Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Monday, 17 July 2017
Saturday, 15 July 2017
Is it a cheetah? An excellent article explaining the reasons why gifted students must have their needs met in school settings.
If a cheetah is confined to a 10 X 12 foot cage, though it may pace or fling itself against the bars in restless frustration, it won't run 70 mph.
IS IT STILL A CHEETAH?
If a cheetah has only 20 mph rabbits to chase for food, it won't run 70 mph while hunting. If it did, it would flash past its prey and go hungry! Though it might well run on its own for exercise, recreation, fulfillment of its internal drive, when given only rabbits to eat the hunting cheetah will run only fast enough to catch a rabbit.
IS IT STILL A CHEETAH?
If a cheetah is fed Zoo Chow it may not run at all.....
A school system that defines giftedness (or talent) as behavior, achievement and performance is as compromised in its ability to recognize its highly gifted students and to give them what they need as a zoo would be to recognize and provide for its cheetahs if it looked only for speed.
This article, written by Stephanie S. Tolan, is one of my favourites and a must read for anyone who wants to understand more about why gifted students must have their needs met in schools. Click here for the whole article.
What to say to calm an anxious child
It’s time for school. The bus will arrive any minute. Maybe today will be the day! But then you hear it: “Mom, I don’t want to go to school.” Your heart sinks. Here we go again. Every day it’s the same conversation. The same conversation that usually ends up in tears, missing the bus and late for school again. “You’ll be fine, honey!” you say cheerfully. “There’s nothing to worry about!” But your words fall on deaf ears. Your child is fully convinced that everything will NOT be ok and that there are PLENTY of things to worry about. Sighing, read Here.
Friday, 23 June 2017
The GERRIC September program for Gifted students is now open. Details can be found here.
For Gifted Students
Are you a student in Years 3 – 10 at an Australian primary, middle or secondary school? Are you bright, intellectually inquisitive and looking for something more challenging, more intellectually demanding, and more fun than you may sometimes experience in school? Would you like to take part in school vacation program that will really stretch your mind?
GERRIC offers a range of programs for gifted and talented students (generally students who are capable of performing in the top 10% of their age-peers). GERRIC holiday programs will open your mind to abilities you may have not suspected you possess, and opportunities to use these abilities to the fullest. You’ll meet other kids who share your interests and you’ll also meet inspiring teachers who love working with gifted students.
Our next GERRIC Student program will run 26-28 September 2017.
For program information and registration click here.
Tuesday, 6 June 2017
10 Facts You May Not Know About Gifted Children But Should
"The following is a list of facts, traits and issues many would not recognize as a part of giftedness in children. Why such a list? It’s time to banish the many widely-held inaccurate perceptions of the gifted child. The pervasive but misguided idea of the gifted child—the child who excels in school, is well-behaved, is a natural leader and is emotionally mature—is the elephant in the room and that elephant needs to leave.
We need the facts to prevail so that gifted children can have, as all children should, the education and support they need to grow up to be happy and thriving adults."
Click here for the full article.
Saturday, 27 May 2017
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Gifted Education Parent Information Sessions
What do the terms gifted and talent mean? What does the research say about the educational and emotional needs of gifted students? What does it mean that St Mary’s is a Newman Selective school? What is a Newman Group?
If you would like to find out the answers to these questions and learn more about Gifted Education at St Mary’s please join us for an information evening on Tuesday 30th May at 7pm. This session will be presented by Amanda Tinson - Sydney Catholic Schools Leader of Learning in Gifted Education and Meghan Bassett - The Newman Facilitator at St Mary’s.
A repeat session will be offered on Thursday the 8th of June at 9am.
Please follow this link to register which session you will be attending and to indicate any particular issues or questions you would like to have addressed at these sessions.
Some great reading lists to read through
Excellence in Reading: To encourage the joy of reading, the Foundation has developed the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading Program. Includes Reading lists K-12.
Monday, 27 March 2017
The truth about Gifted versus High Achieving Students
This is an interesting article examining the differences between gifted learners and high achieving students. It highlights some of the joys and the challenges in parenting and teaching gifted thinkers.
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