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Articles from
February 2009
Archaeology for Gifted Kids
Archaeology is the scientific study of the history of human cultures. It can be a compelling topic of interest for gifted kids and is often not included in school curriculum. Below are Internet links for students of all ages.
Archaeology is the publication of the Archaeological Institute of America. This site includes articles, reviews, information on local shows, interviews, breaking news, a blog, interactive digs, and videos.
Search for “Archaeology” and you will find a few good links on becoming an archaeologist as well as an interview with Tristan Barako, the senior researcher for the NOVA/PBS documentary, The Bible's Buried Secrets. A link is provided to watch all 13 episodes of this program on your computer.
Located in southwestern Colorado, this center has a wonderful reputation for education. Click on Archaeology Adventures and you will find information on middle school and high school summer camps.
Created by Cobblestone Publishing Company, this site offers information on this magazine, which is designed for the younger set. There is also information—state-by-state—of archaeological activities and a section titled Ask Dr. Dig where readers can ask questions of a real archaeologist.
Written by a museum teacher at the Royal Ontario Museum, the author tells how to pursue the field of archaeology as a profession, beginning in elementary school.
Another site designed for younger kids, students are guided through games, puzzles, and a virtual archaeological tour to understand how people at a farmstead survived 150 years ago.
A newsfeed on the ancient world, including articles, photos, and videos.
Search for “Archaeology” for all kinds of information related to the high- quality programs that appear on the PBS program, NOVA.
Search for “Archaeology” and you will find all kinds of free lesson plans.
The Evolving Definition of Giftedness
The definition of giftedness has always been controversial. In recent years, authorities have continued to explore the meaning of the word.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests giftedness is not static. Instead, gifted behaviors can appear at different points in one’s life, and once in evidence may or may not continue. Rather than thinking about whether a student is “gifted” or not, we should focus on subject-specific programming options that meet advanced learning needs. The more options that are available to support gifted development, the greater the chances that child's learning needs will be met.
Some individuals may have pre-dispositions towards high abilities, which can be nurtured through the environment. In addition to nurturing these pre-dispositions, we also need to foster gifted-level development more broadly in more diverse learners. Both agendas are essential, and we shouldn’t choose one or the other.
Giftedness is developed in three stages:
- Helping students to fall in love with the topic or area
- Providing advanced skills and knowledge of the topic or area and sharing the values associated with it
- Coaching to help refine individual voice and contribution
There is much research that should still be done as we try to understand the definition of giftedness. We need to ask:
- How and why do some young children teach themselves to read?
- How does a prodigy's brain develop?
- What happens when a young person has intense instruction or when a strong ability is ignored?
There should be also be more longitudinal studies of talent development in specific domains and intervention studies of effective instruction and programming in each of those domains.
The Development of Giftedness and Talent Across the Life Span discusses important variables that affect functioning, including:
- ethnic minority status and how it can be both an advantage and disadvantage in talent development.
- the role of social skills in successful expression of talent.
Summer Archaeology Camp
 I've always enjoyed the subject of archaeology. In fact, one of the first science books Prufrock Press published was Hands-On Archaeology: Real-Life Activities for Kids (now in its second edition). Written by renowned archaeologist John White, Ph.D., this book shows any teacher or parent how to help kids become young archaeologists. Imagine the thrill students will experience as they discover artifacts from the past. There isn't a single student who won't love the activities in this book!
Today, I received a brochure from the Center for American Archeology advertising their 1-week to 3-week archaeology summer programs for kids. The CAA's High School Field School offers teenagers the opportunity to participate in authentic archaeological research designed to learn more about the prehistoric peoples of the Lower Illinois River Valley, one of the richest archeological regions in the Midwestern United States. Working with the CAA staff and interns, teens will have the chance to learn the basics of field excavation, laboratory processing, and how archeologists develop their interpretations of sites based upon the information they collect. It’s a great way to explore the field of archaeology in a hands-on manner.
The program sounds both fun and educational, and I wanted to bring it to your attention.
Limited scholarship support is available for girls, and students 16+ can earn college credit. For more information, visit the CAA's High School Field School information page.
Summer Arts Programs for Talented High School Students
Do you have a talented high school student who would like to pursue a possible career in the arts? There are a variety of summer programs that are worth considering. Some of these schools also offer programs during the school year. The following is only a sampling of what is available. To find more, use an Internet search engine or talk with a local high school art teacher or counselor.
Boston, MA
The emphasis of this program is drawing, painting, and sculpture.
Ithaca, NY
Classes include Introduction to Architecture and Art as Experience.
Velencia, CA
This program offers four weeks of exploration, discovery, and hard work designed to unleash creative power. Talented high school students receive intensive training from professionals in music, theatre, video and film, visual arts, dance, creative writing, and animation.
Northwestern Michigan
More than 2,500 of the world's most talented and motivated young people attend this camp each summer. They learn and perform with peers and educators. Areas of focus include creative writing, dance, motion picture arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.
Chicago, IL
Here, students expand their creative talents and develop a strong portfolio for college admission while receiving college credit. Students study art, design, and writing.
New York City
This program is designed for high school students who want to enhance their creative skills, learn more about a particular field of art, or develop a portfolio. Course offerings include animation, filmmaking, screenwriting, cartooning, painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, and photography.
Webinar on Whole Grade Acceleration for Gifted Students
Whole grade acceleration, or grade skipping, is recognized in the field of gifted education as one of the most successful ways to address the needs of students who are advanced in their abilities. However, it is not the answer for all gifted kids. The Iowa Acceleration Scale: A Guide for Whole-Grade Acceleration K-8 (IAS) is a tool to help parents, teachers, and administrators determine if grade acceleration is appropriate for a particular student. The third edition of this instrument has just been released. Training for its use will be offered via the Internet. Here is the information you will need to participate.
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Date of Webinar: Saturday, February 21, 2009
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Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (U.S. Central Standard Time)
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Cost: $120 (includes the IAS 3rd Edition Manual)
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Participation is limited to the first 50 computer registrations. (One computer per registration, but you may have multiple participants viewing that computer.)
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Technical Requirements: high-speed Internet access and speakers connected to your computer. To ensure that you have the necessary computer capacity, click here.
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Required Materials: IAS 3rd Edition, available for purchase at a reduced rate from the Belin-Blank Center.
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Instructors: Drs. Susan Assouline, Nicholas Colangelo, Clar Baldus, and Laurie Croft.
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Training Format: Lecture/Presentation, case studies via stream video, and opportunities for Q&A during the training.
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Academic Credit(optional): One-semester-hour of credit; multi-media format from February 21 to March 20. Cost to participant: $180 (the Belin-Blank Center is providing participants a $181 scholarship that will cover the remainder of the graduate tuition). Contact Laurie Croft with questions about the credit option or to get a copy of the credit registration form. IAS training is required to participate in the credit option.
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