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Over the past year, many WATG Board members, parents, and educators have spoken at public legislative hearings in support of increased funding for GT programming. Thanks to those efforts, the first increase in many years was approved. There is much further to go to meet the needs in Wisconsin, but this is an all-important start.
I assume I am not the only parent who simply cannot imagine speaking in such a public situation. Good news: advocacy is needed at many levels. What can advocacy at the level of your own child look like? A couple sat down to meet with their child’s math teacher at Fall Parent/Teacher conferences. They were determined to not be intimidated to talk with someone with a Ph.D. when their highest level of formal education was a GED. They introduced themselves, and the teacher abruptly said, “Why is it that the parents I don’t need to talk to are always the ones who show up for conferences?” They smiled, and undeterred, asked the questions they had prepared, including any suggestions for finding summer and weekend programs that would build on their child’s strengths and interests. They took notes on his answers. To the teacher’s credit, it turned out to be a very productive 10 minutes. Who was that couple? My parents. They never missed a conference with a single teacher as far as my siblings and I can recall, although it was more years ago than we care to count (pre-Internet … imagine that!). They talked to us before each conference, about each class, writing down questions/concerns so that they didn’t forget anything. We had to come up with something for each one. Then, they reviewed each of the discussions with us after they came home. We hated the process at the time, but it was well worth it. Because of that Fall conference conversation, I attended a Marquette University Engineering program on Saturday mornings for much of the next year. What a wonderful example they gave us of advocating quietly for your own child. Don’t ever forget that you are the premier expert on your child. You may not be able to help them with Calculus, but you know the subtle signs of when they’re stressed and pressured, what builds their confidence and what introduces self-doubt, how they learn best and what frustrates them. Prepare for parent/teacher conferences as best you can. Talk to your child about what’s working and what isn’t. Organize your thoughts. Write them down using words, pictures, etc. that will help you remember the important points. Bring along or ask for a translator if it would make you more confident; some schools work with local colleges to provide language students as translators. Make sure you understand what the teachers say, but also make sure they understand your perspective, questions, and concerns. Follow up if you get home and realize you missed something or have more questions after you thought about it. Your parental Ph.D. will help your child achieve great things, and no public speaking is required. Mary Budde WATG Treasurer (WATG would like to extend its deep appreciation to Esther Vazquez Guendulain of Appleton Bilingual School for translating this article into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families and educators. The translation can be found on our website blog.) La lucha por una causa no es Uni-talla para todos Durante el pasado año, muchos padres, educadores y miembros del Consejo Administrativo de WATG han hablado en legislaciones públicas, en apoyo al incremento de fondos para programas de Talentos Excepcionales. Gracias a estos esfuerzos, el primer incremento en muchos años ha sido aprobado. Hay mucho más que hacer para cubrir las necesidades en Wisconsin, pero este es un comienzo muy importante. Yo asumo que no soy el único padre que no se puede imaginar simplemente hablando en ese tipo de situación pública. Buenas noticias: la lucha es necesaria en muchos niveles. ¿Cómo es la lucha en el nivel de su hijo? Una pareja se sentó para reunirse con el maestro de matemáticas de su hija durante las conferencias de otoño de Padres y Maestros. Estaban determinados a no ser intimidados al hablar con alguien con un Doctorado, cuándo su máximo nivel de formación de estudios era un GED. Ellos se presentaron y el maestro les dijo abruptamente: ¿Por qué pasa que los padres con los que no necesito hablar, son los que siempre vienen a las conferencias? Ellos sonrieron, y no le dieron importancia, hicieron preguntas que habían preparado, incluyendo sugerencias para encontrar programas de fin de semana y de verano que ayudaran a reforzar las cualidades e intereses de su hija. Tomaron notas en sus respuestas. Para crédito del maestro, resultaron ser 10 minutos muy productivos. ¿Quién era esa pareja? Mis padres. Ellos nunca se perdieron una conferencia con ningún maestro, al menos que mis hermanos y yo recordemos, aunque fueron más años atrás de los que nosotros podamos contar (antes de internet… ¡imagínese!). Ellos hablaban con nosotros sobre nuestra clase antes de cada conferencia, escribían preguntas/dudas así ellos no olvidarían nada. Teníamos que decirles algo cada uno de nosotros. Después, cuando llegaban a casa revisaban con nosotros cada una de las cosas que se hablaron. Ese proceso lo odiábamos en aquel momento, pero valía la pena. Debido a esa conferencia de Otoño, yo asistí al programa de Ingeniería de la Universidad de Marquette la mayoría de los sábados por la mañana del siguiente año. Que gran ejemplo nos dieron de luchar silenciosamente por tu propio hijo. Nunca olvides que tú eres el experto principal de tu hijo. Probablemente no le puedas ayudar con calculo, pero tú conoces las señales sutiles cuando está estresado o bajo presión, lo que le ayuda a ganar confianza y lo que le genera dudas, cómo aprende mejor y lo que lo frustra. Prepárese para las conferencias de Padres/Maestros lo mejor que pueda. Hable con su hijo sobre lo que esta y no está funcionando. Organice sus pensamientos. Escríbalos utilizando palabras, fotos, etc. que lo ayuden a recordar los puntos importantes. Traiga o pida un traductor, si eso lo ayuda a sentirse más seguro; algunas escuelas trabajan con universidades locales que proporcionan estudiantes de idiomas como traductores. Asegúrese de que entienda lo que el maestro dice, pero también asegúrese que ellos entiendan su perspectiva, preguntas y dudas. Dele seguimiento si al llegar a casa se da cuenta de que olvido algo o que tiene más preguntas después de que pensó las cosas. Su doctorado en ser Padres ayudará a que su hijo logre grandes cosas, y no se requiere hablar en público. Mary Budde Tesorero de WATG (WATG desea extender su profundo agradecimiento a Esther Vazquez Guendulain de Appleton Bilingual School por traducir este artículo al español para nuestras familias y educadores hispanohablantes . La traducción puede encontrarse también en el blog de nuestra página web.)
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Gifted children tend to have more stress and anxiety than other children due to their higher intensities and sensitivities; they also tend to put more pressure on themselves. There are many things that can cause stress and anxiety for gifted children. With the end of the first semester coming up, many students are also preparing for tests and midterms. This can be a stressful time for both students and parents. Additionally, gifted kids may overbook themselves, suffer from perfectionism, or succumb to pressure from others.There are many other things that can also impact a child’s stress and anxiety.
Below are some strategies children can use to help themselves when they are stressed/anxious, as well as ways parents/caregivers can help their children. You will also find links to various websites that provide examples of activities that can be done (ie., deep breathing, guided imagery, meditation, etc.). Ways to Help When Stressed:
Ways Parents/caregivers Can Help:
Resources:
Above all, take good care of yourself. Remember that you are constantly modeling how to manage stress. If you model healthy strategies, your child will learn from you. Good luck on your journey! Stacy Novak, WATG Board Member & President-Elect (WATG would like to extend its deep appreciation to Esther Vazquez Guendulain of Appleton Bilingual School for translating this article into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families and educators. The translation can be found below.) Lidiando con el Estrés y Ansiedad Los niños con talentos excepcionales tienden a tener mayor estrés y ansiedad que otros niños debido a su alta intensidad y sensibilidad; también tienden a ponerse más presión a sí mismos. Hay muchas cosas que pueden causar estrés y ansiedad en niños con talentos excepcionales. Con el fin de semestre que se aproxima, muchos estudiantes también se están preparando para los exámenes de mitad de año. Este, puede ser un tiempo de estrés para estudiantes y padres. Adicionalmente, los niños con talentos excepcionales pueden sobre agendarse ellos mismos, sufrir por el perfeccionismo o sucumbir ante la presión de los demás. También hay muchas cosas más que pueden impactar el estrés y ansiedad de los niños. A continuación se encuentran algunas estrategias que los niños pueden usar para ayudarse a sí mismos cuando están estresados/ansiosos, así como la manera en que los padres/personas a cargo pueden ayudar a sus hijos. También puede encontrar enlaces a diferentes páginas web que proporcionan ejemplos de actividades que pueden hacer (ej. respiración profunda, imaginación guiada, meditación, etc.). Maneras de ayudar cuándo estén estresados:
Maneras en que Padres/personas a cargo pueden ayudar:
Recursos:
Sobre todo, cuidese mucho usted mismo. Recuerde que usted está dando el ejemplo constantemente de cómo manejar el estrés. Si usted da el ejemplo de estrategias saludables, su hijo aprenderá de usted. ¡Mucha suerte en su trayecto! Stacy Nowak, Mimbro del Consejo y Presidente-electo de WATG (WATG desea extender su profundo agradecimiento a Esther Vazquez Guendulain de Appleton Bilingual School por traducir este artículo al español para nuestras familias y educadores hispanohablantes . La traducción puede encontrarse también en el blog de nuestra página web.) December is upon us! The arrival of the new month brings festive music, laughter...and a lot of questions about what to get the gifted children in our lives for holidays. A quick internet search of “gift ideas for gifted children” will return a ridiculous amount of sites dedicated to this very topic. So, I’ve scoured the lists and am eager to share five ideas that would appeal to a wide range of ages and interests...enjoy!
Amazon Book Box Subscription: $19.99 per box “Amazon Book Box is a subscription that delivers hand-picked children's books every 1, 2, or 3 months. Discover books that inspire a love of reading—new adventures await in every box!” Book boxes are customizable based on the child’s age (baby - age 12) and interest. Baby boxes contain 4 board books. Boxes for ages 3-12 contain 2 hardcover books. Kanoodle Extreme: $14.99 Kanoodle Extreme features over 300 2D and 3D puzzles that are designed to develop problem solving, reasoning skills, and spatial-reasoning skills. This is a great choice for helping kids to stay engaged, entertained, and learning outside of the classroom. The kit is small enough to take along when traveling. It is perfect for ages 8 and up. Storytime Chess: $50.00 It is no secret that many gifted kids love the strategy and challenge that comes from playing chess. Storytime Chess uses “characters, stories, activities, and imagery to help kids as young as 3 learn the moves, strategies, and language of chess. This fun, creative approach to the game of kings has been used in schools and endorsed by chess masters and homeschooling parents alike. Grown-ups need no prior chess experience to help kids learn with these materials.” Mega Cyborg Hand: $39.95 For the STEM-minded individual, the Mega Cyborg Hard is a great find! The kit allows the creator to build a wearable, mechanical hand that is operated by the wearer’s own two fingers...no batteries, no motors! Creators will learn how pneumatic and hydraulic systems are used in industrial robots. This is the 2021 Toy Association's STEAM Toy Of The Year Winner. Create A Castle Kits: $19.99 and up The ultimate outdoor building kit, the Create A Castle kits allow kids of all ages to let their imaginations run wild as they create amazing structures from snow or sand. The molds allow for frustration-free building of elaborate, sturdy structures. Your family will be the talk of the block when your neighbors get a look at your castle creations this winter! Nicole Meier, WATG Board Member Are you familiar with the children’s book “Caps For Sale?” The opening image in the book is of the cap selling man who has many multi-colored caps hoisted upon the top of his head. One morning he tries to sell his caps, but to no avail. This image perfectly captures how I have been feeling as of late as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator in my small school district in a suburb outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I’m sure I’m not the only gifted and talented educator in Wisconsin who has been feeling this way recently. It seems to be the accepted norm in gifted education. For those of you who remain curious, I will share with you the plight of the gifted educator in Wisconsin.
You see, as the gifted and talented coordinator in my district, I happen to be the only gifted and talented educator in the entire district. So therefore, I must wear many hats. I identify students who may qualify to receive gifted services. I work with classroom teachers to differentiate instruction to meet the learning needs of our students. I give direct services to identified students in small groups, by pushing into classrooms and in pull-out groups. I provide professional learning to the educators in my district about differentiation and gifted/talented students. In my small school district of 1,312 students, there are 68 students that I am directly responsible for in kindergarten through eighth grade. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. I love working with my amazing students. However, due to all the hats that I am wearing, I don’t feel that I am doing my job justice or meeting the needs of my students in an adequate manner. It’s not that I’m not capable of doing what needs to be done. My roadblock is funding. There is not enough funding in our school district’s budget to hire the teachers that are necessary to work beside me to get the work done. It’s not that my district doesn’t want to improve and expand our gifted and talented program. The issue is bigger than that. In Wisconsin, our gifted and talented programs are woefully underfunded. Wisconsin earmarks about $474,400 towards the budget for gifted education. Of our surrounding states, Iowa budgets $40,800,000 towards gifted education, Minnesota $12, 280,000, and Ohio $77,900,000. This was after WATG worked so hard with legislators to double the budget in 2021. Our gifted and talented students deserve better. Our gifted and talented educators deserve better. We all deserve better. So, what can you do? Please buy some hats. Take one of my advocacy hats, put it on and work with WATG to help Wisconsin do better for our gifted and talented students. Take one of my hats and work with your local school district to advocate for the gifted and talented students. If you’re a parent, put on one of my hats and advocate for your gifted child. Ask your gifted and talented coordinator and educators how you can help advocate for them. Let your school district know that you value quality education for gifted and talented students. I have so many hats. But, without your help, I have too many hats and not enough heads to wear them. Caps for sale. Will you please buy one? Christine Wyatt WATG Board Member Parenting gifted children can be an exciting, yet challenging journey, and WATG is committed to providing information, resources, and networking opportunities for parents and caregivers of gifted children.
As a service to gifted children and their families, WATG is offering FREE memberships to all parents/caregivers beginning now and extending through September of 2022. Benefits of WATG membership include:
So far, over 90 parents/caregivers have taken advantage of this outstanding opportunity! We encourage more of you to join us by filling out this Free WATG Parent Membership Form, and look forward to meeting you and growing with you. The start of a new school year can be both exciting, and at the same time worrisome for both gifted kids and their parents. New teachers, new classmates, and new experiences can be energizing and refreshing, but when gifted students find themselves in a situational mismatch between their abilities and the opportunities they are receiving, a parent can be the child’s best advocate for change.
The National Association for Gifted Children offers amazing resources for families of gifted students including advice for advocating for their children. The full article can be found at https://www.nagc.org/get-involved/advocate-high-ability-learners/advocate-your-child but here is a summary of the big ideas for effective advocacy:
On behalf of WATG, I wish you all an AMAZING school year! Nicole Meier, WATG Board Member  At our summer planning meeting, WATG’s Membership Committee explored ways to expand our organization’s parent memberships. Parenting gifted children can be an exciting, yet challenging journey, and WATG is committed to providing information, resources, and networking opportunities for parents and caregivers of gifted children. An action step of our goal was to expand parent membership by offering FREE memberships to all parents beginning now and extending through September of 2022. Benefits of WATG membership include:
Additionally, a larger membership base gives WATG a larger voice when appealing to legislators for more funding for gifted and talented educational resources in our state. So, how do you apply for membership? It’s very easy! Complete the WATG Free Parent Membership Form. Also, please help us out by spreading the word to families and friends. Finally, please consider joining us at our virtual fall conference, Leading the World Into the Future. The entire conference spans three days - October 3-5, 2021, with a special parent strand on Sunday, October 3. On October 3, you can join other parents in a facilitated parent workshop and discussion entitled, “Parent to Parent: Sharing Your Wisdom.” Dal and Jackie Drummer, WATG Board Advisors and SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted) national trainers and facilitators will be our knowledgeable and compassionate group facilitators. Over the years at this workshop, many parents have had their questions answered, their fears allayed, and have shared ideas, resources, comfort, and joy in a confidential, supportive environment. The entire conference will be filled with exciting workshops and opportunities, so be sure to check it out. As always, we look forward to seeing you and learning with you. Together we grow! WATG extends a huge thank you to Dr. German Diaz of Milwaukee Public Schools for translating this article into Spanish for our families and educators who speak Spanish. The translation can also be found on our website.  WATG Ofrece Membresía GRATIS a Padres de Familia
En nuestra reunión de planificación de verano, el Comité de Membresía de WATG exploró formas de expandir las membresías de padres de familia de nuestra organización. La crianza de niños con talentos especiales puede ser un viaje emocionante pero desafiante, y WATG se compromete a proporcionar información, recursos y oportunidades de establecer contactos para estos padres y mentores de estos estudiantes. Un paso de acción de nuestro objetivo fue expandir la membresía de padres ofreciendo membresías GRATUITAS a todos los padres a partir de ahora y hasta septiembre de 2022. Los beneficios de la membresía de WATG incluyen:
Además, una base de miembros más grande le da a WATG una voz más amplia cuando apela a los legisladores para obtener más fondos para los recursos educativos para nuestros estudiantes con talentos especiales. Entonces, ¿cómo se solicita la membresía? ¡Es muy fácil! Comuníquese con nosotros insertando el enlace aquí. Además, ayúdenos a correr la voz entre familiares y amigos. Finalmente, considere unirse a nosotros en nuestra conferencia virtual de otoño, Liderando el mundo hacia el futuro. La conferencia completa durará tres días: del 3 al 5 de octubre de 2021, con una sección especial para padres el domingo 3 de octubre. El 3 de octubre, puede unirse a otros padres en un taller y discusión para padres facilitado titulado, “Padre a padre: compartiendo su Sabiduría." Dal y Jackie Drummer, asesores de la junta directiva de WATG y los capacitadores y facilitadores nacionales de SENG (Apoyando las necesidades emocionales de niños con talentos especiales) serán nuestros capacitados y compasivos facilitadores de grupo. A lo largo de los años en este taller, a muchos padres se les ha respondido sus preguntas, se han disipado sus temores y se les han compartido ideas, recursos, consuelo y alegría en un entorno confidencial y de apoyo. Toda la conferencia estará llena de emocionantes talleres y oportunidades, así que asegúrese de echarle un vistazo. Como siempre, esperamos verte y aprender contigo. ¡Juntos crecemos! WATG extiende un enorme agradecimiento al Dr. German Díaz de las Escuelas Públicas de Milwaukee por traducir este artículo al español para nuestras familias y educadores que hablan español. La traducción también se puede encontrar en nuestro sitio web. “I’m bored!” “There’s nothing to do!” Does this sound familiar? Maybe you’re hearing this on a daily basis now that kids are on summer vacation.
Here are some activities your child can do if they are bored or looking for a challenge throughout the summer. Literacy
Art
Science
Outdoors
Other
You can also find some great activities and programs on Davidson Institute’s article, Gifted Summer Programs: Listed by Topics of Interest. “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity…” (Dorothy Parker) Encourage your children to embark on a curious summer and explore some of these activities. Stacy Novak WATG Board Member (WATG would like to extend a huge thank you to Dr. Martha Aracely-Lopez of Milwaukee Public Schools for translating this article into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families and educators. The translation can also be found in our website blogs.) Actividades de Verano "¡Estoy aburrido!" "¡No hay nada que hacer!" ¿Te suena familiar? Tal vez escuche esto a diario ahora que los niños están de vacaciones. Aquí hay algunas actividades que su hijo puede hacer si está aburrido o busca un desafío durante el verano. Literatura
Arte
Ciencias
Al aire libre
Otro
También puede encontrar algunas actividades y programas excelentes en el artículo del Instituto Davidson, “Gifted Summer Programs: Listed by Topics of Interest.” (Programas de verano para estudiantes superdotados: enumerados por temas de interés). “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity…” ("La cura para el aburrimiento es la curiosidad. No hay cura para la curiosidad… ”) por Dorothy Parker. Anime a sus hijos a embarcarse en un verano curioso y explorar algunas de estas actividades. Stacy Novak Miembro de la Mesa Directiva de WATG (WATG desea extender un enorme agradecimiento a la Dra. Martha Aracely Lopez de las Escuelas Públicas de Milwaukee por traducir este artículo al español para nuestras familias y educadores hispanohablantes. La traducción también se puede encontrar en los blogs de nuestro sitio web) |
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