Gifted Child Today articles from January 2008

Gifted Child Today archives from January 2008

Standards special issue.(from the guest editor)(Editorial)
January 1, 2008... According to the No Child Left Behind Act, states shall adopt "challenging student academic achievement standards" including some mechanism for assessing what "children are expected to know and be able to do" (Public Law 107-110, 2002, Section...

Web research.(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Web has become an unparalleled informational resource. Although it surpasses the card catalogue as the main entry point for research projects, it poses particular problems for students such as finding needed information, evaluating the...

Gifted children left behind by design.
January 1, 2008... A new study by University of Chicago researchers suggests that schools are focusing on students in the middle and leaving behind students at the far ends of the academic ability spectrum--the least able students and those who are gifted (Neal,...

The complete works of William Shakespeare: http://shakespeare.mit.edu.(on the web)
January 1, 2008... Do you have students who can't get enough of Shakespeare's works? They've read one of his many plays such as the Taming of the Shrew or Hamlet and still want to read more--now they can at this Web site. A collection of the complete works of...

Homework help: http://www.hippocampus.org.(on the web)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Ever have students who complain that they couldn't do their homework because they forgot what they learned in class? Not to worry--this Web site offers free online tutorials on multiple topics found in algebra, biology, calculus, environmental...

Free online e-books: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page.(on the web)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Looking for something new to read? Visit the Project Gutenberg Web site for a listing of more than 20,000 free books available online. This Web site offers access to free online e-books such as Pride and Prejudice, Latin for Beginners, and...

Growth models to assess AYP.(adequate yearly progress )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The use of growth models to show adequate yearly progress (AYP) has been gaining wider support across the political spectrum (Thompson, T. G., & Barnes, R. E. [2007]. Focus on teacher effectiveness to improve student achievement and enhance...

Lunar surfing: http://www.google.com/moon.(on the web)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Do you have students who love to learn about space? Who always talk about landing on the moon? Take a look at this Web site to see NASA imagery of the lunar landing sites of Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17....

Inventions: http://invention.smithsonian.org/ resources/default_index.aspx.(on the web)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Have you ever wondered who came up with the idea for the gadgets you use every day? Who thought of the ideas for inventing a plastic diaper, the flexible drinking straw, Velcro, or the laser used for eye surgery? You can find out more...

Math in the movies: http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dallen/hollywood/index.htm.(on the web)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Believe it or not, math is in the movies! Find links to sites that show you actual math problems in Hollywood movies. Read commentary on the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz referring to the Pythagorean Theorem and Tom Hanks in Cast Away...

Improving the teaching of science.(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Given the rising technological prowess of China, India, and other developing nations, universities are examining the ways that they teach science (Brainard, J. [2007]. The tough road to better science teaching. The Chronicle of Higher...

Tracy Cross from Ball State University is the new editor of the Journal for the Education of the Gifted.(notable)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Tracy Cross from Ball State University is the new editor of the Journal for the Education of the Gifted. Carolyn Callahan from the University of Virginia begins a 5-year term as the new editor of Gifted Child Quarterly in January 2008. Jennifer...

Successful summer learning program.(notable)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Washington-based Urban Institute has outlined these criteria for developing a successful summer learning program: qualified, energetic, and committed leadership; trained and experienced teachers and other staff members; high attendance...

The Indiana General Assembly mandated all Indiana school corporations to identify K-12 students of high ability in the general intellectual and specific academic domains and to provide them with appropriate differentiated curriculum and instruction in core content.(notable)
January 1, 2008... The Indiana General Assembly mandated all Indiana school corporations to identify K-12 students of high ability in the general intellectual and specific academic domains and to provide them with appropriate differentiated curriculum and...

The autism epidemic.(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... As compared to 30 years ago when students with autism were rare, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed in about one in 150 American children today (McKenna, K. [2007]. Confronting the autism epidemic. Harvard Education Letter, 23[5], 1-3,...

White students became less isolated from minority students.(notable)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... A new report from the Pew Hispanic Center finds that in the dozen years from 1993-1994 to 2005-2006, White students became less isolated from minority students while, at the same time, Black and Hispanic students became slightly more isolated...

How the First Semester Matters for Community College Students' Aspirations.(notable)
January 1, 2008... A recent publication, "Beyond Access: How the First Semester Matters for Community College Students' Aspirations and Persistence" from The Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) reports that fewer than half of the young high school...

Using a nationally representative sample of 10,956 boys assessed at the start of kindergarten.(notable)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Using a nationally representative sample of 10,956 boys assessed at the start of kindergarten, Smith and Niemi found that teachers perceive young boys who are shorter than the perceived norm as less academically capable than are boys of average...

Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship.(CONTESTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) awards scholarships to undergraduate students studying in a variety of fields. The $1,000 Enid Hall Griswold Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a junior or a senior enrolled in a...

Math League fourth- and fifth-grade contests.(CONTESTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The goal of Math League contests is to encourage student interest and confidence in mathematics. Individual schools or districts can hold this contest to add excitement to math programs. The tests consist of 30 multiple-choice items that can be...

The National Peace Essay Contest.(CONTESTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The National Peace Essay Contest seeks to (a) promote discussion among high school students, teachers, and national leaders about international peace and conflict resolution today and in the future; (b) complement existing curricula; (c)...

Student newspapers.(grants and awards)(Newspaper Association of America Foundation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Newspaper Association of America Foundation (NAAF) will award Student/Newspaper Partnership Grants to student newspapers that are in danger of closing or have stopped publishing. Grants are awarded to partnership proposals between middle...

Civic-minded.(grants and awards)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Disney Adventures All-Stars program from Disney Adventures magazine encourages kids 6-14 years old to become more civic-minded and rewards their creative efforts. Kids are eligible to enter in three categories: Kid All-Star, an individual...

Intergroup relations.(grants and awards)(Teaching Tolerance project grants)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Teaching Tolerance offers grants to pre-K-12 classroom teachers for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve intergroup relations in schools, and/or support educator professional development in these areas. Projects funded...

ThinkQuest international contest.(CONTESTS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Sponsored by the Oracle Education Foundation, ThinkQuest is a competition that inspires students to work in teams to build educational Web sites. More than 30,000 students from all over the globe have participated in this competition since...

Environmental issues.(grants and awards)(Captain Planet Foundation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Captain Planet Foundation funds proposals that (a) promote understanding of environmental issues, (b) focus on hands-on involvement, (c) involve children and young adults ages 6-18, (d) promote interaction and cooperation within the group,...

Literacy, volunteerism, and youth leadership development.(grants and awards)(Comcast Foundation )(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Comcast Foundation funds diversity-oriented programs that address literacy, volunteerism, and youth leadership development. Its grants try to maximize the impact of community investments so they yield tangible, measurable benefits to...

Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.(grants and awards)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Congressional Award is the U.S. Congress' award for young Americans. It is nonpartisan, voluntary, and noncompetitive. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds. Participants earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold Congressional Award...

Young leaders.(grants and awards)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Their leadership and courage make them true heroes--and inspirations to everyone. Each year, the...

Meetings.(Calendar)
January 1, 2008... FEBRUARY 6-8 Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented (AAGT) 2008 Annual Conference at the Black Canyon Conference Center in Phoenix, AZ. For more information, please visit http://arizonagifted.org. 6-9 National...

Did you know ...(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... ... 31% have a very or somewhat favorable opinion of NCLB? ... 41% believe that the NCLB is making no difference in the performance of the local public schools? ... 66% believe that the public schools in their community are very or...

Working with wikis.(technology)
January 1, 2008... When Timothy John Berners-Lee envisioned the World Wide Web, he foresaw a collaborative space where information could be shared freely and updated. In other words, he envisioned a place where anyone could be creative and anyone could...

What can teacher education programs do to prepare teachers to teach high-achieving culturally diverse male students?
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Never before have public school teachers in the United States been faced with the challenge of meeting the needs of so many culturally diverse learners. The teaching force in the U.S. is increasingly White,...

Swagger or humility or swagger and humility: a new goal for educating students with gifts and talents.(social/emotional needs)
January 1, 2008... THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or...

Lewis Terman: genetic study of genius--elementary school students.(historical perspectives)
January 1, 2008... "If I am remembered very long after my death, it will probably be in connection with my studies of gifted children [and] the construction of mental tests" (Terman, 1930a, p. 330). Although the field of gifted education generally recognizes...

Science, standards, and differentiation: it really can be fun!
January 1, 2008... Teaching in a regular classroom has become more complicated than ever with increased student diversity and pressure to connect learning experiences to educational standards and test preparation (Brighton, 2002). Although teaching to the middle...

Curriculum consequences: if you learn this, then ...(advocacy)
January 1, 2008... Gifted students sometimes have been the recipients of a differentiated curriculum that is responsive to their needs, interests, and abilities without the concomitant understandings of the ramifications of learning that same curriculum....

Standards-based v. standards embedded curriculum: not just semantics!
January 1, 2008... In 2007, at the dawn of the 21st century in education, it is impossible to talk about teaching, curriculum, schools, or education without discussing standards. We are in an age of accountability where our success as educators is determined...

Indiana Mandate for high-ability identification and services signed by Governor Daniels: record funding for high-ability students.(spotlight on the states)
January 1, 2008... The Indiana General Assembly made high-ability students the beneficiaries of the 2007 legislative session. The state budget includes $13,000,000 per year, beginning July 1, 2007, for High Ability Services. This is more than twice the $5.8...

Explore summer opportunities for gifted teens.(NEW products)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do your child's summer plans include studying side-by-side with a microbiologist or traveling around the world learning to speak different languages? What about hands-on experience with spacecraft design or studying...

Open doors to digital society.(NEW products)(Digital Citizenship in Schools)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most of today's students have grown up in a society surrounded by technology, and many educators assume that they are comfortable in this digital society. They often are asked to use technology in and out of school...

Engage inquiring minds.(NEW products)(Problem-Based Learning: An Inquiry Approach)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Are you looking for a simplified way to help your students think more critically and analytically? Both are important processes for students to learn, and one way to help students understand them is through...

Guide bright kids with tried and true advice.(NEW products)(High IQ Kids: Collected Insights, Information, and Personal Stories from the Experts)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every once in awhile, you come into contact with a profoundly gifted child: an 8-year-old who enjoys watching videos on differential equations, a sixth grader who memorizes the periodic table with all of the atomic...

Explore a notable novel for middle school students.(NEW products)(If the Tree Falls at Lunch Period )(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gennifer Choldenko, author of the Newbery Honor Book Al Capone Does My Shirts, entices young readers once again with her new book If the Tree Falls at Lunch Period (ISBN-13 978-0-15-205753-4). Choldenko presents a...

Garner support for gifted children.(NEW products)(Infinity and Zebra Stripes: Life with Gifted Children)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wendy Skinner is a mother of two exceptionally gifted children. It did not take long for her to realize that they were different from their peers. It was a joy to watch her children's love for learning develop and to...

Different paths to accountability: defining rigorous outcomes for gifted learners.(Report)
January 1, 2008... Curricular reform is an intense process. Broad-based reform--like that at the statewide level--takes on complexities that may not be easily predictable. Two states, Texas and Florida, with a large diversity of gifted populations, learn from...