Show 50: Gifted & Talented Education
INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND PROGRESS. These are some of the things that have helped America become what it is today. Whether you see it in a former Alaskan winning the Nobel Prize in Physics or in Steve Jobs and his life as a technology pioneer – helping our brightest youth succeed is important. So today we're turning the spotlight on the education of Alaska's Gifted and Talented students.
IN-STUDIO GUESTS: Joining host Shana Sheehy in the studio to discuss how gifted and talented kids are identified, tested and then educated are three guests: Peter Ljubicich, director of the Anchorage School District Gifted Program; Annie Bill, director of the Mat-Su Borough’s Talented and Gifted Program; and Susan Dulong Langley of the National Association for Gifted Children in Massachusetts.
WEB RESOURCES FOR G&T ED:
- Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
- Center for Talented Youth, Johns Hopkins University
- Davidson Institute for Talent Development
- Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
- The Great Books Foundation
- Hoagies Gifted Education Page
- National Association for Gifted Children
- National Research Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development
- Prufrock Press
- Renzulli Learning
- SENG: Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted
- State Affiliate Association Web Sites
- World Council for Gifted and Talented Children
Thanks to Annie Bill for providing this list.
FEATURED STORIES:
• The Underrepresentation of Minorities in G&T Programs - Nationally, Native Americans, Hispanics and African Americans have been under-represented in gifted and talented programs by as much as 50%. Regular contributor Jessica Cochran spoke with Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Donna Ford who has been studying this cause for concern for about 20 years.
• Don't Tell Your Kids They're Smart - Dr. Carol Dweck is an internationally-recognized expert in intelligence research who has found that praising children's efforts - instead of their intelligence - encourages them to continue learning and growing all throughout life. Kids who are praised for being smart, she says, quickly grow afraid of failing. Producer Sarah Gonzales recently spoke with Dr. Dweck.
[Watch The Effect of Praise on Mindset video with Dr. Dweck explaining her study.]
• Real Life Revenge of the Nerds - Our brainiac blogger, high school senior Patrick Walgren says if being smart means he'll be the boss someday, he's just fine with being labeled as a "nerd".
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  This show is made possible by the Association of Alaska School Boards’ Initiative for Community Engagement, an initiative funded by the US Dept. of Education to provide Alaskans with information, tools and assistance to work together and engage in the shared responsibility of preparing Alaska’s children and youth for the future. |
Response to Rodger from Peter
Response to Rodger from Peter Ljubicich:
"The transitions from elementary to middle school, and from middle school to high school are large adjustments. Students transitioning from our elementary programs to middle school gifted classes are placed on teams staffed by teachers with training and experience meeting the learning needs of gifted children. Middle School gifted level Language Arts and Science classes are prepared with content, material, depth and pacing appropriate for gifted students.
At the High School level, Highly Gifted students transition to our program housed at West High School. Gifted counselors and instructional staff work in collaboration with other staff at the school (Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, etc.) to ensure that students receive appropriate instruction and specific guidance with college planning. In addition, gifted juniors and seniors at any Anchorage School District high school can participate in our mentorship program where specific independent internships and study are possible in an area of interest to the student.
Anchorage is a very diverse district ethnically, socio-economically, and educationally. There are many schools of choice in addition to regular neighborhood programs, and the gifted program serves students from all segments of our district."
Comment via email from
Comment via email from Rodger:
"Hello,
I'm a product of the "challenge program" in the Highline School District just south of Seattle, WA, and I attribute that program for much of my success in later life. Prior to getting into the program, I was a horrible student - disruptive, poor performing, and just overall underachieving. Once I got into the challenge program, I found that although I was certainly a "challenging" student to reach in a "normal" classroom, I excelled once I got into the gifted education program. I was in that program from 4th - 6th grade and have great memories and feel the confidence and self-esteem boost that came with succeeding in that program was pivotal in my success in life.
The problem then came when I hit 7th grade and fell flat on my face. I went from a very "free-form" learning environment in 6th grade, which suited me perfectly, to a "sit in rows and listen for hours" honors program in middle school. It took a couple of years to really adjust, and I don't feel like I really got back on track academically really until college (at Purdue, where I earned an Electrical Engineering degree.)
My wife and I have two young kids now (4 and 1.5) and if they do end up testing into a gifted program, I'm wondering how Anchorage's district handles the continuity between elementary, middle, and high school.
Thanks for covering this topic."