Gifted Child Today articles from January 2005

Gifted Child Today archives from January 2005

Within-class acceleration.(from the editor)
January 1, 2005... When the kindergarten teacher preassessed Katy in math, she understood most concepts at the 3rd-grade level. Similar advanced; Robert was already reading chapter books. The parents were not enthusiastic about moving them to another grade level....

Eyewitness to history: www.eyewitnesstohistory.com.(on the web)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The first page of this Web site states that it is "your ringside seat to history from the Ancient World to the present." This extremely interesting and user-friendly site allows visitors to "travel back" in time and experience history through...

A Europe of tales: www.europeoftales.net.(on the web)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... This site is devoted to European myths and legends and is supported by the Culture 2000 Programme of the European Union. Highlighted on this site are folktales from Iceland, Scotland, Finland, Brittany, and italy that are told in animated...

Show me www.show.me.uk.(on the web)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... This site is the children's area for the 24-Hour Museum--the United Kingdom's National Virtual Museum, which promotes publicly funded museums, galleries, and heritage attractions in the U.K. Visitors can learn about Vikings, ancient...

Ecokids online: http://ecokids.earthday.ca/pub/index.cfm.(on the web)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Eco Fact of the Day: Did you know that cheetahs concentrate on one object so hard that they can actually bump into trees without seeing them? This and many other interesting facts can be found on this award-winning Web site sponsored by Earth...

Assessing creative environments of American colleges.
January 1, 2005... How much creativity occurs on college campuses? While an important topic with more than 1,365 articles and books in the Harvard Business School Press alone, Tepper (2004) points out that creativity is largely ignored in college rankings and...

Differentiating instruction at the secondary level.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... When teachers respond to individual differences, they are differentiating instruction in the classroom. Differentiation may occur when teachers use assessments that identify the students' previous knowledge and skills and then vary the content,...

Asking child-friendly questions.(Brief Article)(Excerpt)
January 1, 2005... Has your child responded to your question "How was school today?" with only a few words such as "Okay" or "Fine?" Have you often wished for a more elaborate description? Many parents frequently feel frustrated with these limited responses from...

Windows to the universe www.windows.ucar.edu.(on the web)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For anyone interested in learning more about our universe this site is a great resource. On the "Stuff to Do" menu, visitors can create an online journal, play educational games, and take guided tours to learn more about volcanoes in our solar...

Fact Monster www.factmonster.com.(on the web)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... This extensive site is a great first stop for children needing help with research or homework. Visitors have access to an online atlas, almanac, encyclopedia, and dictionary. A homework center is available for students who want help with math,...

"A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students".(notable)
January 1, 2005... A new report sponsored by the Templeton Foundation, "A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students" (Colangelo, Assouline, & Gross, 2004), makes a plea for schools to allow exceptionally bright children to accelerate in...

The Nicholas Green Student Awards.(notable)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Nicholas Green Student Awards were presented to Christian Garcia of Valley Center, CA, who won the 2004 High School Senior Award, and Anna Blackburn from Williamsburg, VA, who won the 2002-2003 NAGC Distinguished Student Award. Both...

Time for Kids magazine.(notable)
January 1, 2005... Time for Kids magazine selected 16 kid reporters ages 9-13 in a nationwide competition for the 2004-2005 school year. These reporters' assignments will include interviews with newsmakers and leaders across the nation, They will also be...

"The Effect of High School Graduation Exams on SAT Scores,".(notable)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A new report from Ball State University suggests that the average combined verbal and math score on the SAT in states with exit exams was 34 points lower than the average scores in states without exit exams. The report, "The Effect of High...

The Saber-Tooth Curriculum: the Classic Edition.(notable)(Children's Review)(Brief Review)
January 1, 2005... The Saber-Tooth Curriculum: The Classic Edition, a 1939 satire on the education establishment, is being reissued with an introduction by John I. Goodlad. The book may be purchased from McGraw-Hill, Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121.

Using Data to Improve Instruction.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Popham ("Using Data to Improve Student Achievement," Educational Leadership, 60[5], 48-51) described these five characteristics of instructionally beneficial data: * Significance. A test should measure the attainment of a worthwhile...

Defining "Curriculum".(K-12 schools curricula)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... In a recent Education Week ("Let's Clarify the Way We Use the Word 'Curriculum,'" 24[1], 43), Kim Marshall identified seven different meanings for the word curriculum. First, curriculum may be defined by state standards that are linked to...

Learning with Digital Games.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Several new simulation games are available this year [A. Trotter, "Digital Games Bring Entertainment Into Learning Realm," Education Week, 23[44], 8). Making History The Calm and the Storm examines World War II through 12-18 scenarios from the...

Writing test scores.(notable)
January 1, 2005... Only 17% of 4-year colleges and universities responding to ACT's survey say they will require writing test scores of students who apply for fall 2006 admission. Students will be able to determine whether or not they need to take a writing test...

More complex thought.(notable)
January 1, 2005... A report titled "Effects of Racial Diversity on Complex Thinking in College Students" suggests that students display more complex thought when their groups are ideologically and racially diverse. The report is available at http://www....

Online guidance about psychological tests.(notable)
January 1, 2005... The American Psychological Association provides online guidance about psychological tests. Topics include finding information on a particular test, finding a particular type of test, locating a specific test, locating test publishers,...

Real Value of Teachers.(notable)
January 1, 2005... The Education Trust has published "The Real Value of Teachers: If Good Teachers Matter, Why Don't We Act Like It?," which discusses research supporting the positive effects of teachers on student performance. The report may be accessed at...

State high school exit exams.(notable)(Public Notice)
January 1, 2005... Supported by grants from the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Gates Foundation, The Center on Education Policy published a report about state high school exit exams that describes the main...

Principles of informative assessments.(notable)
January 1, 2005... The report "Developing Assessments to Inform Teaching and Learning" (Bass & Glaser, 2004) considers principles of informative assessments that improve teaching and learning by communicating learning goals, interpreting student performance,...

Environmental research and education.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Internship Program in Environmental Studies offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of environmental research and...

Participation of girls and women in all fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) education.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Directorate for Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation, seeks to broaden the participation of girls and women in all fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) education by supporting research,...

Jane Austin Essay Contest.(Contests)
January 1, 2005... Individuals interested in the life and works of Jane Austen are invited to enter the Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest. Participants are asked to write a 1,200-2,000-word essay that contains a personal, original insight into...

Christopher Columbus Awards.(Contests)
January 1, 2005... Each year, the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation in cooperation with The National Science Foundation hosts the Christopher Columbus Awards. The organizers of the contest believe that today's middle school students are the Innovation...

2005 Supernationals III Chess Championship.(Contests)
January 1, 2005... The United States Chess Federation, an organization devoted to extending the role of chess in the United States, is inviting all elementary, intermediate, and high school chess players to register for the 2005 Supernationals III Chess...

Dell-Winston Solar Car challenge.(Contests)
January 1, 2005... Each summer, the Winston Solar Car Team hosts the Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge. The challenge for high school students is to create a road-worthy solar car. The main objective of the program is to encourage student interest in...

HOBO Energy Challenge.(Contests)
January 1, 2005... The HOBO Energy Challenge is a new contest sponsored by iScienceProject. This contest is for anyone who is interested in monitoring energy consumption and is a way of rewarding energy awareness in K-12 schools. In order to compete, teachers...

Medusa Mythology Exam.(Contests)
January 1, 2005... The Medusa Mythology Exam was developed to allow those talented in mythology an opportunity to excel and be recognized. Another aim is to increase students' exposure to mythology. The exam is composed of 50 multiple-choice questions that are...

Enhance the education of K-12 children.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Braitmayer Foundation provides support for organizations and programs that enhance the education of K-12 children. Of particular interest are curricular and school reform initiatives and preparation of and professional development...

Research the needs of gifted children.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Bradley Foundation provides supports programs that research the needs of gifted children and techniques of providing education for students with superior skills, intelligence, or both. Research programs investigating how learning occurs in...

High school journalism workshops.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund sponsors high school journalism workshops for minority high school students. Grant range is from $2,500 to $5,000. Students should be selected by May 1 for a June workshop, May 15 for a July workshop, and June 1 for...

Youth Leadership Grants Program.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Starbucks Foundation supports a Youth Leadership Grants Program that supports programs that teach the value of societal diversity by developing and nurturing leadership skills for youth that include a high competence in diversity awareness...

Women of color an opportunity to gain experience in a sports-related career.(grants and awards)
January 1, 2005... The Women's Sports Foundation provides The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Minority Internship and the Zina Garrison Minority Internship to support internships that give women of color an opportunity to gain experience in a sports-related career. Funding...

Meetings.(Association for Gifted conferences)(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... February 2-3 Arizona Association of Gifted and Talented conference at the Black Canyon Conference Center in Phoenix, AZ. For more information, please visit http://www.azagt.org. 6-8 Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and...

Did you know ...
January 1, 2005... ... 68% know very little or nothing at all about the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. ... 47% give the schools in their community an A or a B. ... 21% mention finance as the number one problem facing public schools. ... 66% would...

Young leaders: growing through mentoring.
January 1, 2005... "Hey, you got it!" Caitlyn exclaimed as Leisha identified the letter B on a flash card. Caitlyn is a 2nd-grade student in a gifted and talented program. Leisha is a kindergarten student. Both girls are part of a cross-age mentoring...

Welcome to my world.(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... Dear New Teacher: Twenty-nine years ago, I unlocked the door to my first classroom. The room that greeted me was a small, square box at the end of a long hallway, filled with 15 desks distributed randomly around the room. My desk, perched...

Exploring tableau vivant: an integrated approach to interpretation.
January 1, 2005... One of the biggest challenges on the horizon in education is an increased emphasis on meeting the needs of exceptional students. Historically, we have done a more than adequate job of addressing the needs of students with physical and cognitive...

What makes a "good" teacher "great"?(in the classroom)
January 1, 2005... The fall semester brought me yet another class of graduate students just embarking on their gifted education courses. Unlike many students I've had in the past, the majority of the class had no background at all in gifted education--no...

Using public relations strategies to advocate for gifted programming in your school.
January 1, 2005... THE CURRENT TREND OF CUTTING and slashing funding for gifted education from state budgets is a call to action for all educators of the gifted. This watershed moment must be addressed with a proactive grassroots vision because the greatest...

All about animals.(New products)(Children's Review)
January 1, 2005... Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide (ISBN 0-520-24406-0) is a 608-page volume that conveys the extraordinary beauty and vast diversity of the animal kingdom. Written by an international team of specialists, this extensive volume...

Introduction to artists through exciting literature.(New products)
January 1, 2005... Art Encounters is a new fiction series designed to introduce young readers to great painters. The series provides an intriguing literary interpretation to great works of art, as well as an intimate look at the lives and creative processes of...

The power of play.(New products)
January 1, 2005... Through play, a child learns physical skills, language development, and social skills. What can parents do to make early play a part of active learning and the development of strong character? In Toy Tips: d Parent's Essential Guide to Smart...

A thought-provoking novel.(New products)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... Ursula K. LeGuin, one of fantasy and science fiction's most venerated authors, returns to a young audience in Gifts (ISBN 0-15-205123-6), her first novel for teens in 14 years. Set in the poor, desolate farms of the Uplands, this novel centers...

The value and challenges of diversity in gifted education.(New products)
January 1, 2005... What are the best practices for identifying giftedness among increasingly diverse student populations? What specific services and modifications may be designed to meet the needs of such populations of gifted students? How might educators...

A rendezvous with research in the primary classroom.(New products)
January 1, 2005... Research in the Real Classroom: The Independent Investigation Method for Primary Students (ISBN 0-929895-55-X) is an independent study program designed to introduce K-2 students to a seven-step method that engages them in content-area reading...

The Clio Club: an extracurricular model for elementary social studies enrichment.(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... Students traveled to the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and learned what Abraham Lincoln's life was like when he was their age. Students visited the Lincoln living history farm, the site of the Lincoln cabin and the Nancy Hanks Lincoln...

Fighting the war on academic terrorism.(advocacy)
January 1, 2005... While the attention of the country is focused on the global and national war on terrorism, the war on academic terrorism is being waged in our classrooms, infiltrating our gifted programs, and altering the outcomes derived for students...

Julius Deetken--pioneer druggist: an application of the enrichment cluster model to a history classroom.
January 1, 2005... Edward Thorndike may be counted on to say in few words what amounts to a highly complex idea. He once said that, with learning as with any activity, ability must be supplemented by interest or desire. "If we wish to learn a certain thing, we...

Early gifts: recognizing and nurturing children's talents.
January 1, 2005... a comprehensive new resource for parents of gifted children In this resource for parents of gifted children, leading experts discuss how to recognize and nurture talent in preschool- and elementary-school-aged children. An introductory...