Celebrate Gifted Education Month!

Each year, the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted celebrates Gifted Education Month during October. We celebrate with our annual fall conference with its informative and thought-provoking keynotes and workshops, with ceremonies and awards for service to our students and our field, proclamations from our Governor and Department of Public Instruction, and activities that promote camaraderie and sharing among our constituents. It is our hope that educators, parents, and caregivers will take this momentum back to their communities and share with others. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Spread the news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Encourage friends, colleagues, and families to follow us too!
• Use the hashtag #WATG when sharing information about our organization and its activities and services
• Write an email to a school board member about the importance of gifted educational programming in your school district
• Thank your superintendent/director of curriculum and instruction for supporting gifted and talented programming
• Thank a teacher who has worked well with gifted students and share your kudos with others; when things are noticed, they get repeated!
• Write your legislators about the importance of funding and legislation for gifted services in your district and our state
• Share the Gifted Education Month Proclamation in your district and/or community
• Share quotes from students about the importance of gifted and talented services in their educational lives; be positive and credit the kids!
• Share quotes from prominent authorities in many fields celebrating curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and talent; post them in faculty rooms with balloons and treats, or even in bathroom stalls (there is a lot of research that says that this is a great way to highlight your message)  
• Consider posting facts/resources about gifted education in various places in your school building, district, or community. NAGC (The National Association for Gifted Children) has many facts and ideas here. Additionally, our WATG website has many wonderful resources that can be showcased
• Consider purchasing a book for your child’s teacher/s about gifted education; general education teachers receive very little training in serving able learners (and teachers already have a myriad of mugs:)  Here are some excellent suggestions...
• Contact your local library and request that they purchase books about gifted education for their collection; here is a linked list of possible titles
• Become a member of your local organization, WATG.org, your national organization,
  NAGC.org, the World Council for Gifted and Talented, or Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted
• Consider stuffing teachers’ mailboxes with a small treat and a thank you for meeting the needs of their gifted and talented students. Examples include Kudos bars, Hershey kisses, Smarties, Lifesavers, pencils commemorating Gifted Education Month, etc. 
• Find your tribe and work together - one parent or teacher advocating alone becomes “that person”; two people become “those people”...and three or more become a movement!

However you choose to celebrate gifted education week, know that we at WATG appreciate your efforts. The kids do, too!

Jackie Drummer, Past President and Board Advisor
WATG

(WATG would like to extend a huge thank you to Esther Vazquez Guendulain of the Appleton Bilingual School for translating this article into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families and educators. The translation can also be found in our website blogs.)