Kate Simkowiak

Resources

Includes books and websites with resources for gifted education.

SENG Webinar Event, Dec. 20th – Talking with Teens

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Presented by Jean Peterson

When adults are serious about attending to social and emotional needs of gifted kids, their own self-awareness and skills can help them avoid inadvertently squelching, patronizing, judging, viewing them narrowly, or even being unhelpfully “in awe.” Paying attention to their own biases can also help adults avoid inhibiting kids’ willingness to engage and show appropriate vulnerability.

Learn how to engage gifted adolescents so that conversation is meaningful and satisfying to both teens and adults, is focused on more than just performance or non-performance, is “real,” builds mutual trust, and is “generative.” Parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, directors, and other invested adults can all benefit from stepping back and, if needed, purposefully altering patterns of interaction in the interest of supporting them effectively.

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – Dec. 10th

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At our general meeting on November 30, members of the Coalition decided on our priority for the next legislative session. Our main effort will be to increase state funding for HCP. This can only be done by changing the formula. In order to change the formula, we will need specific legislation since the current formula is enacted in statute.

We are waiting to see what the QEC recommends to the Legislature regarding HCP funding. In prior recommendations they have asked the Legislature to enact a new funding formula. If their recommendations this year continue to request this, and they suggest a specific piece of legislation, we will support that bill. If the recommendation does not contain suggested legislation, we will have to feel our way forward, depending on the mood of the Legislature.

We recognize that 2013 may not be the year to request more money. However, the McCleary decision requires the Legislature to show year by year progress to full funding for basic education, and a new formula for HCP goes some way to meet that requirement at a relatively low cost.

Last year, advocates gathered in Olympia to say thank you to legislators for making HCP an integral part of basic education. Our theme for Gifted Education Day, March 19, will be to continue to educate legislators on the unique needs of gifted students. Approximately 1/3rd of the Legislature will consist of new members so we have a gigantic job ahead of us. The upcoming Gifted Education Day Handbook will contain a number of suggested themes you can use when talking with your legislators. A list of legislators will be forthcoming. Start planning now to join us in Olympia on March 19th.
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Have you talked/corresponded with a legislator recently? Will you be talking/corresponding with one in the coming months? If yes, we will appreciate hearing from you about the conversation. Please email us the following information about any contacts you make.

Name and title of person contacted:

Type of contact (personal or group visit)  (email contact)  (letter)  (phone)

Issues discussed:

Is the Coalition expected to follow up with this contact?

Describe any follow-up needed:

Notes and comments; was contact supportive or enthusiastic about HCP:

Your name:

Group, if any:

Your email address or other contact information in case we need to check with you:

Note:  Legislators now request that we send everything by email and not send printed letters and materials unless specifically requested. Email addresses of current or re-elected members are on the legislature web site. Email addresses of newly elected members will be available after the start of session, January 14th.
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On the federal level, a petition garnering support for the TALENT Act, is on line. If you wish to support the petition, you can use the links on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/wagifted  or go to NAGC  and click on Petition on the Talent Act to lend your support. http://www.nagc.org/
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Are you looking for educational opportunities online for yourself or your gifted students? The Coalition’s internet service provider recently sent this list of online education resources. I checked them and they are legitimate. Sending this list to you does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement; it is for informational purposes only.

Kahn Academy: award-winning education site for all ages (free)

Starfall: specializes in pre-K & K-2 phonics and reading (free)

Funbrain: popular free site for educational games & comics

Study Ladder: videos, activities, worksheets & more in 10 subjects (free trials + subscriptions)

Academic Earth: free videos & courses from top U.S. universities

Purdue OWL: leading free writing lab; great writing & grammar exercises

MIT OpenCourseWare: get virtually all MIT course content for free

Coursera: free online courses from the world’s top universities

Smarthistory: art history education by time, style, artist or theme

CreativeLIVE: free workshops in photography, design, filmmaking & more

Message from The Washington Coalition For Gifted Education – Nov. 26th

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A number of Legislative positions (in the 17th and, possibly, the 47th Legislative districts) will not be decided until recounts are concluded in early December. Otherwise the makeup of the Legislature is pretty well settled. If you want to check it out, go to www.vote.wa.gov and click on election returns.

The Quality Education Council (QEC) and the Joint Task Force on Education Funding (JTF) are getting close to finalizing their recommendations to the Legislature. The Coalition has made presentations to both groups at their public meetings and submitted a position statement to them on Highly Capable funding.

Based on the most recent revenue forecast, it appears there will not be sufficient revenue to fund the increase in basic education funding necessary to meet the requirements of the McCleary decision. Governor Gregoire will be submitting her proposed budget in December (as required by law) and Governor-elect Inslee will submit his proposal after he takes office in January. No doubt there will be several budget proposals floated in the Legislature from both houses and both parties. All of this is going to make for a most difficult session. There are unverified rumors that some parts of basic education may be suspended for a year or two. I do not know if this is possible; the Coalition will do its best to keep you informed as to what is happening and to let you know when you need to contact your Legislators about HCP funding or other vital issues. Look for our regular messages and follow us on Facebook.

Gifted Education Day on March 19th is going to be an important piece of our advocacy efforts. Please plan to join us in Olympia. An XXL turn-out is vital to our chances to get a new, more equitable, funding formula for HCP into the budget.

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We invite you to join us at our general meeting on Friday, November 30 at the Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Avenue SW, Burien, beginning at 10 am. We will be planning our strategy for the legislative session and begin organizing for Gifted Education Day. If you live in the Puget Sound area, please join us. Everyone is welcome!

On the agenda are (1) HCP funding issues, (2) The McCleary Decision and what it means for HCP, (3) Strategy for the upcoming legislative session, (4) Reports from observers at the QEC and JTF meetings, (5) Discussion on continuing to offer the Joint Membership with WAETAG and NWGCA, (6) Planning for Gifted Education Day.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to wagifted@earthlink.net so we know how many to plan for.

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Opportunity for Training.

The League of Education Voters is holding their 3rd advocacy training session in January. Click here for more information.

Another opportunity to learn about gifted.

The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children will hold its biennial 2013 conference August 10 through 14, 2013 in Louisville Kentucky. For more information, go to http://www.worldgifted2013.org/

Opportunities for Profoundly Gifted Children

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Here are some family gathering opportunities for profoundly gifted (PG) children and their families. Membership in the organizations is required, so if you are interested in these possibilities for summer family vacations, you should start looking into membership soon.

PG Retreat is a community of families with profoundly gifted children and teens.
Two Summer Retreats 2013!
Colorado Springs, Colorado: July 4th – July 8th, 2013
Breckenridge, Colorado: July 10th – 14th, 2013
Visit http://pgr.shuttlepod.org/ for more information.

Davidson Summit
Young Scholars are invited to attend a summertime get-together called the Summit, where relationships are fostered between Young Scholars, their parents and the Davidson Family Consultant team.
http://www.davidsongifted.org/youngscholars/Article/Davidson_Young_Scholars___Summit_376.aspx

Mensa Annual Gathering
“Culture in Cowtown”: July 3rd to July 7th, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas
Mensa of Western Washington (MWW) is a local group of American Mensa, which in turn is a national member of International Mensa, a society that is apolitical and free from all racial or religious distinctions. We welcome people from every walk of life whose IQs are in the top 2% of the population. Our primary objective is to enjoy a wide range of social and cultural activities. MWW currently has more than 1200 members and is the ninth largest group in American Mensa.
http://www.mensaww.org/gatherings-2/national-2/

SENG Webinar Event, Nov. 8th – Developing Internal Motivation in Gifted Youth

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Presented by Lisa Van Gemert, MEd

Lack of motivation factors keenly in underachievement of gifted children, creating interfamilial tension, as well as conflict with school. Internal motivation is the secret to enhancing achievement drive in gifted students. What does the research tell us, and what roles do self-concept and optimism play in helping kids develop their intrinsic motivation? Find out the pitfalls of rewards, and learn about seven strategies you can use right now to light the fire within any child.

 

Northwestern University Center for Talent Development – Gifted Learning Online Courses

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Special Opportunity: Save $40

2013 Winter Enrichment and Core Essential Online Courses
Must register by December 1, 2012 to receive savings

The cold winter months are a great time to curl up with an online class.

Center for Talent Development’s Gifted LearningLinks online courses allow students from all over the world access to exceptional courses led by instructors with extensive experience teaching gifted students. Nine-week Enrichment and Core Essential courses provide academically talented students in grades 3 through 8 with fun, yet challenging learning opportunities.

Winter 2013 topics include digital storytelling, app invention, new pre-algebra prep courses, grammar sequences based on the work of Michael Clay Thompson and more!

The winter 2013 session begins January 15. Apply today, receive the savings, and enjoy this winter exploring a new subject with like-minded peers!

Questions?  Don’t hesitate to contact us at gll@northwestern.edu.

SENG Webinar Event – Oct. 18th: Journaling for the Gifted Child

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Developing Social and Emotional Growth in the Gifted Child Through Journaling
Presented by Kathleen Casper

Explore the different characteristics of gifted children and how journaling can help these unique individuals express themselves, work through stresses, organize their lives, highlight creativity areas, and increase their social skills. We will also look at ways to support introverted and extroverted gifted children through journaling, and discuss different types of journaling activities and ways to extend writing outside of their journals and into the world.

Register Now!

Upcoming Events in Tacoma for Parents to Learn More About Giftedness

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2012 WAETAG Conference

Gifted 2.0: Hi-Cap Instruction for the Digital Age

Sessions for Teachers, Parents, Counselors, and Administrators!

Check out the schedule now! Click HERE to register for the conference now!
(For a mail in form, click here.)

Saturday, October 20, 2012
http://www.waetag.net/
Hotel Murano, Tacoma
7:30 a.m. – 5:00
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Sunday, November 4, 2012

FREE Forum for Gifted Students and Their Parents

Scholar Search Educational Forums
Annie Wright Day School
Tacoma, Washington
http://scholarsearchassoc.com/index.php/coming-events/tacoma-2012

SEABURY SCHOOL 2012 SENG Parent Group •PRE-K—GRADE 8•

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We all know raising gifted children is a blessing – but can also be exhausting! This intensive eight-week workshop focuses on supporting the emotional needs of your gifted child while providing tools for parenting.

Beginning Sept. 26th and running through Nov. 14th, this SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted) group is led by Callie Stoker-Graham, parent of two gifted children, and Dr. Kelly Brown, Seabury parent and licensed psychologist.

Cost to attend the workshop is only $125 for the whole 8-week session (only $12 per class!) and includes a copy of A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children by James T. Webb (a $25 value); this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Workshops run each Wednesday, Sept. 26 – Nov. 14, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at Seabury’s middle school campus, 925 Court C, downtown Tacoma.
The workshop will be capped at 15 participants, so reserve your place now!

Seabury School will be sponsoring an “Evening with Jim Webb” on Thursday, October 18th, 7:00pm, at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, Commerce Room, in downtown Tacoma.  Dr. Webb founded SENG and has contributed many books and lectures on gifted education.  Mark your calendars to spend an evening with one of the “gurus” of gifted education and parenting of gifted children.