Gifted Child Today articles from September 2004

Gifted Child Today archives from September 2004

Achievement gap vs. acceleration.(From The Editor)(Editorial)
September 22, 2004... Over the past decade, the federal government has used the phrase "achievement gap" to describe the differences in achievement between groups sorted by ethnic backgrounds. This "gap" is then used to encourage policy, legislation, and state...

Playing with time http://www.playingwithtime.org.(On the Web)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... At this Web site, visitors will see time sped up and slowed down and witness the beauty of change. Activities on the site allow visitors to literally play with time through various multimedia games and movies. The Gallery of Time allows...

Animated engines http://www.keveney.com/Engines.html.(On the Web)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... If you've ever wanted to know more about jet propulsion or how a steam locomotive engine works, then this site is well worth a visit. It has information on Grasshopper Beams, Gnome Rotaries, and just about anything else that has pistons and...

Measuring a school's yearly progress.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Northwest Evaluation Association just completed a study of 723 schools in 22 states, which suggests that states that use rest score averages to rate schools may be providing a misleading picture (Viadero, D. [2004]. Test-score averages don't...

College planning for gifted students.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Sandra Berger recommends that college planning for students with gifts should begin in junior high (Council for Exceptional Children. [2004]. Preparing gifted students for college. Today, 10[6], 6). At that time, they need to learn test-taking,...

Teaching tools for Brown v. Board of Education.
September 22, 2004... A variety of teaching tools are available online to teach about the May 17, 1954, landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which struck down segregated public schools (Galley, M. [2004]. Teaching tools plentiful online....

Regular teacher certification matters in students' achievement.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... In recent years, highly qualified teachers may be those who have demonstrated competency in their subject areas only. Some states like Texas are actually lowering their requirements. Because of the attack on teacher certificates that require...

Where's George? http://www.whereageorge.com.(On the Web)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Do you ever wonder where that paper money n your pocket has been or where it will go next? This is the place to find out. All you need to do is enter the denomination, series, and serial number of any US dollar bill, and your current U.S. ZIP...

Math Cats http://www.mathcats.com.(On the Web)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The Math Cats Web site is devoted to math activities, crafts, and games aimed at younger children. The graphics are fun and eye-catching and make the site easy to navigate for novice Web surfers. Some of the math games include 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe,...

Executive director.(Nancy Green named executive director of National Association for Gifted Children )(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) announced that Nancy Green, CAE, has been named executive director for the organization. She comes to the association with a 20-year professional history.

Hollingworth Award.(Notable)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Carol Tieso and D. Betsy McCoach of the University of Connecticut were awarded the 2004 Hollingworth Award for research. Their study asks the question, "Do LD, GT, and GLD students differ in affective and personality characteristics?"

Politically charged topics.(Notable)(Thomas B. Fordham Foundation)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... A Thomas B. Fordham Foundation study has found that many workshops and materials that address politically charged topics, such as Islam and the history of racism in the United States, are biased. The report, The Stealth Curriculum: Manipulating...

Serve high numbers of low-income students.(Notable)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... A recent study has ranked the nation's state flagship universities according to their commitment to seek out and serve high numbers of low-income students. Thomas G. Morteson found that only four universities earned grades of A: the University...

Science education is neglected.(Notable)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Two recent reports show that science education is neglected at the K-5 grade levels. The Bayer Foundation report The Bayer Facts of Science Education X: Are the Nation's Colleges end Universities Adequately Preparing Elementary School Teachers...

Dealing with bullies.(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Because of recent well-publicized events, officials have developed new policies regarding bullying. However, bullying is difficult to control and is more widespread in schools than many people believe. Barbara Coloroso, author of The Bully, the...

The importance of "scientifically based" research for schools.
September 22, 2004... Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools and districts are required to adopt new programs based on rigorous research that proves they are effective. According to the U.S. Department of Education, rigorous research 1. uses systematic,...

Education X.(Notable)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Education X: Are the Nation's Colleges and Universities Adequately Preparing Elementary School Teachers of Tomorrow to Teach Science? is available at http:www. bayerus.com/msms/news/inde x.cfm and the National Science Foundation report Science...

Astronaut candidates.(teachers are among a new crop of 11 astronauts)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Teachers from Florida, Maryland, and Washington are among a new crop of 11 astronaut candidates announced by NASA. The eight other members of the NASA class of 2004 include pilots, physicians, engineers, and scientists. They began their...

Experiential learning.(Notable)(The Experiential Learning in Education)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... High school teachers support experiential learning programs such as apprenticeships, internships, and job shadowing as effective means for getting students interested in school and future careers. This survey report, The Experiential Learning...

Parent guidebook.(Notable)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The California Association for the Gifted is offering a parent guidebook titled Raising Your Gifted Child. This guidebook answer parents' most frequently asked questions concerning their gifted children, plus resources, both traditional and...

The National Association for Gifted Children sponsors the Hollingworth Award with a cash grant of $2,500 to encourage educational and psychological research studies of potential benefit to gifted and talented children.(Grants and Awards)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The National Association for Gifted Children sponsors the Hollingworth Award with a cash grant of $2,500 to encourage educational and psychological research studies of potential benefit to gifted and talented children. Deadline is January 15,...

Graduate students.(Grants and Awards)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The Phi Delta Kappa International offers scholarships and awards to educators. The Graduate Fellowships in Educational Leadership promote the advancement of education through the development of leadership and provide deserving Kappan graduate...

High school seniors whose intended college major is education.(Grants and Awards)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The Phi Delta Kappa International Scholarship Grants for Prospective Educators support outstanding high school seniors whose intended college major is education. Thirty-three scholarships are awarded annually with 30 at $1,000, one for $2,000,...

Educators who show success as a student teacher.(Grants and Awards)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The Phi Delta Kappa Excellence in Student Teaching Awards are given to preservice educators who show success as a student teacher, characterized by the ability to apply theory in the classroom; potential for successful career as an educator;...

Active research participation by undergraduate students.(Grants and Awards)
September 22, 2004... The Research Experiences for Undergraduates program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. Approximately 170 to 200 scholarships are awarded....

Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.(Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) recognizes teachers who incorporate creativity into their classroom teaching and demonstrate leadership in the education community. Teachers in grades 7-12 will...

Instructional Materials Development.(Grants and Awards)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The Instructional Materials Development Program supports development of rigorous single and multiyear curricula in science, mathematics, and technology; supplementary instructional materials; and assessments to guide instruction and evaluate...

Assist teachers in the science and mathematics content.(Grants and Awards)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... The National Science Foundation supports graduate and advanced undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, and technology students as content resources for K-12 teachers. These fellows assist teachers in the science and mathematics content...

Meetings.(Calendar)
September 22, 2004... NOVEMBER 17-20 27th annual Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) conference at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas. For more information, please visit http://www.txgifted.org. DECEMBER 1-3 Virginia...

Did you know ...(technology usage of children)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... ... the United States has 5 students per each computer? ... 39% of the computers are connected to the Internet? ... 61% of the computers are connected to a Local Area Network? ... in 1994 35% of public schools had Internet access,...

Technology and the unseen world of gifted students.(Social/Emotional Needs)
September 22, 2004... The social and emotional development of gifted students can be influenced by many factors. Genetics, experiences, learning, family values, perceptions, and interactions all contribute to the development of gifted children. Under the heading of...

Gifted students with disabilities are we finding them?
September 22, 2004... Advocates of gifted children have emphasized the importance of identifying and serving gifted students with disabilities in programs for the gifted and talented (Boodoo, Bradley, Frontera, Pitts, & Wright, 1989; Coleman & Gallagher, 1992;...

The Boy and the Rose.
September 22, 2004... "The Boy and the Rose" is a case study of a gifted-talented student and his parents. The names of the family, as well as other people in the study, have been changed to protect their privacy. The facts in the study were gleaned as a result of...

What gift? The reality of the student who is gifted and talented in public school classrooms.
September 22, 2004... The era of No child Left Behind legislation is an excellent time to examine the field of gifted education. Bines (1991) lamented that, after more than 70 years of research, there is not even consensus on an operational definition of giftedness...

Identifying students with gifts and talents in technology.(Technology)
September 22, 2004... Susan's science teacher has just purchased five Palm handhelds with temperature probes. He plans to ask his students to develop experiments that test the effectiveness of different types of insulations. Susan can barely contain herself as she...

Creating culturally responsive gifted education classrooms understanding "culture" is the first step.
September 22, 2004... Cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity are... basic survival skills for almost everyone. --Craig Storti (1999, p. 1) For decades, we have studied and read about the poor achievement of culturally diverse students (specifically,...

Spirit and opportunity: re-exploring giftedness and parents' expanding directive role.(Parenting the Gifted)
September 22, 2004... Spirit and Opportunity have recently captured the attention of many of us as they rove the surface of Mars to help us find out whether life once existed on that distant planet and, if so, how such life opportunities might be resurrected for the...

Cultivating creativity.(New Products)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... How much do we really know about creativity? How do we cultivate creativity in young children? Why are some highly creative authors and poets likely to suffer from depression? In her newest book, Understanding Creativity (ISBN 0-910707-58-8),...

Pointing to perfectionism.(New Products)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Unfortunately, many gifted individuals are perfectionists obsessed with fear of failure who set unrealistic goals for themselves and, when unable to achieve their goals, perceive themselves as Failures. These perceptions may be especially...

Focusing on real-world problems.(New Products)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... A serious disease is sweeping through a small community. Why are all these people sick? Where did they contract the illness? The local officials are scrambling to find out what is happening and to stop the spread before more people get sick....

Stories that address global issues and concerns.(New Products)(Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice, and the Environment)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... In this second edition of Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice, and the Environment (ISBN 086571-447-9), the authors offer a treasure trove for parents, teachers, and storytellers. From the...

Help gifted children deal with social and emotional issues.(What's On Your Mind?: Activities to Explore the Gifted Mind)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
September 22, 2004... What do gifted kids think about? How do family traits affect relationships? What behaviors build or repel the relationships in which gifted individuals engage? How do confidence and insecurity affect performance in gifted children and adults?...

Logic puzzles that stretch thinking.(New Products)(Brief Article)
September 22, 2004... Logic Links (ISBN 1-892069-50-4) is a book of puzzles designed to improve logical thinking and problem-solving skills while focusing on visual-spatial relationships and manipulative play. Each puzzle is comprised of a series of clues that...

Mathematically gifted students: how can we meet their needs?
September 22, 2004... Today, as usual, Mrs. Johnson began her 3rd-grade math class by reading aloud a thinking puzzle: Charlie, the dog, was tied to a 2-meter rope. His favorite ball was lying in the grass at least 10 yards away from him. He managed to grasp the...

Elements in the eyes of a 4-year-old.(Through Another's Eyes)
September 22, 2004... My husband is a scientist. He often brings home different scientific journals and magazines to read, and my 4-year-old son, Nicholas J. Hu, likes to flip through them. A recent issue of Chemical and Engineering News (September, 2003) caught his...

Intellectually gifted students' perceptions of personal goals and work habits.
September 22, 2004... PERFECTIONISM IMPACTS ALL FACETS OF STUDENTS' LIVES, BOTH positively and negatively. Hamachek (as cited in Orange, 1997) described perfectionism as a positive characteristic: The student is intrinsically motivated, earns high grades, and...

Through the looking glass: one school's reflections on differentiation.
September 22, 2004... Teachers approach professional development and in-service opportunities as if they're approaching a train wreck. They know they must see what's ahead, but they can't bear the sight of it. Most teachers recoil in fear when professional...