DCSD Gifted Education News
November, 2020
Douglas County School District Gifted Education
Equity of Access
Opportunity ~ Agency ~ Empowerment
Email: heather.groff@dcsdk12.org
Website: dcsdk12.org/gifted-education
Location: 620 Wilcox St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Phone: 303-387-0191
Director's Corner
It's difficult to believe we are in November already. As I reflected on the past year, I believe the message and resources from November of 2019 are as important and timely as ever. Please see the message below and know we continue to collaborate with school and district staff to support the safety and well being of each of our students:
"Over the past few years I have been trying, as have many others I know, to make mindfulness and gratitude a daily practice instead of a seasonal celebration. As we all learn more about the power of mindfulness and gratitude, they have made their way quickly into our teaching and learning environments. Recent research and experience points to the benefits of mindfulness and gratitude practices for all learners, and more specifically, for our gifted children who may experience heightened emotions, sensitivities, empathy, loneliness, anxiety, and perfectionism. Gifted children often share how their unique characteristics and complex ways of thinking make them feel different, isolated, misunderstood, and just plain left out. Mindfulness and gratitude strategies are accessible and effective ways to improve emotional regulation, increase self awareness, and reduce stress and anxiety. Explore the following resources for more information and tools:
- Great Gains Through Gratitude: 7 Creative Ways Gifted Students can Understand, Show and Embrace Appreciation (article)
- The Gifted Kids Workbook: Mindfulness Skills to Help Children Reduce Stress, Balance Emotions, and Build Confidence (book)
- Regulating Emotions Through Mindfulness - Mind Matters Podcast Interview
- Emotional Intelligence: Hoagies Blog Hop
- Mindfulness on the Path of Gifted Development
Too Sensitive, Too Dramatic, Too Intense –What Is Emotional Intelligence?
Your ongoing partnership is invaluable as we learn and grow together to support our gifted learners. Please reach out to the Gifted Education Facilitator at your child’s school or someone from our team with any questions or concerns.
With gratitude,
Natasha Straayer
District News
Discovery Program Applications Open Now! DUE December 4, 2020!
Northridge Elementary in Highlands Ranch
Pine Lane Elementary South (K-3) and Pine Lane Elementary North (4-6) in Parker
Renaissance ELOB Magnet Elementary in Castle Rock
Want to learn more? Please join our district team and a panel of parents, students and teachers for Discovery in DCSD during DCAGT's Facebook Live session Wednesday, November 11, from 6:00 to 7:00pm
Discovery Program Flyer
Discovery Program Application and Process We have information now available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.
Parenting Gifted Children
Growing up Generation Z and Gifted: Bomb Cyclone Perfectionism
With generational anxiety in youth at an all-time high, feelings of inadequacy pushing toward the distress level, rejections only a smartphone swipe away, and gifted kids wrapped inside feelings more intensely than others, Generation Z gifted kids wait inside an atmosphere that has the potential for bomb cyclone perfectionism.
Read the full article HERE.
30 Things Parents and Gifted Kids Need to Know
While originally penned in late 2016, these still remain important today.
As parents we want to be straightforward with our children about their giftedness, but we often get conflicting messages about what to say. Will our kids become self-centered elitists if we tell them they are gifted? Is praise helpful or harmful? Is it okay to use the word “gifted”? ... The bottom line is, no matter how difficult it might be, parents must talk to their children about their exceptionalities. The tough part is figuring out exactly what to say. On the following pages, several experts on the lives of gifted children share nuggets of wisdom—for a total of 30 things that every parent and gifted child needs to know.
Read the article HERE.
Connect with Other Parents of Gifted Children
Gifted and Talented Leaders of Color and Allies
Gifted/Talented Initiatives for the Support and Advancement of Gifted Students of Color
Who we are: The Gifted and Talented (GT) Leaders of Color and Allies started in late 2019 with a few educators of Color collaborating with advocates for the support, connection, and empowerment of Gifted Students and Educators of Color.
Follow/Join Us at: Gifted & Talented Leaders of Color and Allies on Facebook
Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT) Upcoming Events
Join DCAGT on our Facebook page on Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Douglas County Association for Gifted and Talented (DCAGT) is our district's GT parent advocacy group. We want to reach and connect the gifted community with opportunities to share experiences and exchange information. We hope that you will join us in our community events.
Facebook Live Sessions in collaboration with DCSD GT Department
Are you interested in finding out more about DCSD's Discovery Program? Join parents of Discovery students and staff from our district's Advanced Academics and Gifted Education team to learn more about this programming available through Discovery.
Join DCAGT on our Facebook page on Wednesday, November 11 from 6:00 to 7:00pm.
Monday, December 7, join us for Gifted Learners' Transitions to Middle School and High School
Family information nights and class registration will be here before we know it. This conversation will focus on the transition timelines and placement considerations for gifted students moving into middle school or high school in the Fall of 2021.
Find our current newsletter here. Subscribe to our newsletter here.
We Need Your Input! Please take a few moments to take our quick survey. We are asking for your feedback to help us understand the types of information and topics that would help you and your families during the 2020-2021 school year.
Calendar of Events
Gifted Speaker Series--Emotional Explosions by Dr. Tracy Bednarick
FREE! Mon, November 9, 2020
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM MST
Megan Margherio will speak on supporting children during emotional explosions.
Register and more information HERE.
DCAGT/DCSD: Discovery in DCSD Facebook Live
NEW! Facebook Live Sessions in collaboration with DCSD GT Department
Conversations with CAGT: Dr. Joy Lawson Davis
Dr. Davis is a career educator and gifted education advocate with more than 40 years experience; she has authored several articles and books, including the award-winning Bright, Talented & Black: A Guide for Families of African American Gifted Learners.
NAGC 67th Annual Convention Reimagined!
Conversations with CAGT Continues every Tuesday night!
Streaming on Facebook Live every Tuesday, we feature a different expert in gifted education Each week who will speak on a current GT topic in a live video chat on CAGT's Facebook page with time for your questions!
Every Tuesday at 5pm!
Watch the recording of archived webinars here.
Tue. Nov. 10th: Dr. Karen Rogers
Tue. Nov. 17th: Dr. Joy Lawson Davis
Tue. Dec. 1st: Susan Baum
Tue. Dec. 8th: Marc Smolowitz
Tue. Dec. 15th: Gil Whiting
Perfectionism Podcast-Recording
Both Dr. Dan and Lisa are recovering Perfectionists and today they define the condition (“unreasonable expectations with a lack of self-love”) and then teach us how to push through mistakes and discover a path to recovery based on managing perfectionism. The episodes opens with Lisa sharing a very personal story of her own struggle with perfectionism and how she organically came to this life-changing work.
Listen to the podcast HERE.
Family Resources
Figure This! Math Challenges for Families
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, in cooperation with the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Widmeyer Communications, and the Learning First Alliance, launched Figure This! which demonstrates challenging middle school mathematics and emphasizes the importance of high-quality math education for all students. Funding for the project was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Education.
Figure This! Mathematical challenges for families provide interesting math challenges that middle-school students can do at home with their families.
Find out more HERE.Royal Fireworks Online Learning Community
Royal Fireworks offers an online learning community for academic excellence. We strive to provide the best education for children no matter where they live. Courses are taught by experts, high-level specialists, and experienced teachers. Our online learning courses give you the basics and beyond—way beyond.
Find out more HERE.
Supporting Your Gifted Child During COVID-19
As COVID-19 forces us to face new norms like social distancing, remote learning, and shelter-in-place orders, gifted children may exhibit increased anxiety, sadness, intense feelings, and out-of-the-ordinary behavior.
Read the entire article HERE which includes Supporting Gifted Children During COVID-19 & Other Crises By Developmental Stage
For High School Students
AP Capstone Diploma applications are open now
AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from the College Board. It’s based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research.
Rather than teaching subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.
Find more information HERE.
For Advanced Placement students applying to college
The College Board Opportunity Scholarships program guides you through important college planning steps and offers a chance to earn money for each step you complete, like completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)! Start earning chances to win scholarships today.
Find more information HERE.
AP Credit Policy Search
Your AP scores could earn you college credit or advanced placement (meaning you could skip certain courses in college). Use this tool to find colleges your student might be interested in attending that offer credit or placement for AP scores.
Specific Interest Resources
Twice Exceptional
Blog: 2e Kids, Emotional Overexcitability & the Election
Blog: How to Be Twice Exceptional During Covid
by Julie Skolnick, With Understanding Comes Calm
Keynote Speaker, CAGT Family Institute
Gifted Teens
Dear Teenagers, Here’s How to Protect Your Emotional Well-Being
Guidance for teenagers on staying steady in the turmoil of the pandemic.
Read the article HERE.
Parenting and Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
Article: Helping Gifted Children Cope with Intense Emotions
By Carol Bainbridge