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.  

"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.

NAGC Parent Day - November 12-15, 2015

Education Movie Screening - Monday, Nov. 9th

You are invited to attend a special screening of the award winning documentary, Most Likely To Succeed, in the Piper Theater at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa at 7 PM on Monday, November 9th. There is no cost to attend and this is not a fundraiser for any cause.  

This non-partisan documentary takes a powerful look at our K-12 education system and focuses largely on learning options and student engagement.  The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has since shown at numerous film festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival and was directed by Greg Whiteley, who also directed the MITT documentary.

The executive producer of the film, Ted Dintersmith, will be in attendance and will lead an always interesting QA/Discussion after the film has concluded.

Please register for the event here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/special-screening-of-most-likely-to-succeed-tickets-19009704538 

View the film trailer here: http://mltsfilm.org

Please feel free to invite family and friends who you think would be interested in attending but be sure to RSVP soon as seating is limited.

*Please note that this event is not sponsored by Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted.

ASU Earth and Space Exploration Day - 11/7/15

This is a wonderful family event that features hands-on exploration activities with earth and space scientists.

WHAT
ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration's annual Earth and Space Exploration Day - This annual event, hosted by Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration, has experienced remarkable growth over the past several years. Staffed by the school's faculty, researchers and students, the event is an opportunity for children and the general public to engage with scientists and researchers one-on-one or in small group settings. Earth and Space Exploration Day is one of the school's most visible efforts to increase science literacy in Arizona.

WHEN
Saturday, Nov. 7, 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.

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.

A list of activities is available on the event's website:
http://sese.asu.edu/earth-and-space-exploration-day.

Pre-registration is encouraged to ensure that visitors are able to secure tickets for the astronomy shows and other ticketed activities. Public parking is free in any ASU lot south of University Avenue on Nov. 10. 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.

NOTE FOR EDUCATORS / TROOP LEADERS
Student visitors can get their event "passport" stamped upon completion of an activity. After the event, some teachers and troop leaders collect the "passports" and award extra-credit or badges based upon the number/types of passport stamps. Free teacher resources will be available such as educator packets, hand-outs, supplies and posters, as well as contacts for outreach and more educational interactions with ASU scientists and students.

Personal Note:
Here's a picture from a few years ago when we enjoyed this event with cousins who came from out of state.  It was very inspiring to these children since several of them are interested in pursuing STEM careers in the future.  Even the toddler enjoyed the experience (well, at least until he lost patience with the picture taking process).

NAGC Parent Day and Kid Program Scholarship Opportunity

An affiliate of the National Association for Gifted Children

Arizona Association for Gifted & Talented (AAGT) is excited to announce the 2015 National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference Parent Day and Kid Program Scholarship opportunity! 

Parent Day will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 8:30a - 4:30p during the NAGC Conference.

Parent Day is a one-day event during the upcoming annual NAGC Conference that gives parents tools, information, and networking opportunities to help them support their children’s optimal development and ensure their continued growth. Each grade group (K-8) will enjoy a full day of classroom activity run by student teachers from ASU and each will be joined by Joe Hudy to MAKE something and showcase it at the end of the day while the parents attend the formal Parent Day session.

Who is Joe Hudy? 

Joe is the youngest person Intel has ever hired through its corporate internship program, which traditionally is meant for talented college-age students AND he is from the Valley!

Below is the application/funding criteria:

• A limited number of partial scholarships are available to send parents and/or students to the NAGC Parent Day
• Parents and children from the same family can apply at the same time.
• Scholarship covers conference fees to attend the 62nd Annual NAGC Conference Parent Day, does not cover food & beverage, parking or lodging accommodations
• This scholarship is open to all parents and children in the state of Arizona
• Scholarship is open until all scholarship reserves are disbursed
• To view the full application, click HERE
• To apply, please call Robin Feldman at (202) 785-4268 or email her at rfeldman@nagc.org  
• For more information on Parent Day please click HERE.

Thank you to our generous sponsors for making this scholarship opportunity possible:

  

Gifted Education Parent Council - Gilbert Public Schools

Gathering Information helps us, as parents, to be prepared for the roller coaster of raising a gifted child.  Please join our Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted meetings when there is a guest lecture.  Also, get informed about what is happening with gifted education in Gilbert by contacting your campus’ representative for the Gifted Education Parent Council.  Each school has a parent representative who meets with members of GPS administration monthly, so you can have a voice.  Begin by being informed, and then you will be ready to be involved at any level.

The Heart of the Gifted Underachiever - Seminar 6/18/15

Do you wish to better understand the heart of a gifted underachieving child? 

If so, then you may be interested in the webinar hosted this week by SENG – the national organization Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted…

The Heart of the Gifted Underachiever 

Date: Thursday June 18, 2015
(NEW DATE!)

Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern [90 mins.]  

Presenter: Josh Shaine
Fee: $40 ($30 for SENG members)

In a time when even the former foremost advocate for gifted children has turned its focus back to achievement and even eminence, where is the place for the gifted child who is not achieving?

Educational research is filled with explanations about the impact of expectations on our students, our children. Yet we have this set of children for whom there were sky high expectations by teachers and parents, but whose response bears no resemblance to the authority figures' dreams and hopes.

We will spend a little time on the history of the field, but mostly we will look at the kids - and at the long term implications of being a gifted "underachiever." 

REGISTER on the SENG Senginar webpage

(some senginars may not be available for registration so check back if it isn't)

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Josh Shaine has been working with gifted students of all ages for more than 25 years, including many years teaching, administrating, advising, and sometimes directing programs for 7th - 12th graders through MIT's Educational Studies Program.

He has taught at public, private, and alternative schools, as well as working with special needs students who were either at home or institutionalized for a number of public school districts in several different states.

Shaine has served on the boards of directors of the Hollingworth Center for Gifted Children, Kids College, the Massachusetts Association for Gifted Children, the New England Conference for Gifted and Talented, the NH Association for Gifted Children, and Voyagers Homeschool Cooperative.

He currently organizes and presents at conferences around the country, including the Beyond IQ conferences in Boston, Chicago, and the West Coast. 

NAGC 2015 Annual Convention and Exhibition in Phoenix

Mark your calendar to attend the largest annual convention devoted to gifted and talented learners.  It will be held on November 12-15 in Phoenix!  It is a rare treat to have this event in Arizona. This event will be hosted by the NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children).

People who would benefit from attending are:

Classroom teachers, gifted/talented coordinators, school administrators, parents, college & university faculty, researchers, and more.

There will be a Parent Day and Kids Program on Saturday, November 14th.  NAGC Parent Day is "a one-day event that gives parents tools, information, and networking opportunities to help them support their children's optimal development and ensure their continued growth." This event is being co-hosted with AAGT (Arizona Association for Gifted Children).  Click HERE for more information. 

Registration will open for the Parents and Kids even sometime in June. It appears that the Parent Day event will be $45 per person and the Kids Program will be $35 per person (no meals included).

Click HERE to see pricing and register for the annual convention.  Early bird and group discounts available through September 21st.

Gifted Summer Summit 2015

Click HERE to see an enlarged flyer.

There will be a Gifted Summer Summit on Thursday, July 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Chandler High School.  The $99 per registration includes light breakfast and lunch.  This is open to teachers and parents of gifted students and anyone with a curiosity and desire to learn.

Registration is required and space is limited.  Click HERE to register or visit our website GilbertGifted.org events page for more info.

The keynote speaker will be Jim Delisle who has worked on behalf of gifted children and teens for more than three decades. As both a teacher and counselor, Jim learned how essential it is for people to understand that giftedness is more than simply "being smart"--it is the height of one's thinking and the depth of one's emotions that are the hallmarks of growing up gifted. The author of 17 books that have been published in multiple languages, Jim continues to consult with schools worldwide in an effort to increase awareness of the needs of gifted children and adults.

Other session topics include:
• Build it Big! - Future City Program • Social Media for the Gifted Classroom • Developing a Growth Mindset in our Students • Extension Menus for the Cluster Classroom • Learning To Exhale - Helping manage anxiety • Scattered but Smart - Organization strategies for gifted students • The “G Word” - grading the interdisciplinary unit • Math Application in the Upper Elementary Classroom.

For the Love of Fonts

By Tawnya Sherman

Fonts have saved my gifted son from turning in sloppy projects!  There is such pride in turning in an assignment that has been typed.  Feeling like a cool grown-up comes into play.

When an assignment comes up, we talk about what font might represent the topic.  He will want to get started because that is a fun step and doesn’t seem so daunting.  “How do you want to grab audience attention?” can refer to both the introduction to the essay, as well as the font.

Fonts have helped my son realize that words can paint pictures.  By looking for a scary font, my child has to think about what scared looks like.  Then when he goes to write, his mind is ready to write using descriptive words.

An intellectual character from the TV series, The Middle, has a true passion for fonts.  It might be fun to show your child the videos below so he/she could get on the bandwagon.  J

§  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nL-8H61Aiw

§  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MXYab-_Zs8

Summer Programs - 2015

SUMMER ACTIVITY & PROGRAM INFORMATION

If you are still looking for summer activities for your children, a brief list of ideas is provided below. 

HAPPY SUMMER!

Gilbert

·         Camp Invention  for gifted students, grades 2-6, at Gilbert Elementary

·         Lego-based Science Camp at Houston Elementary, provided by Bonanza Educational

·         GPS Club Discovery

·         Gilbert Park & Recreation Summer Guide

·         VEX IQ Robotics Camp at Imagine West Schools

 ASU

·         Search ASU summer camps by ASU campus location as well as your child’s grade level and interests

Mesa

·         Mesa Community College - Summer Youth Camps

·         Mesa Parks & Recreation  - Summer programs

·         Mesa Unified School District – Summer programs

2015 Summer Reading Programs

·         Barnes & Noble:  Imagination’s Destination

·         Maricopa County Library system:  Every Hero Has a Story

Family outings in Arizona

·         For attractions and events across the state, visit the Arizona Tourism Guide

·         Museum listings for museums located in central Arizona

Aquatic Venues

·         Chandler Aquatic Centers

·         Gilbert Spring & Summer Splash Guide

·         Mesa pools

·         Splash Pads in the South East Valley

Camp Invention Summer 2015 - Registration and Scholarship Information

Here's a link to CampInvention's channel and a link to the Camp Invention website if you'd like to learn more.

If you have a gifted child who will be participating in a Summer camp program AAGT is offering scholarships! Applications are due May 15th! Details and application are located HERE.

Guest Lecture - "How to Articulate Your Gifted Child's Needs and Find a Program to Match" - 4/9/15

Please join us for our quarterly guest lecture this Thursday, April 9th, from 7:00-8:15 p.m. at the Greenfield Elementary Library.

Stephanie Newitt will be our speaker and will address how to identify and define our gifted child's needs and will give advice about what questions we can ask to determine how those needs are being met in academic settings.

With changes in Gifted Education coming to Gilbert Public Schools for the 2015-2016 school year, it is important for parents to know how to seek out learning environments that are well matched to their gifted child.

Hope to see you there!

Guest Lecture - Change of Plans for April 9, 2015

We originally planned to hear from Nancy Eisenbise about non-verbal/visual spatial learners but we will have to reschedule it for next school year because the speaker isn't able to attend due to an unexpected conflict.  We look forward to hearing from Nancy at a later date.

We have this lecture offered instead on 4/9/15.

GPS Gifted Education Update

It is important to collect the facts before one leaps into speculation.  To that end, there will be a GPS School Board work study this Tuesday, March 17^th, where the ALP department will be sharing their recommended budget for 2015-16 to the school board.  The work study begins at 6:30 pm.  You can view the work study agenda here on BoardDocs.   You are invited to attend the work study in person at the district office – 6:30pm at 140 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert AZ 85296.  Or you can view the work study via the district’s Livestream Link from their website. 

At a work study:

1.       There is no open comment time for members of the public to address the board.  However, the public can attend and observe the presentation.

2.       The GPS school board cannot vote to take any action.  A work study is for district Q&A only, which the public can observe.

The next school board meeting is Tuesday, March 31^st, at 7pm.  At school board meetings:

1.       Members of the public can request to speak to the school board for a maximum of 3 minutes during the open comment portion of the agenda.

2.       The school board will vote on actions to take.  Specifically at the March 31^stmeeting, they will vote regarding department budget recommendations.

We need to remember that though gifted education is mandated in AZ, the state COMPLETELY DEFUNDED gifted education in 2009, leaving districts to fund gifted education from their general fund.   An override was placed on the ballot here in Gilbert in 2012 and again in 2013.  An override allows a community to directly invest in local education since the state budget has dealt increasing cuts to public education, including not funding to the inflation factor even though it was mandated by law.  However, in both 2012 and 2013 the override failed at the ballot and so those local funds have not been renewed and are therefore phasing out to zero.  Gilbert Public Schools will be facing a $8-10million cut to its budget for 2015-16.  For more information about the GPS budget, you are invited to view this GPS budget presentation which was given to the GPS Parent-Superintendent Committee in February 2015. 

We hope you are aware that GPS is in its second year of having a Gifted Education Parent Council (GEPC) similar to the GPS Special Education Parent Council (SEPC).  After viewing the March 17th work study you are invited to contact your school rep on the GEPC to see when/how additional information will be distributed.  You can find out who your GEPC rep is from your principal.  It is important to collect the facts before we leap into speculation. 

The philosophy of gifted education is worth remembering – To identify and support student strengths while also providing support for student deficits. This is not just good gifted education, but good education for all. When gifted education is supported, this philosophy can permeate throughout the community and every student can feel the benefit of such a philosophy.  

-Stephanie Newitt

ASU Barrett Summer Scholars Information session coming to GPS on February 25th

On Wednesday, February 25th, at 6:00 pm, the ASU Barrett Summer Scholars Program will be at the Greenfield Jr high school library to share information about their summer programs. 

The Barrett Summer Scholars (BSS) program provides students with the opportunity to experience college firsthand and prepare for enrollment and success at Arizona State University and Barrett, the Honors College. BSS sessions at ASU are designed for academically-talented and motivated students who are currently in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. This residential summer program invites students to live on campus, engage in college-level coursework, and participate in a community of peers from across the state. Students who participate are given the unique opportunity to pursue their intellectual curiosity while interacting with like-minded students who share their interests and abilities. Furthermore, participants are enrolled in a variety of challenging courses on topics not typically presented at their grade level.

For more details please click here to visit the ASU Barrett Summer Scholars Program website.   

Many thanks to Greenfield Junior High School for hosting this information session for our GPS community.

ASU Night of the Open Door - 2015

ASU is sponsoring this wonderful "Night of the Open Door" event at their various campuses.  Open to kids, students, educators, parents, alumni, or anyone who loves learning.

Polytechnic: Feb. 20, 2015 • 5-8:30 p.m.

Tempe: Feb. 28, 2015 • 4-9 p.m.

West: Mar. 28, 2015, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Here is some information from their website:

Arizona State University is a founding member of Arizona SciTech Festival and Night of the Open Door is a signature event, one of the top in the state. Based on a long-running, portal-busting event held each year in Berlin, Germany, this event is held annually, hosting hands-on activities, laboratory tours, book readings, video games; featuring ASU scientists and cutting edge art and research; and opening doors to museums and world-class plant and animal collections. Whether it's a multimedia performance or astronomy show or a sit down with ASU students or faculty to talk about volcanoes, Navajo stories of the stars or Mayan discoveries, it is a night to get behind the scenes and engage with the creative invention that is ASU’s signature blend of science, engineering, art and the humanities.

Spearheaded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with partners - the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and the Biodesign Institute and other ASU partners in 2012 - Night of the Open Door has grown to encompass four campuses, 1,000 volunteers and offerings for just about everyone. So whether you are a kid or a kid-at-heart, a prospective or current student, K-12 educator, life-long learner, alumnus, a Sparky fan, entrepreneur or curious how to build your very own “Birthquake,” Open Door events create the few evenings a year where you can step in and discover what inspires our faculty and staff, artistic, educational and research partners and puts our students in the driver's seat for some of the most innovative solutions and inspiring discoveries in the world.

Register today, follow on twitter and come explore!   

Offered at several campuses (click link for more info). 

Earth and Science Exploration Day at ASU - October 25th

Be sure to attend the Earth and Space Exploration Day this month on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on the ASU Tempe campus (ISTB 4).

Earth and Space Exploration day is a free annual fall event hosted by ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration, an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

This event features special science-related activities for students age five and up, families, educators and anyone interested in exploring Earth and space alongside real scientists. Explore ISTB 4's Gallery of Scientific Exploration with its variety of interactive exhibits and enjoy a 3-D astronomy show in the Marston Exploration Theater. 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!  For more information, visit the event website 

Gifted 101 Meeting

One of the most important themes to take away from a Gilbert Supporters of the Gifted meeting, is that information creates understanding and power.  As parents, if we are informed about the characteristics, the strengths, the frequent behaviors, and the weakness of our gifted children, then we can facilitate more success in the home and in school.  There is a support system here.  You are not alone.  Feel free to view some of the documents that were passed out during the initial Gifted 101 meeting on September 4th.  We hope to see you again on November 13th.