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March 2014 |
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What's New in Gifted Education | Davidson News | Legislative & Policy News | On the Web | In the News | In the
Spotlight
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What's New in Gifted Education
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Intel Science Talent Search –
Recognizing America's Brightest Young Scientists
 The potential of America's youth to change the world through
scientific innovation was prominently
displayed recently, as the Intel Corporation and Society for Science & the Public (SSP) recognized the winners of the
2014 Intel Science Talent Search (STS).
Eric Chen won the top award of $100,000 for his research
that could lead to a new class of drugs to control influenza
outbreaks during a pandemic; second place winner Kevin Lee
was awarded $75,000 for his development of a mathematical
model to describe the shape of the heart, which could
provide insights into arrhythmia and may lead to better
treatments; and third place finisher
William Kuszmaul,
a 2013 Davidson Fellow, received $50,000 for developing a new approach to the mathematics of modular enumeration, which has applications
to numerous problems in computer science, bioinformatics and computational
biology.
Congratulations to 2013 Davidson Fellow
Natalie Ng, who was the fifth place
finisher for developing a diagnostic tool to more accurately predict the spread of breast cancer cells, and 2012 Davidson Fellow
Anand Srinivasan,
who was the eighth place finisher for his
neural-network-based computer model, which “learns” patterns in DNA. View the
press release and
click here for a detailed description of each of the finalists' projects. Sources:
Los Angeles Times,
NBC News
Gifted Education Webinars
A number of gifted organizations and
advocates across the country provide access to gifted
education experts and resources through a unique channel -
webinars.
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) - Webinars On Wednesdays
 NAGC offers
Webinars On Wednesdays (WOW) to
directly provide gifted experts to classroom teachers, counselors, graduate students, parents, GT coordinators and administrators, sharing practical advice and updates on the latest issues in gifted education. Upcoming webinars
include: A Twice-Exceptional Discussion to Help Teachers and Parents Better Advocate for Services; Creating a Diversity Toolbox for Gifted Education;
and more! Experience the live WOW sessions to listen, view slides, access handouts, and pose questions to presenters, as well as interact with other participants. All prior WOW sessions
are available on their website.
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted Webinars (SENGinars)
 SENG’s webinars (SENGinars) provide convenient access to many of the top
experts in the gifted field discussing issues related to the
social and emotional needs of the gifted. These 90-minute
webinars are designed expressly for parents, educators and
mental health professionals who work with gifted children.
The webinars are $40 per person and include a link to the
recording and slides one week after the presentation.
Upcoming webinars include: The Role of Gifted Youth and
Community in Creating Positive Solutions to the Trauma of
Bullying; Beyond Academics - Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted; and more!
Other Webinars
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) Seeks High-Performing 7th Graders
 The
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF)
is seeking high-performing 7th
graders with financial need for its
Young Scholars Program.
Selected students have access to an educational adviser and
services, which may include help planning a suitable
academic course load, summer academic and enrichment program
opportunities, study-abroad and community-service
opportunities, lessons to develop music, art, or other
talents, college and career counseling, and the opportunity
to network with the larger JKCF Scholar community. The
application is now open and will close March 20.
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Davidson News
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 The Davidson Academy of Nevada
A free public school, The Davidson Academy of Nevada
encourages and supports the abilities, strengths, and interests of profoundly gifted middle and high school students who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ or college entrance
tests, such as the SAT or ACT. If you are interested in applying to The Davidson Academy for the 2014-2015 school year,
the final application deadline is
April 1. Please visit the
How to Apply,
Qualification Criteria and the
Application Review Process
pages for more information.
Prospective
students interested in receiving email updates about the
Academy can subscribe to
The Davidson Academy eNewsletter by
clicking here.
2014 THINK Summer Institute
 With
an application deadline of April 1,
the THINK Summer Institute
is a three-week residential summer program on the
campus of the University of Nevada, Reno where
students can earn up to six college credits by
completing two university courses. The 2014 THINK
Summer Institute will run from July 12 through Aug.
2. Tuition is $3,400 and covers course credits,
books and materials, room and board and the cost of
planned activities. Need-based scholarships are
available. To qualify, students must be 13 to 16
years old during THINK and must meet or exceed a
composite SAT score of 1130 (excludes writing
portion) or ACT score of 26. Homeschooled students are eligible to apply.
 Davidson
Young Scholars
The
Davidson Young Scholars program provides FREE services designed to nurture and support profoundly gifted young people and their families, including talent development and educational advocacy, an online community, annual get-togethers, and the Ambassador Program. Applications are due the first of each month. For more information, see the
How to Apply and Qualification Criteria
pages.
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Legislative & Policy News
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ALABAMA –
State Senator Arthur Orr has sponsored a bill that would provide more gifted education funding for state school districts. If the bill becomes law this year, it is unlikely money will be available until fiscal
year 2016. Source:
Times Daily
The Huntsville City school board has hired three new consultants to help with the district’s gifted and advanced programs. Source:
al.com
ARKANSAS – After recently voting on whether to turn Geyer Springs Elementary School into an academy only for gifted and talented children, the Little Rock School District announced the school will only serve grades 3-5 as "gifted and talented.” Source:
THV-11
COLORADO – The House Education Committee recently passed a spending bill intended to improve gifted and talented education at a cost of $5 million. Elements of House Bill 14-1102 would require that districts hire qualified gifted and talented coordinators, and also evaluate all students to determine gifted and talented status before the third grade. The bill will now be sent to the House Appropriations Committee. Source:
Chalkbeat Colorado
GEORGIA – Columbus State University recently announced that it is developing an Honors College to broaden opportunities for current and future gifted students. Source:
WTVM
 ILLINOIS – A recent three-month audit of the Oswego City School District gifted education program revealed the need for a major overhaul. Recommendations included a more centralized oversight of the gifted program and a general screening process in second or third grade. Source:
Aurora Beacon News
The Elgin-based School District U-46 is settling its long-standing case that caused the district to revise how it assesses students for gifted education programs. Source:
Elgin Courier News
NEVADA – About $178,000 will be spent to universally test all 19,900 second graders at Clark County’s poorest, highest-minority schools, designed to increase minority students’ representation in the district’s gifted and talented education programs. Source:
Las Vegas Review-Journal
MISSOURI – Officials in the Maryville R-2 School District are hoping to launch a Talented and Gifted program for exceptional
first through eighth graders in the district next school year. Source:
KMAland
MISSISSIPPI – The Rankin County School District plans to
replace its high school gifted program with Advanced Placement and
dual-enrollment courses, citing dwindling enrollment and competition from
elective and college-credit courses for the decision. Source:
Jackson Clarion Ledger
NEW JERSEY – A new gifted and talented program for middle school students will debut in
the Trenton Public School District next fall. To be invited to participate in the program, a student must be high-performing based on three of seven measures
- test scores, grades, performance, art or science projects, intelligence testing, teacher or administration recommendation, and parent or student recommendation. Source:
The Star Ledger
WASHINGTON – A local committee of teachers and parents in the
Sunnyside School District recently met to develop a plan for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to address the needs of the district’s gifted students. The plan will call for enhanced and deeper study challenges of all subject matter in the curriculum. Source:
Daily Sun News
Beginning in September, the Port Angeles School District will start a program to serve gifted and talented students in all grades. Source:
Peninsula Daily
WISCONSIN – The Trevor-Wilmot school district has expanded its gifted and talented programming to include a mixed-age class for students at one of its elementary schools. The class takes the place of reading and language arts for the students taking part in the program. Source:
Kenosha News
How gifted-friendly is your state? Find out
on the
Davidson Gifted Database State Policy Map.
If you know of new legislation, please contact the Communications Team.
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On the Web
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Gifted Exchange Blog
Read Laura Vanderkam's take on all things gifted.
One of her recent posts is, "Bedtime math is back!" Join the discussion
today!
Twice Exceptional (2e) Newsletter - "Spotlight on 2e" Series
 The
Twice-Exceptional Newsletter, is the only publication aimed squarely at
the intersection of giftedness and learning challenges. Published by the newsletter, the
Spotlight on 2e Series includes
10 titles, with more planned in the future: Parenting Your Twice-exceptional Child;
Understanding Your Twice-exceptional Student; Understanding the Gifted Child with Attention Deficit;
The Twice-exceptional Child with Asperger Syndrome; Guiding the Twice-exception Child: A Collection of Columns by Meredith Warshaw; The 2e Reading Guide: Essential Books for Understanding the Twice-exceptional Child;
Caring for the Mental Health of the Twice-exceptional Child; The Mythology of Learning: Understanding Common Myths about 2e Learners;
Writing and the 2e Learner: Issues and Strategies; and The Twice-exceptional Child with Dyslexia.
Featured Articles and Resources
The Davidson Gifted Database at www.DavidsonGifted.org/DB is a gateway to resources for
and about gifted students.
See what's new!
Summer
Camps
 Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG), a program of the
National Society for the Gifted and Talented (NSGT),
offers three-week academic summer camps for gifted and
talented students between the ages of 5 to 18. In addition to longstanding residential summer programs,
SIG has expanded to day and commuter summer programs as well as
SIG Beyond: Online programs that run during the academic year.
Locations include Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Chicago
and more.
 Application season
is continuing for The Epsilon Camp,
a two-week summer residential camp for exceptionally and profoundly gifted students ages 8
to 11 who love math. In 2014, the two-week summer residential camp will be held on the campus of Seattle Pacific University from July 27 through August 10. Epsilon Camp is an intellectually rigorous program for young students, taught by university professors of mathematics and directed by Dr. George Thomas, founder of MathPath and Canada/USA MathCamp. There is also a workshop designed to help parents build mathematical and social maturity in the EG/PG child. A unique feature of Epsilon Camp is apartment-style housing on campus for each family; at least one parent must attend with each child. Space is limited.
Epsilon Camp has also announced a new camp for similar students who are 6 and
7 years old, called
Delta Camp, which will
admit only 12 students in 2014 and run
concurrently with Epsilon Camp.
 For those interested in joining 80 mathematically ambitious high school students, 20 counselors, research mentors, faculty and guest lecturers for six weeks of rigorous mathematical exploration, Boston University's Programs in Mathematics for Young Scientists
(PROMYS) offers students full and partial need-based financial aid. PROMYS seeks to provide an environment for young people that will arouse their curiosity and encourage a deep personal involvement with the creative elements in mathematics. The application deadline for the 2014 session is April 15.
Articles
The article, Tips for Parents: Advocacy and Gifted Learners,
is from a seminar hosted by SaDohl Jones, who shares information related to advocacy.
The article, Tips for Parents: Anger Management for Your Gifted Child,
is from a seminar hosted by Kiesa Kay, who provides advice on approaching anger management in relation to gifted students.
The article, Tips for Parents: Raising Gifted Children Who Think for Themselves,
is from a seminar hosted by Paula Wilkes, who outlines several
characteristics of independent, self-directed learners.
Resources
The
Life of Fred book series
is an array of math and language arts books in which each text is written in the style of a novel with a humorous story line. Each section tells part of the life of Fred Gauss and how, in the course of his life, he encounters the need for math and language arts.
A companion guide to the book for parents, Make Your Worrier a Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Child's Fears, the book
From Worrier to Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Fears
is designed to teach students how to conquer the Worry Monster by using
several easy-to-follow strategies to overcome worry and fear.
One of the world's largest publishers of books for gifted students, the aim of
Royal Fireworks Press is to enhance the educational experience of gifted and talented children, and provide teachers, administrators and parents with
relevant books.
Suggest a Resource
Suggest an Article
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In the News
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March 16 -
Washington Post,
Why I no longer fear the SAT
(Jay Mathews)
March 16 -
Boston Globe,
The poor neglected gifted child
(Amy Crawford)
March 14 - Co.Design,
The One Extraordinary Skill All Prodigies Share
(Eric Jaffe)
March
11 - InsiderOnline,
No (Gifted) Child Left Behind
(Chester E. Finn)
March 10 - Minneapolis Star Tribune,
Minneapolis parents of gifted feel driven to Bloomington
(Steve Brandt)
March 6 - Creativity Post,
What Do IQ Tests Test?: Interview with Psychologist
(Scott Barry Kaufman)
March 6 -
New York Times,
The Story Behind the SAT Overhaul
(J. Brasher)
March 5 - Babble,
The Afflictions of Raising a Gifted Child
(Selena Mae)
March 3 - ChicagoNow,
My View on Gifted Education
(Annemarie Verweij)
March 3 - The Atlantic,
5-Year-Olds Can Learn Calculus
(Luba Vangelova)
March 2 - Washington Post,
Skipping a grade is rare, but it might just save the world
(Jay Mathews)
February 28 - Staunton News Leader,
Challenging students
(Megan Williams)
February 19 -
Education Views,
James Webb: Seminar on Gifted Kids and Adults
(Michael F. Shaughnessy)
February 16 - Washington Post,
Tough class? That's a good thing
(Jay Mathews)
Discuss these stories and
more on the
Gifted Issues Discussion Forum.
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In the
Spotlight
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William Graham, 14
A Davidson Young Scholar Making a Difference
 The purpose of the
Davidson Young Scholars
Ambassador Program is to foster learning and civic engagement through community service, volunteerism and leadership in highly motivated and mature Young Scholars. William's project
is The Luxasphere Project.
The overall goal of this project is to inspire a large conscious-raising international youth movement of utopian eco sustainability through the lens of architecture, design and innovative business. The Luxasphere strives to catch the attention of youth and teens early so that they are invested in these areas once they become adult consumers.
What are some past and present projects you’ve worked on to help make a positive difference in the lives of others?
For the last year I have been very involved in the Austin music community, organizing peer music shows for causes. I was the youngest artist to officially showcase at South by Southwest (SXSW) as both a solo artist and with my band, the Painted Redstarts. I started a night called the Proper Nang Night. We play music and raise money for
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), have had benefits for injured musicians,
created scholarship funds, held orchestras and more.
This summer I organized
and hosted, with my friend Grace London, the first annual Youngbloods
Festival, designed to raise money for our new nonprofit
called Music for Music which puts music where there
previously was none. This year all the money we've raised is going to
one of the least funded school districts in the United
States to help fund a music program from the ground up.
Music makes everyone feel great. I believe we can all make a
big difference through our passions. I want to continue to
find ways to raise awareness, especially with my peers,
about environmental issues and to raise money for important
causes through music.
For my Luxasphere Project I am writing for the Austin Chronicle to
raise awareness of music and eco issues alike. I am also
working on an innovative idea to change the way that
disaster relief areas are helped.
How has the Young Scholars program helped you to reach your goals and achieve your accomplishments?
The Young Scholars program has connected me to other students like myself, including a few in Austin. The Ambassador training program has been tremendous with all the support and the classes. It's like getting a personal MBA training. It's been
inspiring and educational. I feel so lucky to have been part of it.
Please describe your academic setting and some positive experiences with mentors.
My main mentor for the Luxasphere and for my architecture interests is Dr. Rachel Armstrong, a Sr. TED Global Fellow. I am almost done with my high school credits, having
done a lot work through online gifted programs at Northwestern University, Stanford's EPGY and Harvard's Extension. I was a 2013
Thiel Fellowship Candidate and have met some amazing people through that connection as well.
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Closing Thought
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"We at Intel celebrate the work of these brilliant young scientists as a way to inspire the next generation to follow them with even greater energy and excitement into a life of invention and discovery. Imagine the new technologies, solutions and devices they will bring to bear on
the challenges we face. The Intel Science Talent Search
finalists should inspire all of us with hope for the future."
~ Wendy Hawkins, Executive Director, Intel Foundation
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Phone: 775-852-3483 Fax: 775-852-2184
Email: administrator@davidsongifted.org Web: www.DavidsonGifted.org
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