"Embrace the Intensity": A Thought-Provoking Article from Dallas Child

A parent alerted me to this pretty direct and even controversial look at "What Do I Do With This (Gifted) Kid?"

I highly recommend it. You will probably be able to empathize and it also includes some useful advice for parents.

The Eleventh Hour: When Persistence Pays Off!

Since I began working with gifted students many years ago--first as a classroom cluster teacher and now as a GT Facilitator--I have been very aware of a particular character trait which is under-developed in our brightest students: PERSISTENCE! Since so many things come easy for them, they aren't accustomed to that threshold of discomfort when some "blood, sweat and tears" might be required in order to succeed.

So when our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders began our unit on The Eleventh Hour, a very elaborate but also laborious and detail-oriented problem-solving mystery, I have to confess I was a bit skeptical about how reliable their attention spans would be in sticking it out to the end. Would interest quickly peter out when they realized it was going to take some patience, guts, ingenuity and plain-old hard work to get through it and find a solution?

I am pleased to say the students proved my skepticism completely wrong! The Eleventh Hour turned out to be one of the most engaging and successful inter-disciplinary units I've ever facilitated. Kids were revved up until the very end, always eager from the moment I got them to the "closing bell" of our sessions. And this was hard stuff, folks! Here is just a sampling of the higher-level thinking skills the students were practicing as they engaged with the story and the mystery:

• deductive reasoning
• inductive reasoning
• logic
• analytical thinking
• visualization
• vocabulary-building (context clues)
• inference
• reading comprehension
• oral fluency

Students use a cipher wheel to crack the final code
in The Eleventh Hour

The list could really go on. I just wanted to make this unusually wordy post to congratulate the students on a beautiful and inspiring job. They followed it through all the way to the end, and the few weeks we've invested in it were more than worth it.

I know some of you have already gone out and purchased the book for home. I think it is money well spent. Students have been asking if there are other similar books. The author, Graeme Base, has also published Animalia, which is said to have a very similar feel. Worth checking out! Might help turn some of those long, video game-heavy days of holiday break into some productive brain and character building! : )

GT Class Norms

Either this week or last week every class has had a discussion about our "GT Class Norms." These norms are the behaviors, mindsets and attitudes I am encouraging and expecting from all my QUEST students this year. Here they are, along with some brief explanations.

1. I will participate: In the brief periods we have together, there's no time to fade into the background and hide. To get the most out of QUEST you must be actively engaged and curious.
2. I will ask comlex questions about the topic: Since a primary goal of QUEST is to develop higher order thinking, we need an observable way to measure the level of thinking. The types of questions you formulate are a great indication.
3. I will use precise, specific words: QUEST should be a safe, risk-free laboratory for students to develop and practice advanced vocabulary and communication skills.
4. I will give reasons for answers: Being able to justify answers with sound thinking and logic is a key life skill.
5. I will think about my thinking: Metacognition. "Know Thyself."

There are also some old-fashioned "bad behavior" checks in place, but if students are following the norms above, behavior is hardly ever an issue. After the first major issue I communicate with the teacher, but anything beyond that involves direct communication with the parent.

A Letter from Cindy Badon, SAGE Chair

Dear GT Parents & GT Teachers,

 

My name is Cindy Badon, and I am the new SAGE Chair for Frisco ISD Council of PTA's.  SAGE stands for Special And Gifted Education, and our endeavor is to promote a close alliance between parents and educators of diverse learners in hopes of benefiting all children. I come to this position with an interesting perspective in that I have two children – one child fits the special needs population that SAGE serves, and my other child fits the gifted population that SAGE serves. 

 

Speaking in regards to the GT component of SAGE, I know all too well how it feels to have concerns about my gifted child that seem, at times, "insignificant" to others in light of the needs of my special needs child.  That being said, his needs are no less important to him or to me!  This is why I think it best that most meetings are geared toward one population or the other, with parents whose children are twice exceptional being able to freely pick and choose what fits for their child without having to feel as if they must choose one OR the other.

 

First SAGE “GT Meet and Greet” - Agenda

Wednesday, Sept. 21st
Curtsinger Elementary School  Cafeteria
7:00 pm

 

Speaker:  Julie Martin, GT Coordinator for FISDBrief report about positive areas she’s seen in GT after being in the position for one year

         

Speaker:  Cindy Badon, Frisco ISD SAGE ChairBrief report about her vision for how to improve/grow the GT side of SAGE & discuss how parents can get involved and help

General SAGE Goals:

• Create one committee with two distinct areas.  (Please see the attached diagram for specifics. Some of these positions are filled already, and some are in the process of being filled, but we have more needs on our GT side right now.)

• Update our website with interactive areas where parents can share ideas, links and documents, ask questions, brainstorm, and have online groups.

• Develop a resource fair that provides information regarding resources that are available throughout the year for each of the 2 populations SAGE serves.  (This will differ from Plano's SAGE Resource Fair in that theirs focuses on summer activities and camps.)

GT Goals

• Continue the wonderful and popular game nights that GATES created and developed for the GT students.

• Bring in speakers who specialize in programs for parents of GT students.

• Create a parent round table to discuss student needs and ideas for addressing those needs both at school and at home.  Utilize parent surveys to further assess these needs, developing a wider knowledge base of where our vision is as a whole.

• Develop a core group of parent to collaboratively work with FISD administrators to share ideas from the round table discussions and data from surveys along with positive ideas of how we can work to enhance our GT program over time.

• Encourage group formation among our student population based on common interests.

Our main focus with the GT group is to allow the ideas of the parents to mold and shape the GT side of SAGE into what they want it to be.  The majority of our program’s budget this year will be spent on filling out our GT program.  We realize that merging the services that GATES previously provided for G/T students and parents with SAGE has created concern for some parents and students.  We are, however, pleased to continue some of the ideas and wonderful activities that  were generated by GATES.  In addition, we look forward to gathering new and varied ideas from those of you who wish to participate in SAGE.

 

I look forward to meeting you!

 

Sincerely,

Cindy Badon

Welcome to QUEST 2011-2012!

If you haven't figured it out yet from the theme of this year's blog, our topic this year in QUEST is "codes and ciphers," also known as cryptology. We'll explore the evolution of cryptology throughout history and in a variety of settings. It will also be a gateway into higher order thinking across the disciplines, from math/logic to science to social studies and language arts.

Please consider using the "Follow by Email" option on the blog main page to get email notifications whenever the blog has been updated. It will be an important tool for parents, as I will be providing information on our curriculum and projects (including photos and that sort of thing) as well as resources to support you as the parent of a gifted child.

There will also be resources for students, including links to recommended online activities and even some secretly embedded codes they'll need to solve! In fact, here is the first secret code of the year:

.-- . .-.. -.-. --- -- .   - ---   --.- ..- . ... -

. .- -   -.-- --- ..- .-.   ...- . --. . - .- -... .-.. . ...

Need a little help with that? First try the morse code reference chart above. Still can't crack it? OK, just this time you can try the "Morse Code Conversion" link on the right.

I'm very excited about this year and I hope your child is too!