Doctors: Constant texting may reshape adolescent development
With the average U.S. teen sending and receiving nearly 80 text messages per day, the technology may be affecting student health, physicians say. Although it is too soon for there to be conclusive data, experts say text messaging teens are prone to academic inattention, lost sleep and thumb injuries as well as an inability to develop autonomy from parents and peers. The New York Times (5/25)

Preteen who is gifted raises money to fight hunger
Taylor Graham, 11, who is gifted, has a knack for fundraising that helped him raise nearly $13,000 this year through the "Read for the Need" program to aid an Oregon food pantry. In 2004, Taylor thought up and spearheaded "Read for the Need," which raised $29,000 in its first three years. The Oregonian (Portland) (5/25) 

Indiana district expands program for students who are gifted
Identifying more students who are gifted has prompted an Indiana district to expand its accelerated-learning program. A pilot program will place half the middle-school students who are gifted in team-taught classrooms. The Indianapolis Star (5/23)

Arts education may change how students think
Researchers are studying possible links between studying the arts and achievement in academic subjects such as math and reading. Neuroscientists are studying whether students who learn music or visual or performing arts experience changes in brain structure and thinking that help them perform better in other areas. The Sun (Baltimore) (5/18)

Boy with autism expresses himself through artistic gifts
Johnny Reisel, 10, has autism, but is exceptionally talented at drawing cityscapes, his family says. "We just feel that Johnny's been given this gift and if somehow through his gift it makes people more aware of how amazing these kids are, then we're willing to share it," said his mother, Eileen. WLS-TV (Chicago) (4/12)

      Students check chess skills in quadrennial competition
The New York Times (4/11)

Do high IQ scores create unreasonable expectations?
Marilyn vos Savant, who at age 10 earned an IQ score of 228, writes a magazine advice column, prompting some to criticize her for wasting her talents while others use her occupation to lambaste the IQ test itself. Savant never completed college and worked in a family dry cleaning business until her childhood IQ score was released to Guinness World Records in the 1980s. Financial Times (4/10)

Educators: Connecticut policies put gifted programs at risk
Connecticut's gifted-education programs are not mandated or funded by the state, so some administrators are cutting them to balance district budgets. But gifted educators say such moves shortchange bright students who are then at greater risk of losing interest in school. The state used to fund gifted programs at the same rate as those for students with special needs. The Hartford Courant (Conn.) (4/10)

Montana gifted educator wins top administrative award
Montana educator Bob Runkel was presented with a Council of Administrators of Special Education award at the annual CEC conference in Seattle. Runkel, who is licensed as a special educator and school psychologist, is Montana's acting deputy superintendent and advocates for students who are gifted and students with special needs, said Denise Juneau, Montana's state superintendent. Independent Record (Helena, Mont.) (4/3)

Study: Boys who are gifted are more likely to play dumb
British children who are gifted intentionally fall behind in school to avoid bullying, according to an education professor's research on 12- and 13-year-olds in nine schools. Boys in particular were under more pressure to "dumb down" to become popular, which may partly account for the perceived gender gap, said researcher Becky Francis. The Observer (London) (3/29)

Advanced courses to expand opportunities for students who are gifted

New advanced middle-school courses in a Maryland district aim to prepare students who are gifted for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes in high school. Every Montgomery County middle school is expected to offer the advanced English, social studies and science courses within five years. The Washington Post

10-year-old chess whiz beats out adult competition

The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

Children who are gifted may face unreasonable pressures

Children who are gifted sometimes feel pressure to be "on" all the time, even in subjects at which they don't excel, gifted-education specialist Tamara Fisher writes in a blog post that followed a revealing conversation with her students. "I feel like any little thing I get wrong is seen by them as a giant black spot on my soul," one boy said. Teacher Magazine/Unwrapping the Gifted blog (Teacher Magazine)

Indiana district's school board delays decision on gifted program:

School board members are questioning the wisdom of a proposed change to a gifted program for third- and fourth-graders in one Indiana district. The enhanced program would make the curriculum full time and separate from regular classrooms. Educators say the program would expand gifted opportunities to more students and extend the curriculum from 45 minutes each for reading and math to a full-time curriculum covering language arts, math, science and social studies. The Indianapolis Star

Minnesota district might create school for exceptionally gifted students
A well-off suburban Minneapolis district is proposing a new school for highly gifted learners that could open in the fall. The proposed school intrigues parent Deb Sposito, who says she'd otherwise be likely to home-school her son Cooper, 6, who isn't challenged in his first-grade classroom. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul)

Column: Socioeconomics may color perception of special education
Different socioeconomic groups see special-needs and gifted labels very differently, writes Examiner special-education columnist Andrea Hermitt. Affluent parents tend to view special-education identification positively and lament what they perceive as insufficient services, while low-income parents see the same labels as a way for schools to remove students from mainstream classrooms. The Examiner

High-tech math keeps algebra class engaged in problem solving
A computer golf program is helping students in one Virginia algebra class learn as they examine the pathway of a soaring ball, then analyze whether their answer makes sense in the real world. Teacher Maricia Granby can also electronically analyze how students solve problems so that she can help them work through where they went wrong. "It changes how I teach," she said, "because ... I can work with them immediately to correct the problem." Daily Press (Newport News/Hampton, Va.)

First-grade algebra has long-term dividends
Some Oregon students are being introduced to algebra as early as first grade -- an approach that is paying off in later grades with 80% of Lebanon eighth-graders passing state math exams. Instead of using flash cards and memorization techniques, students are asked to defend how they arrived at an answer, which teachers say helps them understand the lessons. The Oregonian (Portland)

Workshop lets children explore science
"What happened?" is the magic question for Dan Sudran, 64, who runs a nonprofit San Francisco workshop that aims to engage some 3,000 students each year in the scientific process, especially when they get little exposure to the subject at school. He encourages children to closely observe the world around them and helps them conduct simple experiments that illustrate important scientific concepts. San Francisco Chronicle

Missouri legislator to draw on experience as former gifted educator
Rep. Sara Lampe, a Springfield Democrat, wants to require all Missouri schools offer gifted and talented programs and seek out more funding both for gifted students and those with autism. Lampe previously ran a gifted-education center. Springfield News-Leader (Mo.)

Teacher dilemma: To friend or not to friend?
Some teachers praise the benefits of connecting with students via the social networking site Facebook, while critics question whether teachers should be communicating with students online. Proponents say they are able to send e-mails asking why students aren't in school, catch up with former students and even help those now in college; but educators warn that professional boundaries must be maintained. Houston Chronicle

·        Students support each other, focus on character at Connecticut school 

Report: Middle school central to college, work preparation
Fewer than 20% of U.S. eighth-graders are on track for college and many are unable to catch up during high school, according to a new ACT report based on 216,000 students who took precursors to the college-entrance exam in the eighth- and tenth-grades. "What we're saying is college and career readiness is a process that includes high school but is not exclusively a high school issue. It's a K-12 issue," said Cyndie Schmeiser, president of ACT's education division. Chicago Tribune

·         11-year-old found new challenges at community college
David Levy, now 14, will graduate from a Houston community college with an associate's degree in mathematics and is already studying mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. David skipped kindergarten and fifth grade before beginning college classes three years ago. Teacher Magazine/The Associated Press

Obituary: Gifted teacher expanded opportunities for struggling students
Teacher Bernie Glaze, who established the rigorous International Baccalaureate program in what was then considered one of Northern Virginia's most troubled schools, died Nov. 20. Glaze was known for finding and nurturing the potential in all students, no matter what their level of achievement. The Washington Post

Teens excel with award-winning science projects
The high school winners and finalists in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology include many teens who are gifted like Raphael-Joel Lim, 17, who sometimes struggle to find acceptance but have bright futures. "These remarkable students have achieved the most coveted and competitive high school science recognition," said Thomas McCausland, chairman of the Siemens Foundation. "There is no doubt that these scholars will change the world, starting right now, with their passion for math and science." National Public Radio (audio player required), The Dallas Morning News/The Associated Press, NJ.com/The Associated Press

Virginia struggles with funding for online classes
Virginia's online-learning program is in high demand among students, in part for its 22 AP classes and other specialized electives, and has drawn some tuition-paying home-school, private and international students. But stagnant state funding may prevent the virtual program from taking on more students. Daily Press (Newport News/Hampton, Va.)/The Associated Press

§  BBook: "Virtual backpacks" could help individualize education
Better ways of compiling student data could revolutionize educational research and allow teachers to better tailor lessons to their students' needs, according to a new book published by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Rather than simply aggregating testing data, states should put it into formats that educators can use, researchers say, but privacy concerns can make such efforts challenging. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Report: U.S. education spending often haphazardly distributed
The U.S. education system often spends more on well-off students than poor ones and more for elective and AP classes than core and remedial ones, according to a new report about financing at the 97,000 U.S. schools. "Because we have a system where money is not connected to outcomes, we're not able to answer the question, 'How much should we be spending?'" said project research director Marguerite Roza, a University of Washington research associate professor. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Multi-age program is district's "best-kept secret"
A Michigan school uses multi-age groups based on student skill levels to engage students' curiosity. "It's centered around the idea that kids are naturally curious," said principal Harry Weller. "While the regular curriculum drives what students learn, kids are encouraged to pursue their own ideas at Voyager." Grand Haven Tribune (Mich.)

Analysis ties media exposure to negative health effects
A new analysis of 173 studies conducted over nearly 30 years found that modern children on average spend 45 hours weekly exposed to the media through TV, movies, the Internet and video games while just 30 hours are spent in school and 17 hours with their parents. About 80% of the studies found that exposure may have negative health effects. "Our kids are sponges, and we really need to remember they learn from their environment," said Cary P. Gross, a Yale School of Medicine professor. The Washington Post

Students can benefit from tackling hardest material first
While most teachers progress from easier topics to more advanced ones, that may not always be the best approach, according to a new study. When students were taught to classify materials according to complex criteria, they scored better when they worked on harder problems first. Researchers said those who started with easy items tended to oversimplify and did not think abstractly enough to do well. Although not specifically about gifted, this illustrates the point that content can be learned by the gifted beginning with the complex overarching aspects instead of the slow incremental approach. Science Daily

Teens with dyslexia win praise for science-fiction novel
Twin 13-year-old girls with dyslexia penned an award-winning novel thanks to their father's help and encouragement. "It became the ultimate family hobby," said Brittany Winner whose sister Brianna and father Jeff wrote the science-fiction adventure, "The Strand Prophecy," under the pseudonym J.B.B. Winner, and plan four more in the series. Downey Patriot, The (Calif.)

Survey links new teachers' characteristics to classroom effectiveness
Teachers' intelligence, subject expertise, character and confidence are modestly linked to student performance, but only when grouped together, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research survey of more than 400 new New York City teachers. The working paper could not statistically link any of the criteria alone to student performance. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Minnesota study to examine students who are twice-exceptional
Children who are both gifted and have disabilities face unique challenges, and a new five-year Minnesota study aims to identify better methods of identifying and teaching such students. University of St. Thomas educators, aided by a $490,000 federal grant, will work with four Minnesota school districts to complete the research. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul)

Homeschooling expands far beyond religious conservatives
Diverse parents frustrated with the state of U.S. schools are increasingly teaching their children at home, with 14% citing special needs as a reason for keeping children at home in a 2003 survey. "The school system in this country -- public and private -- is designed for the industrial age," said actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who schools her two children and a nephew at home. "We're in a technological age. We don't want our kids to memorize. We want them to learn." Education Next

More U.S. states grapple with education funding woes
Across the United States, schools may soon face budget freezes or cuts as states grapple with revenue shortfalls due to the worsening economy. "I think this is the best we can do in the situation we're involved in," said Mark E. Emblidge, president of Virginia's board of education, which has opted not to ask for funding increases this year for the Standards of Quality, state-mandated minimum goals for public schools. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)/The Associated Press

Children who are academically gifted can master social niceties, too
Children who are gifted academically but not socially may have a difficult time in school, but they can learn social skills by approaching them with the same rational reasoning they apply so skillfully elsewhere, says psychologist Lawrence Welkowitz. "[Children who are gifted] have different agendas than others, who tend to focus more on friendships, relationships and social aspects of work," he says. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)/Psychology Today

·         Elementary-school student's bird research to be published in scientific journal

Report: Nearly 4 million college students enroll in online courses
Acceptance of online degrees is growing as nearly a quarter of all U.S. college students took at least one online course in fall 2007, up nearly 13% from the year-ago fall semester, according to a report from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. "Every year, we think it will level out, and it hasn't done so quite yet," said the report's co-author, Jeff Seaman. "At some point, the demand is going to be met and [enrollment numbers] will meet some sort of steady state." eSchool News

Study: Preschoolers need to learn academic and social skills
Preschoolers do better if they are taught both social and academic skills, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies. "If preschools focus just on the facts -- let's just get the letter knowledge in, let's just get the number knowledge in -- they're really missing the engine that's going to drive the desire and motivation for learning," said lead researcher Karen Bierman, a Penn State University psychology professor. Google/The Associated Press, ScienceDaily

Harvard team examines how the Internet shapes teens' values
Researchers running a Harvard Graduate School of Education project are examining how teens' interaction with the Internet shapes their ethics. "Even though many young people may not be ready to participate in the wider communities that digital media open up to them, there is no controlling information about yourself or others that gets posted," said Howard Gardner, who co-directs the project. "It's a situation that's foisted upon young persons who are not ready for it." Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Tool suggests books based on student reading levels
Teachers and parents in Virginia and 19 other states can log on to a new online database for customized reading lists drawn from 130,000 children's titles tailored to students' reading scores. "Teachers can use Lexile measures to assign and recommend books that will help students develop stronger reading skills," said state superintendent Patricia I. Wright. "Parents can use Lexile measures to select texts that reinforce what teachers are trying to accomplish in the classroom." The Washington Post

Arizona charter treats all students like gifted children
A Tucson, Ariz., charter school is teaching Chinese to preschoolers, division in kindergarten, Advanced Placement in middle school and calculus by ninth grade. The 9-year-old school groups students by ability level, not age, and operates on the premise that all students can perform at gifted levels. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)/The Associated Press

Parent urges students to consider effect of online bullying
John Halligan, whose 13-year-old son committed suicide after being bullied online, doesn't want the same fate to befall anyone else. He's taking his message to students, who he says hold the key to stop such behavior by teaching their peers about the effect of cyberbullying. The Burlington Free Press (Vt.)/The Associated Press

Asperger's (high-functioning autistic) diagnosis elusive for N.Y. family
Jason Ross was misdiagnosed for years until his Asperger's syndrome was finally identified when he was 25. "I started working with a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Asperger's," said Jason's mother, Lois Ross, a social worker. "I kept coming home and telling my husband, 'I'm working with Jason!'" ABC News

Study: Aggression linked to video games echoes for months
Children and teenagers in both Japan and the United States displayed increased aggression -- like getting in fights at school -- for five to six months after playing violent video games, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. "When you find consistent effects across two very different cultures, you're looking at a pretty powerful phenomenon," said lead author Craig A. Anderson, an Iowa State University psychology professor who leads the school's Center for the Study of Violence. "We now have conclusive evidence that playing violent video games has harmful effects on children and adolescents." The Washington Post

Obituary: Veteran Florida educator created gifted programs
Joseph A. Orr, whose 40-year career with the Palm Beach County, Fla., public schools included various leadership and administrative roles, died Saturday of prostate cancer. The 78-year-old is credited with bringing rigorous academic programs to the Palm Beach County School District, including International Baccalaureate and gifted programs. The Palm Beach Post (Fla.)

Column: All students can benefit from AP, IB classes
While some of Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews's readers question the benefit of AP and IB courses and tests for students already struggling in school, Mathews says the courses challenge such teens. If they do well, they gain confidence in their ability to handle college work, Mathews writes, and if they don't they learn what they need to do to improve. The Washington Post

Gifted 12-year-old tackles college
Colin Carlson, 12, who started his freshman year this fall at the University of Connecticut, exemplifies the difficult journey faced by many gifted children. For many, K-12 classes no longer offer a challenge but college admissions offices are unwilling to take on the challenge of educating them. The New York Times

Policy to equalize gifted access shut out more disadvantaged children
A New York City policy meant to equalize access to the city's gifted programs for disadvantaged children has instead halved the number of gifted programs and reduced the numbers of participating black and Hispanic children. Under-enrollment caused 28 schools -- especially those in low-income areas -- to cancel their gifted programs. The New York Times

Art helped woman with Asperger's syndrome learn to express herself
Yvette Prefontaine, 27, who has Asperger's syndrome, uses art to communicate and focus. "One of the things we know about people with autism is that they often perceive the world differently, so that one or two or up to all senses can take in information much more intensely than the rest of us," said Deborah Barrett of the Autism Society of Edmonton Area. "It's really a gift to be able to see the world through their eyes." The Edmonton Journal (Canada)

Officials hope to create love of music through early education
About 200,000 Chicago-area students will get greater exposure to music through a Chicago Symphony Orchestra partnership designed to improve access to and information about symphonic music. Chicagoans, from kindergartners to young adults, can participate in the programs regardless of their musical experience. Chicago Sun-Times

Supreme Court considers giving teachers partial lawsuit immunity
A case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this week could offer teachers protection from being sued for their actions at school unless they violate well-known laws. Police officers already receive such qualified immunity, and similar protections for educators could spare teachers from costly litigation expenses. The court is expected to rule on the case by June. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Research suggests link between food dyes, hyperactivity in children
Officials are reacting to new research suggesting a link between artificial colors in food and hyperactivity in children. In the U.K., food makers are being asked to voluntarily recall six artificial colors; and in the U.S., the FDA is reviewing a petition calling for a ban on eight artificial food colors. Los Angeles Times) (free registration

Gifted students tackle complex math in high school
As of 2004, more than a third of graduating seniors had tackled pre-calculus or calculus during their stint in high school, per federal data, and advanced math students are increasingly seeking out even more challenging courses such as multivariable calculus and linear algebra. "This class is pretty difficult," said Bobbie Pelham Webb, a 17-year-old senior, of her complex variables class, usually taught only to college juniors or seniors majoring in math. "It is one of the first classes that is challenging to me. Calculus was easy." The Washington Post

Parents call selection of gifted children "subjective"
Parents in a Boston suburb say selection for a program for gifted children was too subjective, and should have been based on test scores. The Massachusetts school used behavior traits to decide the 14 children that would be selected for the program, which critics say was developed mostly in secret. The Boston Globe

Standardized GPA proposal draws scrutiny from Texas educators
High-school courses in such areas as arts, career or technical fields would no longer count toward students' GPAs under a proposal being considered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which oversees public colleges and universities and is trying to develop a formula for high schools to use in calculating GPAs to ensure a uniform standard for higher-education admissions. Under the plan, only courses in English, math, science, social studies and foreign languages would count toward a four-point grading scale, with AP, IB and dual-enrollment courses meriting an extra point. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Lego robotics set encourages math, science problem solving
WeDo, a $120 robotics package targeted at second through sixth graders, to be available in the U.S. in January from the makers of Lego toys, aims to teach elementary students how to design machines and write basic software. Teachers can assign any of 12 critical-thinking challenges centering on animals, sports and other themes. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

Is it fair for schools to "re-route" gifted scores?
A Louisiana district's plan to count the scores of children in gifted programs toward schools they don't attend has attracted the attention of a state watchdog group and the state's education department. The practice of "re-routing" scores of students who attend magnet schools is deceptive, says the Council for a Better Louisiana. But a district spokesman says it only levels the playing field since schools are required to count the scores of students in alternative or disciplinary schools. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)/The Associated Press

Oregon district plans expansion of gifted program
An Oregon district is adding training and planning time for teachers of gifted students. The district has almost two times the gifted population as the state average. The Oregonian (Portland)

Educator: Latin study may help struggling students learn
Baynard Woods, who has taught Latin to urban youth, says the language can revolutionize the way struggling students learn. The language's emphasis on rote memorization and critical thinking is an alternate method toward literacy that many students seemed to prefer to reading and writing, he says. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)

September 22, 2008

Report: 29% of lowest-scoring students enrolled in advanced math
Some 38% of U.S. eighth-graders are now taking algebra or other advanced math classes, but many may be missing out on arithmetic fundamentals, according to a new Brookings Institution report based on National Assessment of Educational Progress data. Some misplaced students "don't know very much math at all and yet they're taking courses in advanced math," said the report's author, Tom Loveless. "It might make everyone feel better, but the whole arrangement is counterfeit." USA TODAY, Google/The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post

September 18, 2008

September 14, 2008

Site aims to pique student interest in science
The online community TestToob allows middle-school and high-school science aficionados to post and view science videos and network with like-minded teens. "It's just how human beings interact," said founder Lopa Mehrotra, a mother of two. "We create. We want to share it. And when we see what somebody else has done, we want to imitate it." The Cincinnati Enquirer

September 14, 2008

Books can show students that life is more than a paycheck
Teaching reading as a series of skills-checklists too often destroys the joy and discovery books are meant to bring, writes sixth-grade language-arts teacher and blogger Donalyn Miller. "It seems that while we fight to teach kids the skills they need to live, we have sacrificed those elements that make it worth living," she writes. "The bland sameness of our days ... leaves little room for examining why life and our place in the world are remarkable gifts." Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org)/The Book Whisperer

September 13, 2008

High-achievers need special services too
The United States is on the verge of a gifted-education crisis, writes Del Siegle, president of the National Association for Gifted Children. Lawmakers must realize that students who are gifted need specialized services to help them develop to their full potential. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.)

September 8, 2008

Math grades tied to primitive "number sense"
Students with good "number sense" -- the innate ability to rapidly estimate the number of items in a group -- tend to earn better math grades across their academic careers, according to new research published online in the journal Nature. "The link between math achievement and number sense is really stunning," said one expert. "The potential here could be very important." The Washington Post

September 7, 2008

September 1, 2008

Should students choose between college-prep and vocational tracks?
Proponents of vocational education like California high school teacher Chris Peters say a radical overhaul could make U.S. secondary schools more effective. High schoolers should spend their first two years meeting basic standards, supporters say, then if they pass subject exams, they could choose between a college-prep track or a variety of community college vocational programs. The Washington Post

August 26, 2008

Baltimore gifted school churns out perfect SAT scores 
Fewer than 1% of students who take the SAT earn perfect scores, but at the Ingenuity Project -- a Baltimore program for gifted students -- earning flawless scores has become more commonplace. National Public Radio (audio player required)

August 25, 2008

Column: Parents should know a child's learning style
Understanding a child's learning style may help parents spot learning disabilities and giftedness, says clinical psychologist Offra Gerstein. Such knowledge may also make missed developmental milestones more obvious to parents, she says. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)

August 24, 2008

Research links school performance, diet
A dietitian suggests children benefit from a balanced diet, which can help with improve their concentration and memory. A breakfast including such wholesome items as fruits and unprocessed grains can provide a great start to the day, research shows. Yahoo!/HealthDay News

August 22, 2008

Debate: Do educators expect too much of too many students?
In "Real Education," Charles Murray asserts that the problem with modern education isn't low expectations but unrealistic ones, saying many students who are being propelled toward the college track just aren't smart enough to pursue these studies, while academically stronger students aren't given sufficient attention. Murray's plan to put most students on vocational tracks risks underestimating the academic capabilities of late-bloomers and others with disadvantages, writes former U.S. News & World Report education editor Ben Wildavsky. The Wall Street Journal (free content)

August 20, 2008

Gifted students need Olympics-style coaches, support
As enjoyable as the Olympics were, they underlined a double standard between academics and athletics, writes gifted teacher and blogger Tamara Fisher. While we coach the athletically talented to aim high, the academically gifted are too often expected to develop their skills on their own, she says. Teacher Magazine/Unwrapping the Gifted

August 18, 2008

Study: Few lasting benefits to delaying kindergarten
Students held back from kindergarten for a year may score better in the first few months of school, but they lose almost all that advantage by the eighth grade, according to a new study. "If it were true that older kids are able to learn at a faster rate, then the differences in test scores should get bigger as kids progress and the material gets more difficult. But we really see the opposite," said co-author Darren Lubotsky, a University of Illinois economics professor. "Older kids do better at first and younger kids do worse, but they catch up." ScienceDaily

August 17, 2008

§    Gold medalist with ADHD rewrites Olympic history
Michael Phelps has now won his eighth gold medal of the 2008 Olympic games -- more than any other athlete in the modern history of the games -- with a focus that belies his history of ADHD. "It really shows that no matter what you set your imagination to, anything can happen," he said. "If you dream as big as you can dream, anything's possible." Bloomberg, TIME

August 13, 2008

August 8, 2008

College-prep exam tailored to 8th-graders to roll out in 2010
By 2010, the College Board will roll out a voluntary eighth-grade college-prep assessment exam, saying it is responding to younger students who want to take the PSAT, which is designed for 10th- and 11th-graders to also take on a voluntary basis as practice for the SAT. "By the time they [8th-graders] are taking the PSAT, it's much too late to determine whether they should be taking algebra in the eighth grade, biology, and other important gatekeeper classes needed for college," said Wayne Camara, the College Board's VP for research and analysis. "This test will help schools identify students who have some talent and could likely succeed if they take honors or AP courses, but have not been recognized." Los Angeles Times

August 6, 2008

July 30, 2008

Interest in environmental education grows
From recycling to racing solar-powered cars, interest in eco-friendly curricula is taking off, but educators must sometimes walk a fine line between education and advocacy. "The role of an educator is not to teach kids what to think but how to think," said Brian Day, executive director of the North American Association for Environmental Education, which helps educators develop science-based green curricula. USA TODAY/Gannett News Service

July 28, 2008

Top educator's secrets to teaching success
Start the school day early to maximize preparation time, fake it when you think you're too tired to continue and never forget that students are not the enemy, writes 2008 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Cindi Rigsbee. Remember to cheer student and colleague successes and don't hide your own talents or successes: use them to bond with students and parents, she writes. Teacher Magazine

July 27, 2008

Do higher test scores mean students are getting smarter?
While some educators celebrate various states' testing gains, some critics are skeptical of the results, pointing in some cases to shorter exams, easier questions or a lowered bar for passage. "Congress has told governments and state school officials that all children must be magically proficient by 2014," said Bruce Fuller, a University of California at Berkeley professor of education and public policy. "They're finding ways to make sure everybody creeps toward universal proficiency." The Washington Post

Virtual field trips a viable alternative amid skyrocketing fuel costs
Class trips to the Louvre or the Grand Canyon may seem like a pipe dream, but technology can allow almost any student to travel virtually to such attractions with only a Web browser or video-conferencing software. "Virtual field trips offer inspiring ways for students to engage with the world outside their immediate surroundings," said Ruth Blankenbaker, who organizes virtual field trips. "Geographic boundaries disappear, and the world becomes their classroom." eSchool News

Cuts to summer-school programs may hurt struggling, gifted
Remedial and enrichment summer classes are being eliminated across the country as schools seek to balance budgets in a tight economy. "Cutting these kinds of programs is incredibly shortsighted, and will cost us more in the long run than we could ever save short term," said California state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat. The New York Times/Associated Press

Children's empathy may lead to greater understanding of bullying
Children's brains normally respond to seeing others in pain as if it were happening to them, according to new brain-scanning research published in the journal Neuropsychologia. When the pain was not accidental, brain regions involved in social and moral behavior were also activated, which researchers said was the children trying to find a reason for the actions. ABC News/Reuters

Does the Internet destroy focus?
As the Web beckons with the promise of unlimited information and hyperlinks galore, it may promote a skim-and-bounce reading style that discourages the focus necessary to wade through thick tomes, writes author Nicholas Carr. "As we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence," he writes. The Atlantic Monthly

New national gifted-ed standards for PreK-12 professional development
Born from the collaboration of NAGC, CEC and TAG, this new resource reflects best practices in gifted education and explains how to plan and implement in-service training programs or realign existing programs for gifted-education teachers. Find out more.

Many states have cut gifted programs, funding since 2001
Illinois has eliminated $19 million earmarked for quick learners, Michigan has cut gifted programs by more than 93%, and one-fourth of Connecticut districts have eliminated gifted programs, according to research that Drake University professor Sally Beisser will present at Britain's prestigious Oxford Roundtable conference later this month. "I understand the need to focus on children below the mean," she said. But that leaves gifted and talented students without "the challenges and stimulation they need ... teachers only have so much energy and so many resources to distribute." The Des Moines Register (Iowa)