[Ohiogift] News from NAGC

Thu May 14 15:07:48 EDT 2015

To view this whole link-enabled article online, go here:
http://multibriefs.com/briefs/nagc/NAGC051415.php

NAGC Compass Points

News from NAGC

From Where I Sit
My Son Had an Amazing Year
By Erin Gribben, NAGC Parent Member

I gave to NAGC's Annual Fund this year because I saw thedifference my son's teachers and NAGC resources have made in our lives. Iwanted to show my gratitude by making donations in honor of Spencer'smath/science teacher and his gifted specialist. They provided endless support,love and encouragement, and I have no doubt that his successes came from theirjoint efforts.

I live with my husband and two children in a small town in Tennessee, south of Nashville.Like most parents of a gifted child, I struggled with how to have Spencerproperly identified and then later with whether acceleration was the bestchoice for him. I worried that he wouldn't fit in. Grade advancement is such ahard decision, and the first two months were emotional and scary. Theuncertainty about making such a huge decision for your child is a heavy weightto carry. Shortly after Spencer began third grade my fears seemed justifiedwhen he came home one day and asked: "Would it be too late for me to goback to second grade?" If it hadn't been for the support of Spencer'steacher and gifted specialist, we might have given up. More:
http://multibriefs.com/briefs/nagc/0514_fromwhereisit.pdf

Network Awards Deadline Approaching
Several NAGC Networks honor individuals and organizationswith awards. Check out these opportunities to recognize the efforts of a fellowNAGC member. Here are few to consider with upcoming deadlines. Check out the fulllist:
http://www.nagc.org/get-involved/nagc-networks-and-special-interest-groups/network-awards

  *   NAGC's Curriculum Studies Network recognizescurriculum units that are appropriately challenging for use with gifted students ingifted classrooms or with gifted students grouped in heterogeneous classrooms.See the Curriculum Awards page on the NAGC website before the June 1 deadlinefor more information. Go here:
http://www.nagc.org/get-involved/nagc-networks-and-special-interest-groups/networks-curriculum-studies/network-awards

  *   The Professional Development Award is givenby the Professional 
Development Network for sustained professional developmenton gifted education for either preK-12 or higher education providers. Thedeadline is July 1 and submission materials are available online:
http://www.nagc.org/get-involved/nagc-networks-and-special-interest-groups/networks-professional-development

  *   Global Awareness Network / Annemarie RoeperGlobal Awareness Award
The annual award is given to one organization or institutionand one individual who honors the legacy and work of Annemarie Roeper. Thedeadline for 2015 award nominations is Aug. 1. All nominations are submitted online:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1faELdlo-u96MwyGslJ8h4kFAVwGJh8Z10v6TfhGIG8s/viewform?c=0&w=1

Explore NAGC's Career Center for New JobPossibilities
Quest Academy in Palatine, Illinois (outside Chicago),is looking for:
  *   Elementary School physical education teacher:
http://careers.nagc.org/jobs/7098142
  *   Math teacher (algebra, pre-calc, geometry,math enrichment):
http://careers.nagc.org/jobs/7119457

NAGC Association Editor Search
NAGC is now seeking applications from individuals interestedin serving as the Association Editor. The role of Association Editor involvesthe collaborative oversight of publication activities for the organization inconjunction with the Board of Directors and the National Office. The volunteerposition also involves 
chairing the Publications Committee, made up of the editorsof Gifted Child Quarterly, Parenting for High Potential and Teaching forHigh Potential, as well as members-at-large appointed by the NAGC president. Application deadline is June 15. Find more:
http://www.nagc.org/about-nagc/who-we-are/nagc-board-directors/nagc-association-editor-search

Teacher's Corner
Summer Work
By Jeff Danielian, NAGC Teacher Resource Specialist andeditor, Teaching for High Potential 
The school year is flying by, and with the summer breakaround the corner, days feel more like minutes. I have often commented aboutthe common misconception that educators and students have the summer off, butin reality, there is summer work to be done, whether assigned or voluntary.Here are a few suggestions for both the student and the educator seekinglearning opportunities during this extended time away from the classroom, in an online article and .pdf file:
http://multibriefs.com/briefs/nagc/0514_teacherscorner.pdf

PRODUCT SHOWCASES
Meaningful Stories, Creative Curriculum
Imagine creating an Edgar Allan Poe horror scene? Eco-DisruptionRadio Drama? Daily Show parody, with special guest, PI?
Meridian Stories is a non-profit offering innovative digitalnarrative resources, activities and Challenges where students collaborate,problem-solve, create and playfully compete against other schools, nationwide.Join the Meridian community, fall 2015, here:
http://www.meridianstories.com/

Sterling Kilgore
http://sterlingkilgore.com/
Let's reach the next level together
From strategic marketing plan development to effectivepublic relations and social media marketing programs, when you choose Sterling you will trulyadd to your staff with a partner that is just as committed to yourbusiness’s success as you are.

Frog Publications
http://www.frog.com/
Frog Family Fun-Pack Level D Math. Complete 24-week programfor homework, test preparation, and parent involvement! Serves up to 24students reviewing 4th-grade skills.

Free Webinars for NAGC Members Focus on Teaching AdvancedLearners
NAGC now for this three-webinar series pulled from the pagesof Teaching for High Potential (THP). NAGC Webinars on Wednesday — WOW — offershigh-quality educational content presented by experts in the field who writefor THP. Participate live and take advantage of the opportunity to posequestions to or share your experiences with presenters and other attendees.Your registration includes access to a multimedia recording, handouts and otherresources. These WOWs are free to NAGC members, but you must be registered totune in:
http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/nagc/

June 10
Noon - 1 p.m. ET

Choosing High Quality Curriculum for Gifted and TalentedLearners
Jennifer G. Beasley, Assistant Professor and Assistant Headof Department of 
Curriculum and Instruction, Universityof Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

What do we know about high-quality curriculum for gifted andtalented learners? This session will address best practices in high-qualitycurriculum and specifically curriculum that meets the needs of advancedlearners. One tool for determining high-quality curriculum is the NAGC CurriculumRubric used to analyze and evaluate winning curriculum units. Each of the12 key features of the rubric will be explained and examples provided thatdetermine quality. We will tour the Curriculum Studies webpage and the websitethat houses all of the winning curriculum units for further follow up. The webinaris inspired from Jennifer Beasley's upcoming NAGC Select e-book on the topic.Go here:
https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/shopping/shopping.aspx?site=nagc&webcode=shopping&shopsearchcat=merchandise&productcat=live%20webinars&prd_key=87ff6b54-2fa8-41ed-a9ec-2e17c4edcf92

June 17
Noon - 1 p.m. ET

Technology Untangled: Past, Present, and Future
Brian Housand, Associate Professor and co-coordinator of theAcademically and Intellectually Gifted Program, EastCarolina University,Greenville,North Carolina

From 2007 to 2014, Brian Housand wrote the column"Technology Untangled" for NAGC's Teaching for High Potential (THP). During that time,he saw a number of technology trends come and go while others stood the test oftime. Join Brian as he explores why some trends continue and others faded awayand how teachers can meaningfully choose tech tools to integrate into theirlearning environments. New tech tools and resources for the present and futurewill be highlighted and shared. Go here:
https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/shopping/shopping.aspx?site=nagc&webcode=shopping&shopsearchcat=merchandise&productcat=live%20webinars&prd_key=66101089-f58f-4132-8ea8-90ce86f744ac

June 24
Noon - 1 p.m. ET

Changing the Culture: Developing Creative Problem Solvers
Eric L. Mann, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Hope College,Holland, Michigan

Mathematics embraces creativity and beauty, yet often ourchildren are immersed in classroom activities where these attributes are hidden byan overemphasis on algorithms, computational speed and known answers that canbe found in the back of the book or with a quick Google search. From the research,we know that many students have negative attitudes toward mathematics, whichmay foster the 
development of reluctant, impatient problem solvers. Toovercome these issues, Eric Mann calls for a change in the culture to one that bothacknowledges and values the creative nature of mathematics. Explore what itmeans to be a creative problem solver and how embracing the creativity ofour students fosters positive and productive attitudes in mathematics and theSTEM disciplines. Go here:
https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/shopping/shopping.aspx?site=nagc&webcode=shopping&shopsearchcat=merchandise&productcat=live%20webinars&prd_key=6869a984-7f98-4bf4-9260-f8c0b7cb8626

From the Headlines

Skip a Grade? Start Kindergarten Early? It's Not So Easy 
National Public Radio
On the first day of school, perhaps the only person morediscussed than the "new kid" is the "new kid who skipped a grade."Words like "gifted," "brilliant" and "genius" get thrown around to describe thesestudents. Education researchers generally refer to them as "accelerated." It's acatch-all term to describe 
students who have either entered kindergarten early,grade-skipped or taken single subjects above grade level. Part of the hype comesfrom how uncommon it is. More:
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/04/30/401980669/skip-a-grade-start-kindergarten-early-its-not-so-easy

How Does a Teacher's Race Affect Which Students AreIdentified as Gifted? 
The WashingtonPost
Black students are more likely to be identified as"gifted" when they attend schools with higher proportions of black teachers, accordingto a new study, and Latino students are more likely to be called gifted whenthey go to schools with more Latino teachers. The study doesn't get at why there issuch a correlation, but it adds another layer to a long-simmering debate aboutwhy black and Latino children are less likely to be called "gifted"than their white and Asian peers. More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/22/how-does-a-teachers-race-affect-which-students-get-to-be-identified-as-gifted/

Here's Where You're Going to Find the Best Schools in theWorld 
BBC News
The biggest ever global school rankings have been published,with Asian countries in the top five places and African countries atthe bottom. Singaporeheads the table, followed by Hong Kong, with Ghana at thebottom. The UKis in 20th place, among higher achieving European countries, withthe U.S.in 28th. More:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32608772

What the Future Economy Means for How Kids Learn Today 
MindShift
If you were only to listen to politicians and policymakers,you could be forgiven for harboring two delusions: first, that the solepurpose of schooling is to create the workforce of the future; second, that theonly place that our students learn is at school. If you believe that preparationfor work is at least a part of education;s function, at what point doeducators have a responsibility to face the radically changing employmentpatterns facing our students? And how can we rethink schooling to complement,not compete with, their informal learning? More:
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/05/08/what-the-future-economy-means-for-how-kids-learn-today/

New Study Suggests Gifted Students Can Still Get Left Behindin School 
ISchoolGuide
A group of researchers released an updated version of astudy on gifted children and the risk they may face in school. The updated studyrevealed gifted students are also at risk of getting left behind in school,addressing the myth that acceleration is detrimental to a student. The originalreport focused on the belief that skipping grade levels can negatively impact achild's schooling. More:
http://www.ischoolguide.com/articles/11782/20150512/suggests-gifted-students-still-left-behind-school.htm

Gifted Education Is About the Whole Child 
Education Week
Celi Trépanier writes: Face it, the vast majority of peoplethink that gifted children are the smart, high-achieving students in aspecial, sometimes elitist program at school. It's a universal miconception. When I wasan education student in college, the elementary school where I wasstudent-teaching had a 
full-time gifted program. The classroom had no desks — thegifted students got to sit in bean bags for their instructional time instead. More:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/05/13/gifted-education-is-about-the-whole-child.html

Some Schools Embrace Demands for Education Data 
The New York Times
In a small suburb outside Milwaukee,no one in the Menomonee Falls School District escapes the rigorous demands of data. Custodiansmonitor dirt under bathroom sinks, while the high school cafeteria supervisortracks parent and student surveys of lunchroom food preferences.Administrators record monthly tallies of student disciplinary actions, and teachers postscatter plot diagrams of quiz scores on classroom walls. Even kindergartners usebrightly colored dots on charts to show how many letters or short words they canrecognize. More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/us/school-districts-embrace-business-model-of-data-collection.html?_r=0

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