February 2007

Greetings!

Hello Educators Guild Members!  Many of you will remember the monthly posts of last year, but for those of you who are new to the program, we would like to introduce our Educators Guild Post.  It is a monthly broadcast focused on resources for classroom teachers.  We hope you will find this issue helpful, and we look forward to offering more next month.

Presentations:

The Educators Guild Team has been busy preparing and teaching an introductory course on gifted education.

EDS 693:  Introduction to Gifted Education - What you must know to affect change (11/17/06 - 11/18/06)
This introductory course gave teachers of K-12 an overview of gifted education in their area, and in the nation, as well as the various issues gifted students, schools and parents face and how to effectively make change to improve the challenges they encounter.  We’re sorry you missed it, but you can check out the presentations below!  If you would like more information, please contact us at edguild@ditd.org.  Please note that Power Point is required to view these files.

·         Characteristics and Social-Emotional Concerns

This presentation offers several characteristics of gifted students including perfectionism, intensity and asynchrony.  Learn ways educators can help gifted students who struggle with social and emotional issues. 

·         Academics

Academics and various learning styles of gifted students are discussed in this presentation.  Discover some strategies in working with gifted students who often underachieve.  

·         Twice-exceptionalities

What does it mean to be twice-exceptional?  This presentation addresses characteristics of gifted students who have learning disabilities.  Find out more information on Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD and ADHD. 

·         How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds

Get over being normal!  You’re teaching an exceptional child!  Take a look at some cost-effective interventions schools can take to educate gifted students

·         Gifted Curriculum and Instruction

This presentation proposes a developmentally-responsive curriculum and instruction for exceptionally gifted learners.  It also offers a quick review of Jean Piaget and the developmental stages.

·         Parents of Gifted Students

Have you ever wondered how a gifted student acts at home?  There are often many similarities between gifted students and their parents.  Find out how you might deal with an intense parent.

·         Online Resources

Many online resources in gifted education are offered in this presentation, including searchable databases, accredited cyberschools, distance learning and talent searches.  Check out some easily accessible online options for your gifted student. 

WebQuests

A WebQuest is an inquiry-orientated activity in which all or most of the information used by learners is drawn from the Internet.  A WebQuest is designed to utilize the learner’s time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support the learner’s thinking at levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

• A Rubric for Evaluating WebQuests, San Diego State University (Ed Guild Post April 26, 2006)

Here you'll find a ready-made template for scoring or evaluating student WebQuest projects, complete with scoring categories. Checklists with additional scoring criteria to evaluate project fine points are also provided.

• Media Literacy...Add Your Point (Language Arts: grades 6-8)

In this project students will learn about Media Literacy. They will experience analyzing ads and then they will produce an ad that makes a public service point of their choice.

• What is the most economical way to visit the Seven (Math/Social Studies: grades 3-5)

Students must find a way to visit the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  They will be working as a travel agent at World Travel Agency.  A potential client wants to visit the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  He has already seen several other travel agencies with the same request.  Students must find the most economical and quickest way for this client to travel.

• Boil, Boil, Toil and Trouble: The International Boiling Point Project (Science: grades 6-12)

The purpose of this project is to discover which factor in the experiment (room temperature, elevation, volume of water, or heating device) has the greatest influence on boiling point. Students will analyze all of the data submitted by participants to determine this.

THINK Summer Institute, a program offered by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development

Gifted students interested in a challenging academic summer program should consider attending the THINK Summer Institute on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. This intense 3-week residential summer program offers 60 exceptionally gifted 12 -15 year-old students the opportunity to earn up to seven transferable college credits.

Qualifications for THINK:

• Be 12-15 years of age during THINK.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident living in the United States.
• Meet or exceed the designated scores on the SAT or ACT as listed on How to Apply.
• Commit to being a full-time student from July 14 to August 4, with no absences.
• Receive positive nominations from three individuals as specified on the application.

Applications will be accepted on a space-available basis until March 30, 2007.