more about the override

Gifted Education and the Gilbert Override - 

There is ZERO state funding and ZERO federal funding for gifted education.  Based on the Override Presentation to the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, without the passing of the 6.6% override specialty programs that include Gifted Education (ALP) may be eliminated.  To see this presentation, click here -  Override-Chamber of Commerce.  ALP (Gifted Education) is mentioned on slide #17 of the presentation.

This presentation is found on the GPS Board Docs site under the agenda for the Sep 11, 2013 Gilbert Town Council/Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board Special Joint Meeting. - http://www.boarddocs.com/az/gpsaz/Board.nsf/Public

GPS Community Survey

 GPS is looking for members of the community to take a survey regarding qualifications desired of a permanent superintendent.  For example, do you prefer the superintendent to have a non-traditional background or an education background?  To take the GPS survey, prior to 8am on 9/27, visit the GPS website.  

2013-2014 Parent Education Guest Lecture Series begins September 12th, 2013

Have you ever watched your gifted child do something that seemed below their intelligence level and thought to yourself, “What was he thinking?!?!”

Our Guest Presenters are Heather Schlemmer and Amber MacRobbie who will

share strategies for facilitating social/emotional growth in gifted children.

Heather Schlemmer is the Social Cognition Interventionist/Gifted Resource

Specialist for Gilbert Public Schools. Amber MacRobbie is a Gifted Cluster Coach

who provides training for educators who work with gifted children.

All Guest Lectures will take place from 7:00-8:00pm.  Come early at 6:45pm or stay until 8:30pm to get to know other parents of gifted kids.

The GSG Guest Lecture Series is held at the Greenfield Elementary Library located at -

2550 E. Elliot Rd., Gilbert, AZ

Our 2013-2014 Guest Lecture dates are set!  Mark your calendars for the dates below –

• Thursday, September 12, 2013
• Thursday, November 14, 2013
• Thursday, January 23, 2014
• Thursday, April 10, 2014

*Also, mark your calendar for the AAGT Parent Institute on Saturday, October 5^th!  More details can be found on the AAGT Parent Institute website.  

Gifted and At-Risk

by Seth Freeman, reposted from HuffPost Impact June 4, 2010

If things had gone as they should, in 2016, Charlie Miller would have found a way to reduce the battery in an electronic car to one tenth of its current size and weight while quadrupling its storage capacity. In 2018, Jenny Rodriguez would have developed a compound that binds to cancer cells and deprives them of the nourishment they need to grow, paving the way for a powerful new therapy. In 2025, Martin Pradeep would have written an innovative and entertaining first novel, nominated for a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize.

But Charlie, Jenny, and Martin will do none of these things because in 2010 all three of them dropped out of high school.

Although their names are invented, Charlie, Jenny, and Martin represent real present-day teenagers. Of course we can't really know what these young people might have accomplished if they had stayed in school, gone on to college and then gone on to productive lives in their chosen fields. What we do know is that all three of them are gifted individuals. And, although it might seem surprising, as it did to me, what we also know is that some of our very brightest, most talented kids have great difficulty in school, and many actually drop out, some even living dysfunctional lives on the edge of society.

How is that even possible? Aren't bright kids capable of rising above adverse circumstances, finding ways to succeed? I had always thought so. I was wrong.

Click here to read more.

2013 Earth and Space Exploration DAY at ASU

Mars Education at ASU - Mars Curiosity Rover replica

Saturday, November 2

Earth and Space Exploration day is a free annual fall event hosted by the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) on ASU’s Tempe campus inside/outside ISTB 4. The SESE community offers special science-related activities from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for students age five and up, families, educators and anyone interested in exploring Earth and space alongside real scientists. One of the biggest attractions is ISTB 4 with its Gallery of Scientific Exploration offering a variety of interactive exhibits and the Marston Exploration Theater, which will be running 3-D astronomy shows. Visitors can also see a replica of Curiosity rover, explore Tempe Butte on a guided field trip, pan for gold, dig for meteorites, bring rock samples for Dr. Rock to examine and so much more!

The event website will updated regularly: http://sese.asu.edu/earth-and-space-exploration-day

Are We Failing Our Geniuses?

Many thanks to those who recommended this article.

August 16, 2007, TIME Magazine article by John Cloud

"Any sensible culture would know what to do with Annalisee Brasil. The 14-year-old not only has the looks of a South American model but is also one of the brightest kids of her generation. When Annalisee was 3, her mother Angi Brasil noticed that she was stringing together word cards composed not simply into short phrases but into complete, grammatically correct sentences. After the girl turned 6, her mother took her for an IQ test. Annalisee found the exercises so easy that she played jokes on the testers--in one case she not only put blocks in the correct order but did ... "

Click here to read the article as posted on the Early Entrance Foundation's website.

GPS Approves Curriculum for Self-Contained Program

PRESS RELEASE

The parents of Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted are pleased with the Gilbert School Board’s recent decision to approve an engaging and challenging curriculum that has been field-tested to provide successful learning for gifted students.   We appreciate the time and effort of GPS staff to search out this specialized curriculum and also the time that was granted to parents for curriculum review.   We continue to appreciate the Gilbert School Board’s support for gifted education.   

We invite anyone who wishes to learn more about the unique needs of gifted students to click here and visit our website - www.gilbertgifted.org

Click here to read the article in the Arizona Republic

2012-2013 In Review

by Stephanie Newitt, GSG President

This past year has been one of intense activity for gifted education in Gilbert, and Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted (GSG) has been very involved. 

PARENT  EDUCATION - We increased our focus on parent education through the publishing of our blog where we discussed important aspects of gifted education and began addressing some of gifted education’s common myths, including –

·         MYTH - “Gifted students will do fine on their own.  They don’t need accommodations.”

·         MYTH - “That student can’t be gifted.  He has a disability.”

·         MYTH – “Advanced Placement courses are the same as a gifted program.”

·         MYTH – “All children are gifted”

These myths and their corresponding truths are documented on the National Association for Gifted Children website.

We also began hosting quarterly guest lectures.  Our guest speakers were gifted educators from Gilbert speaking on the -

·         Social/emotional needs of gifted students

·         Developing the Organizational and Management Skills of Gifted Students

·         The Needs of Twice Exceptional Students – those who have both gifts and disabilities

·         Underachieving Gifted Students

All lectures were amazing and left us hungry for more!  A big thank you to our Gilbert Gifted Educators for their efforts.  Our 2013-2014 Guest Lecture line-up will be published on our blog in August.  Watch for it!

GIFTED  EDUCATION  ADVOCACY - This past year was also a big year for advocacy as some of our members were asked to participate in the Gilbert Public Schools Gifted Education Vision Committee.  The 29 member Vision Committee met August-November 2012 and was comprised of GPS educators, administrators and parents.  The committee went beyond the establishing of a vision statement and also created a mission statement and priorities for the expansion of gifted services in Gilbert Public Schools.  To see the vision and mission statements, click here.  The Gifted Presentation to the Governing Board can be found on the GPS Gifted Ed – Parent Resource Page.  

In striving to align to the Gifted Vision Statement, GPS proposed two self-contained classes for highly gifted students, serving 4^th and 5^th grades at Towne Meadows Elementary, with the plan to grow the program each year in sequential grades.  GSG expressed our support for the proposed classes and the school board voted in favor of establishing the classes, 3-2.  Community response to this program was great and waiting lists had to be generated for both classes.  The Open House at Towne Meadows for the new gifted program was successfully held on May 15^th and was well attended. 

GPS has currently brought into their office for review curriculum that is researched-based for gifted students.  Again, this is in alignment with the new gifted education vision statement.   As a parent of a gifted student, we invite you to review the proposed curriculum.  For details about the curriculum review, please email gilbertgifted@gmail.com.

This past year GPS invited leadership from GSG to attend a Q&A session with school counselors from each GPS junior high and high school.  These counselors have been and will continue to receive professional development training regarding giftedness and gifted education.  GSG leadership was also invited to attend the first GPS Gifted 101 Parent Education class and to share a few words.  Both of these events were well attended and attendees expressed appreciation for GSG’s contributions to gifted education in Gilbert.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

We definitely feel like a pebble thrown into a large pond, yet our ripple effect is growing.  Gifted Education is gaining credibility, being considered as genuine as the students being served.  GPS is looking to receive parent input regarding future Gifted Education accommodations and GSG's collaborative voice will be a part of those conversations.

We invite you to contact us if you would like to help with our grassroots effort.  Our parent voice is one of sincerity and respect and we seek collaboration with GPS as gifted services are being expanded.   We are making a difference and are in need of interested parents to help with social media, our web page, and also committee support.  Contact us at gilbertgifted@gmail.com to be a part of this positive effort.

“Change, when managed, is opportunity.”

April 11th Guest Lecture / NEW GPS self-contained class

Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted

Guest Lecture

Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 7:00 PM

Pioneer Elementary Library

(1535 N. Greenfield Rd, near the SE corner of Greenfield and Baseline)

Underachievement Issues and the Gifted Student

Why do some of our most capable students display apathy, sloppiness, little to no effort and poor grades? The Underachieving Gifted Student (UG) is a challenge at many levels. Explanations of why UG children perform far below their potential and how to deal with this challenge.

 Featuring DeeDee Abaroa

DeeDee Abaroa began her teaching career in 1981 as a Third Grade Teacher. She taught in Utah until joining the Gilbert School Family in 1987.  Her experience is mainly in Third through Sixth Grade.  But it was her passion for Gifted Education that drew her to the ALP focus in 2000.  Teaching Intermediate ALP as well as ALP Coaching has been a great learning journey for her.

Her greatest teaching AND learning came from within her own home. Wife and mother, DeeDee has four sons. Two of her sons are identified Gifted, one of whom is identified as twice-exceptional or 2e. She has one granddaughter with one more on the way and will welcome her first grandson in only a few more weeks.

DeeDee loves writing, music, and traveling. She and her husband have journeyed across Europe with each one of their sons. Her next quest is to take her grandchildren to the global classroom so they, too, can gain a perspective far-reaching and filled with understanding. DeeDee hopes one day to teach internationally with her husband by her side.

8:00PM Breakout session for New Members and Parent Mentors 

............................

Gilbert Public Schools:  New Self-Contained Classroom Option

We are excited about the variety of options that Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) is now offering for its gifted students. GPS will continue to offer pull-out part-time services at its elementary campuses and new for 2013-2014 is an option for full-time services in two self-contained classes, one for 4th graders and one for 5th graders.  Students who are not typical learners, whether needing support from special education or gifted education programs, need a variety of options to support both strengths and deficits.  

We are pleased that the GPS School Board voted in favor of supporting gifted learners by expanding the program to offer variety as a means to better meet the needs of gifted students. From the GPS website-

On March 5, 2013 the Governing Board approved the implementation of 4th and 5th grade Gifted Self-contained classrooms at Towne Meadows Elementary to begin in August 2013. The self-contained gifted program provides an all-day differentiated learning experience addressing the individual needs of the highly gifted students. Students will be with other highly gifted peers for all core content areas (math, reading, writing, social studies and science). They will participate in special area instruction and are included in all grade level activities, field trips and lunch.
 
Participant criteria and applications are available at this GPS link:  http://gilbertschools.net/Page/20254
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 30TH.

-Stephanie Newitt

Myth #4: Gifted Education and Accelerated Programs

Contributed by Katherine Varga, M.S., CCC-SLP

MYTH:  Our district has a gifted educational program; we have advanced placement courses.

TRUTH: Gifted education tends to be a very misunderstood fraction of our academic system.  True gifted education does not require only advanced material or a simple increase in knowledge base.  A gifted brain does not grow connections in just one direction or on one plane. Ideas jet out in several dimensions, making true gifted education difficult to provide, but also necessary.  All directions of thought should be encouraged, corralled and pruned to produce the best outcomes for students.  In 2012, the University of Alberta published an excellent article titled, “Learning Characteristics of Gifted Students:  Implications for Instruction and Guidance.” As the title suggests, it provides a clear and concise list of characteristics likely to be found in a gifted learner.  Compared to their typical peers, gifted students tend to have the following advanced capabilities: 

• Recognize the problem to be solved
• Readily and spontaneously generate a series of steps to a solution
• Set priorities for the direction to take in solving a problem (working with a plan)
• Select representation of information more like an expert would
• Decide which resources to allocate to a problem solving task
• Monitor solutions systematically, rather than guessing
• Execute analogical thinking
• Execute problems dealing with memory and attention
• Organize and use prior knowledge
• Use regulatory (metacognitive) processes (Yewchuck, 2012)

These characteristics, among others, create several potential challenges for teachers in the regular classroom setting.  The article highlighted several areas of strength found in gifted students and the corresponding challenges likely to occur within a typical classroom model.  These highlights are taken directly from the article mentioned above. 

Verbal proficiency:

• Has advanced vocabulary for age or grade; uses words easily and accurately; language characterized by fluency and elaboration; reads independently a great deal; enjoys difficult reading material.
• The educational needs of verbally proficient students include sharing ideas verbally in depth, using and exploring increasingly difficult vocabulary and concepts, working with advanced reading materials and working with intellectual peers.
• Possible problems include difficulty restraining desire to talk and developing listening skills and habits, dominating classroom discussion, using verbalism to avoid difficult thinking tasks, and being perceived as a "show off” by classroom peers.

Reasoning skills:

• Ability to abstract, conceptualize and synthesize; can see similarities, patterns and differences; can generalize from one situation to another; finds pleasure in intellectual activity.
• In the classroom the gifted student needs exposure to a variety of materials and concepts, opportunities to pursue multi-disciplinary topics and themes ("big ideas") in depth, and access to a challenging and varied curriculum at many levels.
• Possible problems include boredom with classroom instruction, unresponsiveness to traditional teaching methods, being judged as "lazy" and "unmotivated" by the teacher, and considered too serious by peers.

Knowledge base:

·         Knows a great deal about a variety of topics; has quicker mastery and recall of factual information than other children of the same age; interested in "adult" topics such as religion, race relations, peace and disarmament, politics, the environment.

·         Instructional classroom needs include early instruction of basic skills with minimum of repetition and drill, and exposure to new and challenging information about cultural, economic, environmental, political and educational issues.

·         Possible problems include rebellion at having to work below one's level of competence, development of poor work habits because of lack of challenge, peer resentment of skills and achievement.

Learning efficiency:

• Can process a great deal of information quickly; has rapid insight into cause-effect relationships; is very observant.
• Quick learners need an accelerated pace of instruction.
• Possible problems include dislike for routine and drill, frustration with inactivity, lack of challenge and absence of progress, and impatience with "waiting for the group".

Intense curiosity:

• Questioning and inquisitive attitude; asks many unusual or provocative questions (not just informational or factual questions); interested in the "why" and "how" of things; concerned with what makes things right or wrong; has areas of "passionate" interest inside or outside of school.
• Educational needs include opportunities for active inquiry, and instruction in how to access information and conduct research.
• Possible problems include stifling of interests, lack of opportunity to pursue areas of interest, pressure towards conformity, perception by teacher as being "smart alecky".

Originality:

• Ability to generate original ideas and solutions; can reason out problems logically; finds new and unusual ways to approach and solve problems; can analyze complicated material into component parts; enjoys difficult problems and puzzles.
• Instructional needs include opportunities to solve problems in diverse ways, to build skills in problem solving and productive thinking, to explore alternative ways of conceptualizing problems (for example, metaphorically or visually), to attempt solutions to real-life problems; and to develop tolerance for ambiguity.
• Possible problems include tendency to have a critical attitude towards oneself and others, poor interpersonal relationships with children of the same age, rejection by peers as being "different" and nonconforming.

Power of concentration:

• Persistence in achievement of self-determined goals; has long attention span; when motivated works on tasks until completion; needs little encouragement from others when working on areas of interest (intrinsically motivated); sets high personal standards.
• Educational needs include opportunities for expression of personal preferences and choices, freedom to pursue "passion" areas beyond normally allotted time spans, and instruction in setting realistic expectations, setting and evaluating priorities.
• Possible problems include resistance to interruption and following a schedule, stubbornness, difficulty in accepting limitations of space, time or resources for activities, and pursuit of activities that are not "on task" from the perspective of the teacher.

Often students found in advanced placement classrooms are a combination of hard working, highly motivated students and gifted students (not to say these are always mutually exclusive). The gifted students are often those struggling as a result of challenges mentioned above. I believe it is important for every student to expand their capabilities to their highest potential regardless of their innate intellectual capacities. I believe we are doing our children a disservice when we assume that typical classrooms, even those with high achieving students, are likely to provide the flexibility needed for exceptional gifted education. 

If you would like to read the article in its entirety, it can be found here:

Yewchuk, C. (2012) Learning Characteristics of Gifted Students: Implications for Instruction and Guidance. The New Zealand Journal of Gifted Education, 11/12(1). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from http://www.giftedchildren.org.nz/apex/v12art06.php.

Mark your calendars for our next guest lecture!

Thursday, April 11, 2013 – 7pm at the Pioneer Elementary School library in Gilbert

DeeDee Aboroa, gifted educator, will speak about Underachievement, a common issue for gifted students.