September 2014: Upcoming Events and Gifted Education Links

A big thank you to all of the parents and students who were able to attend the back to school picnic on August 16! The kids had fun playing games and eating ice cream while the adults shared information about CANDO and what is coming up in gifted education for the 2014-2015 school year, including the new Lunch and Learn programs being co-sponsored by CANDO.

If you were not able to attend, please feel free to get in touch with CANDO for the latest scoop on our plans for the new academic year.

If you have a student in the elementary school gifted cluster, you will be invited to a curriculum night meeting with your building's Gifted Specialist. Curriculum Night for elementary schools is Thursday, September 4. Visit the BPS101 Elementary Gifted Blog for the Gifted Handbook and more information about each specialist.

Have you seen ... ?

• This blog entry by Ben Hildebrand, Quest Academy Head of School, examines the phenomenon of underachievement in gifted students and what experts tell us we can do to help these students.
• Does the start of the school year fill your gifted teen with dread? He or she is not alone. Psychologist Gail Post, PhD, writes about the worries most commonly expressed by gifted students and how parents can help. Read the article to learn more.
• Educator, author, and advocate for the gifted Jim DeLisle, PhD, offers suggestions for how to respond to commonly heard misconceptions about gifted students and gifted education. Find the blog post here.
• Over the summer, The New York Times ran a "Room for Debate" feature on how NYC public schools should handle gifted education. Read the competing perspectives here.