DCSD Gifted Education News
January, 2021
Douglas County School District Gifted Education
Equity of Access
Opportunity ~ Agency ~ Empowerment
Vision:
We seek out, surface, and nurture the potential in each student from all races, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
Mission:
We partner with staff, students, families, and our community to design/refine/implement equitable and culturally responsive systems of identification and programming for high potential/advanced/gifted students from all demographic groups in all schools.
Email: heather.groff@dcsdk12.org
Website: dcsdk12.org/gifted-education
Location: 620 Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: 303-387-0191
Director's Corner
Your ongoing partnership is invaluable as we learn and grow together to support our gifted learners. Please reach out to the Gifted Education Facilitator at your child’s school or someone from our team with any questions or concerns.
With gratitude,
Natasha Straayer
Parenting Gifted Children
Rock Your Family Life and Raise Awesome Gifted Kids
The Truth About Gifted Family Dynamics
Raising outliers is tough. So many people-the ones who really just don’t know what they don’t know-assume that parenting gifted kids is easy. All the time. We know it’s not.
Gifted kiddos are neurological outliers, and when one’s wired differently, one thinks, processes, and experiences things differently. We have four very, VERY differently wired kids living in this house — and since apples don’t fall to far from their proverbial trees, we can probably safely say that we have six differently wired brains in here.
That brings about intensities and overexcitabilities that can make family life a little… more.
On any given day, our kiddos can be the very best of friends. And then they’re not. Suddenly, they’re the very worst enemies imaginable and are sure the each is out to get the other. And then they’re buddies again, playing, creating, and dramatizing everything. Loudly.
It’s enough to give an exhausted mama whiplash.
Read the full article HERE.
Build a Person, Not a Resume
by Valerie Erde, Veridian Blog
As an ACT/SAT/AP tutor and college essay advisor who has worked with dozens of families over the past several years, I often hear from parents who are very concerned about their children getting into top colleges. This is natural — we all want what's best for our children, and we know that a high-quality education plays an important role in their future success. I've been through the college application process with my own two children, and I know just how intense that can be.
But all too often, parents of eighth and ninth graders - or even of younger children - want to talk to me about their kids' resumes e.g. “Will ______ (debate team, lacrosse, violin, service trip to Haiti, 8 APs, etc, etc. ) look good on my child’s resume?” They’re often thinking about the what’s rather than the why’s and the how’s.
This is a mistake.
First of all, 13- and 14-year-olds aren’t ready to have resumes, and second, focusing on the resume first is backwards. Instead, you want to guide and support your children in building personal attributes first; the rest will follow naturally as your children develop their intellect, skills, and talents and discover who they are.
I found myself advising parents to "build a person, not a resume" so often that I trademarked the phrase (which is why you see that cute TM symbol in the title of this post). It's important for you to allow your kids to grow and mature into unique individuals, and you may be surprised to learn the colleges want to admit interesting, complex people over cookie-cutter box checkers.
Read the full article HERE.
Connect with Other Familes of Gifted Children
Gifted and Talented Leaders of Color and Allies
Gifted/Talented Initiatives for the Support and Advancement of Gifted Students of Color
Gifted & Talented Leaders of Color and Allies
presents Black Family Night - Part 2, February 11, 5:30-6:30pm MT.
Families are welcome to attend even if you did not catch part 1.
Register: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScnpcQehyM6pM.../viewform
Who we are: The Gifted and Talented (GT) Leaders of Color and Allies started in late 2019 with a few educators of Color collaborating with advocates for the support, connection, and empowerment of Gifted Students and Educators of Color.
Follow/Join Us at: Gifted & Talented Leaders of Color and Allies on Facebook
Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT) Upcoming Events
Join DCAGT on our Facebook page on Wednesday, January 27, from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M.
During this session we will be talking about the Referral Process and Gifted Identification in DCSD.
On Monday, February 8, from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. we will be covering the Early Access to Kindergarten or First Grade process.
Have you missed our previous Facebook Live sessions? Find archived videos HERE.
Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT) is the DCSD affiliate for CAGT. We want to reach and connect the gifted community with opportunities to share experiences and exchange information. We hope that you will join us in our community events.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Calendar of Events
PEN's 5th Annual Virtual Stress & Anxiety Conference Series Part One
PEN's 5th Annual Virtual Stress & Anxiety Conference Series Part One
Parent Engagement Network Presents:
Thriving in an Unpredictable World
Friday Jan 29th & Saturday Jan 30th 2021
5 Workshops Each Day
Get the information, awareness, skills, and resources you need to manage stress and anxiety and support others to do the same!
RETHINK | RESET | REFRESH
More information and registration HERE.
Conversations with CAGT Continues every Tuesday night!
Streaming on Facebook Live every Tuesday, we feature a different expert in gifted education Each week who will speak on a current GT topic in a live video chat on CAGT's Facebook page with time for your questions!
Every Tuesday at 5pm!
Tue. Jan. 26th: Joel McIntosh
"Toward Equity in Gifted Education Using Behavior Rating Scales"
Coming up in February:
Tue. Feb. 2nd: Dr. Dan Peters
Tue. Feb. 9th: Susanne Keeley
Tue. Feb. 16th: TBA
Tue. Feb. 23rd: Emily Kircher-Morris
Watch the recording of archived webinars here.
Supporting Exhausted Parents during the Pandemic
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Thursdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Fridays at 2PM NZDT/Noon AEDT/Midnight UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Wakelet. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news and information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Family Resources
Breaking the Code: A history of women in STEM
Thu, January 21, 2021
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM MST
Join American Experience for a discussion on pioneering women in STEM, inspired by our new film, The Codebreaker.
Join American Experience for a discussion with author Jason Fagone and CODE-EQUAL co-founders Valeria and Kyara Torres-Olivares, moderated by professor Adriane Lentz-Smith on pioneering women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The event, produced in conjunction with the premiere of American Experience’s The Codebreaker on PBS, will include an excerpt from the film and a discussion amongst participants about Elizebeth Friedman’s groundbreaking accomplishments in cryptology, and how her legacy lives on today in groups dedicated to increasing opportunities for young women in STEM.
Find more information and registration HERE.
Enriching and Extending Reading for Your Gifted Child
Science & Arts Academy Snapshots 30 minute virtual events for parents
Tuesday, January 26
2:00 - 2:30pm CT
Are you interested in cultivating a deeper reading experience for your gifted child?Join us for this 30-minute virtual Snapshot event with SAA’s Dr. Ama Thompson to learn ways to enhance your child’s reading at home, including book selection tips and practical enrichment and extension ideas.
This event is free and open to the public.
More information and registration HERE.
NAGC: Championing Equity and Supporting Social Justice for Black Students in Gifted Education
On June 5th, 2020, the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) published a statement denouncing systemic racism and supporting racial justice. Today, on behalf of the NAGC Board of Directors, we share an expanded vision and plan of action to confront systemic racism and advance equity for Black students in gifted education.
The actions in this plan are only the beginning; we share them now to convey NAGC's commitment to the future. We realize these actions will require changes to NAGC’s traditional models for planning, resource allocation, and leadership development. We are firmly committed to making NAGC a leading catalyst for solutions to systemic and institutionalized racism as the country strives to become a better version of itself.
For Middle and High School Students
Colorado Youth Diversity Conference
Join hundreds of teens and teachers from across Colorado on the weekend of January 30-31, 2021, for a unique and powerful experience planned entirely by and for students.
The Conference is open to all high school students and supportive teachers/adults from across Colorado.
Get more information HERE.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation - Young Scholars Program
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholars Program application IS OPEN. Deadline to apply is March 22, 2021.
The Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. It provides academic advising, along with financial support for school, summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities.
Eligible applicants should:
- Be entering 8th grade in the fall of 2021.
- Have earned all As and Bs since the beginning of 6th grade.
- Reside in the U.S. and plan to attend high school in the U.S.
- Demonstrate financial need with a maximum adjusted gross income of $95,000.
To register for email updates about the program and application, please click here. Thank you for your dedication to high-achieving students of all backgrounds.
Davidson Fellows Scholarship | Application Is Open for 2020-21
The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 scholarships to gifted and high-achieving students, 18 years old or under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Outside the Box. The submission deadline for the Davidson Fellows Scholarship is March 10 2021. Click here to learn more.
Specific Interest Resources
Twice Exceptional
The 2e at W&M Conference 2021 will be online, Friday and Saturday, February 12-13, 2021
The 2e @ W&M: Twice Exceptional Conference focuses on twice-exceptional (high-ability/gifted with learning differences/disabilities or neurodiverse) children both at home and at school. The goal of the conference is to provide information, resources, support, and community building opportunities to educators, administrators, parents, practitioners, counselors, and district personnel.
More information and registration HERE.
Tips for Motivating Your Teen
Of course you want to motivate your child to do well, but here's the thing:
True motivation, just like true learning, must come from within. It can't be forced upon anyone.
You know what they say about leading a horse to water, and as a parent you've probably provided so many opportunities that you've lost count. But you can't force kids to be passionate about something that doesn't move them any more than you can get that ornery horse to drink the water you've so lovingly provided.
In Viridian: Read the full blog HERE.
Exploring Education and Executive Function WITH SETH PERLER
Does your differently-wired child struggle with getting things done or remembering the steps necessary to accomplish a task? These are some of what is called executive function skills. The official definition of executive function is a set of processes that have to do with managing oneself and one’s resources in order to achieve a goal. When kids struggle with executive function, it impacts them in all areas of their lives.
In this episode, Colleen speaks with Seth Perler, executive function coach, educator, and vlogger who genuinely cares about seeing outside-the-box kids succeed. They discuss executive function skills and how our quirky kids may need different approaches to learning.
Listen to podcast HERE.