What's New!
Identified Exceptionally Able Learner under NL Dept of Education legislation
WHO CAN JOIN NLAGC? 2008 NLAGC Membership fees are now being accepted
Policy! AESD Stage Two Policy 405- Exceptionally Able Learner
Can Parents Accurately Identify their Own Children as Gifted? NLAGC Parent Discussion Forum
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NLAGC Planning Meeting for
2008
NLAGC will be holding a planning meeting in the next few
weeks in order to discuss “Our Children First” coalition.
Newly Formed Coalition “Our Children First” Meets to Set Action
Plan as a Public Watchdog Group for Special Education in the Province.
St. John’s, February 29, 2007 – Voicing concerns that the
recommendations contained in “Focusing on Children: The Report of the
ISSP/Pathways Commission” will never be fully realized coupled with
disappointment around the lack of an effective appeals process and quality
teacher training “Our Children First Coalition” held an initial
strategy planning meeting last night.
Bringing together representatives from six different community based
organizations and a group of more than 20 parents the meeting was directed
towards developing an action plan. “I have never seen this many different
groups come together of their own initiative” said concerned parent
Debbie Howell. Even so, the group identified the need to reach out to others as
the power of advocacy lies in numbers. That goal will be addressed by members
of the coalition immediately in a campaign designed to unite as many concerned
organizations and individuals as possible into one common voice asking the
government to put our children first.
In the meantime, concern was raised by those in attendance that the government
be held accountable to act on the 70 of the Commission’s recommendations
which were accepted. “What we really need to know,” said Sarah
Colborne-Penney “is who is doing what and when.” The consensus of
the Coalition is that the action plan issued by the government in response to
the Pathways report is too vague to offer any real accountability. Members of
the Coalition will be working together to push for more clarity around the
government’s proposed action plan and greater transparency in the
implementation of that plan.
“We also want to let the government know that we are not forgetting about
the recommendations which were not accepted” added Vice Chair Janet
Rumsey. “It is a huge concern to us that the issues of an effective
appeals process and the quality of teacher education are left unchecked.”
In requesting the Commission’s review of the ISSP process, the government
asked for a comprehensive professional opinion as to whether or not the system
is working. The resounding answer is that the system is not working on any
level or for any stakeholder involved; most importantly the system is failing
our children.
Brent Smith of Easter Seals Newfoundland noted that, “We have an
opportunity that will never come again. The message from the Commission’s
report is clear and the time for parents and community organizations to act is
now.”
The next meeting of the Coalition is scheduled for Wednesday March 12th. Any
interested parties can obtain further information by e-mailing
ourchildrenfirst@gmail.com
Media may contact:
Denise Pike 582-1108
Janet Rumsey 743-2866
If you are a parent or teacher interested in contributing or taking a
leadership role in a specific activity in support of our gifted children,
please contact me for further information.
David McKenzie, NLAGC President
Is it a Cheetah? by Stephanie S. Tolan
Find out more!
Newfoundland & Labrador School Chess Association
Why Should Your Gifted Child Attend Gifted Education Summer Camps?
According to this Purdue University site, their Gifted Education "GERI" Summer Camps provide:
The GERI Summer Camps are open to qualified international applicants; see their site for details.
Benefits of intellectual peer groupings for gifted children
Posted by David McKenzie on November 12, 2003, 8:22 pm
A parent mentioned to me recently that their gifted child was perfectly fine as
the sole gifted child in the school classroom, and they couldn't see any
benefit to intellectual peer groupings. Some children can survive through the
years in this manner, but I believe that most would be happier and would learn
more in school by being grouped periodically with their intellectual peers.
Julia B. Osborn, Ph.D. makes some interesting points about peer groupings [full
article at Link:http://www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/giftedchildren.html]:
"Most programs for gifted children are organized around the provision of
an enriched or accelerated curriculum, yet one of the main benefits of such
programs is the opportunity for varied and satisfying friendships to emerge as
similarly able children are grouped together (Gross, 1993, Hollingworth, 1942,
Subotnik, Summers, Kassan & Wasser, 1993). The gifted child's social
development is enhanced when an appropriate peer group is found. In clinical
interviews and interest surveys, gifted children and adolescents speak openly
of their need to be with other students who share their interests and
abilities; they speak frankly of the strain of minimizing or hiding their
talents in order to protect the feelings of others (Delisle, 1984, Kreuger,
1985). Many students who participate in the talent search summer programs
experience, especially at grades 5 and above, the pleasure of being accepted
for themselves and finding other students with similar interests. It is often
the desire for friendships, rather than the curriculum per se, that motivates
the students to return year after year to these selective programs."
Can Parents Accurately Identify
their Own Children as Gifted?
Posted by David McKenzie on 11/12/2003, 9:29 pm
Several months ago there was some discussion among parents about the lack of
scientific studies supporting the idea that parents could accurately identify
their own children as gifted. People with access to the references cited at the
link below can check to see what results each of the scientific research
studies observed. It would be interesting to find out the specific numbers and
the methodology used by the researchers to verify that the children were
gifted.
"Researchers have demonstrated that parents are quite good at identifying
exceptional development in toddlers, preschool children and school age children
(Gottfried, Gottfried, Bathurst & Guerin 1994, Gross, 1993, Roedell,
Jackson & Robinson, 1980)."
Link: http://www.aboutourkids.org/aboutour/articles/giftedchildren.html
What programming can non-categorical teachers offer to Exceptionally Able Learners?
Posted by David McKenzie on October 3, 2003
Many of the province's school boards are placing programming for exceptionally able learners in the hands of the local school. The non-categorical special education teachers will be providing this programming in addition to their other duties. Each student will access this programming through the Individual Support Services plan [ISSP]
http://www.edu.gov.nf.ca/issp/table.htm
How this programming works and what may be offered to exceptionally able
students will be on the agenda of the next meeting of the Minister of
Education's Advisory Committee on Student Support Services. NLAGC represents
the needs of "Exceptionally Able Learners" on the Minister's advisory
committee
The Exceptionally Gifted Child in SchoolBy Stephanie S. Tolan
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A discussion forum for parents concerned about their gifted children and school enrichment issues
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WHO CAN JOIN NLAGC? The Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Gifted Children (NLAGC) is a non-profit organization constituted to assist the gifted children and youth of Newfoundland and Labrador in realizing their potential. It is dedicated to the task of having the educational needs of gifted children recognized and accommodated within the province's educational system. Membership in NLAGC is open to anyone interested in the development of gifted children and youth. We do not test children, nor do we require "proof" that they are gifted. The NLAGC is concerned about the state of elementary enrichment, Junior High accelerated courses, and High School Advanced Placement and IB programs developed by provincial school boards for our children. If you share these concerns, join us. To join, please print out the NLAGC Membership form, fill in the required information, and mail it to the address indicated, along with the $15 family membership fee. |
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