Article: "I Have a Gifted Kid and I Will No Longer Be Ashamed"

Here's a great article that we found on another website:

Yes, I have gifted children—born, not made. And I will no longer be ashamed to say my kids are gifted. …

… Here’s the deal. The word gifted does trigger thoughts of privilege and advantage, but it is the clinical term psychologists, doctors, and education professionals have used for years to identify and label children who were born with distinct cognitive differences—these differences can be good AND bad. It’s the way their brain was wired.

How can being gifted be a bad thing?

It can be a burden because too many in our society think gifted kids are the stereotypical straight-A, well-behaved students who get chosen to participate in those special, elite gifted programs at school and then graduate as valedictorians.

But, nope, not always.

Read the rest of the article HERE.  

Gilbert Public Schools - Junior High Gifted Academy?

Beginning last school year, Gilbert Public Schools assembled a committee composed of teachers, administrators, directors, coordinators and parents to research the viability of opening a Junior High Gifted Academy. This committee was tasked with researching, planning, and preparing information for the implementation of a Junior High Gifted Academy.

The Gifted Academy Committee narrowed its focus to consider :

• Starting small, with 2 classes of gifted 7th graders and 2 classes of gifted 8th graders.
• Housing the Academy in one centralized location.
• Ensuring the 4 core subject teachers are trained in gifted education.
• Setting the Student qualification criteria to include a score of 97+ in one of the three areas of giftedness, or a score of 95+ in two of the three areas of giftedness, or an IQ  score of 128. 

Here is the link to the district's website.

 

The committee will present information to the Governing Board at a Work Study meeting on February 9, 2016.  This information will include the committee's research and proposal.  Board members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the committee concerning their research, proposal, and recommendations. At a subsequent Governing Board meeting, Board members will determine if and when Gilbert Public Schools will open a Gifted Academy.  Both the Work Study and the Governing Board meeting will be available for public viewing either in person at the district office or online. 

Which lecture topics interest you?

We would love to know which topics are of interest to you for future Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted lectures.

Please click on the following link to take a quick survey.  And when we say, quick, it only has one question!  You can also add another topic if we don't have it listed and we can consider that too.

Thanks!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE SURVEY

2016 ASU Barrett Summer Scholars Program

Click HERE for more information

"How to Talk About Giftedness" - Guest Lecture 1/21/16

Join us for our guest lecture to be held on Thursday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the Greenfield Junior High Library (101 S Greenfield Road, Gilbert).

Stephanie Newitt, President of Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted, will be speaking to us about "How to talk about Giftedness: Bringing Giftedness out into the Daylight."

Come to this discussion to receive ideas on how to bring the topic of giftedness out of the dark crevices and into the daylight...or in other words, how to talk about that elephant in the room.   Please spread the word to other parents and educators.