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 4th and 5th
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 15th
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.”
