P.A.C.E.
Providing Accelerated Content and Enrichment
May/June 2011
National Publications in Gifted Education
Upcoming Events
WVAG/T Fall Conference October 14, 2011
Resources
National Association for Gifted
Children (NAGC)
WV Department of Education/
Office of Special Programs/
Gifted Education
WV Association for Gifted/
Talented (WVAG/T)
Complimentary copy of
Gifted Education Press
Quarterly
Frequently Asked Questions
Teacher Preparation West Virginia
Marshall University
West Virginia University
TALENT Act: Federal Legislation to Support Gifted Students
Staff and leaders from both the National Association for Gifted Children
(NAGC) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) were feeling excited
and hopeful on May 26 after a Senate staff meeting called, "Leaving Talent
on the Table: A discussion on how the United States leaves high ability
students behind, how it affects our global competitiveness, and what we
can do about it." Experts in the field explained the key elements of the
Talent Act legislation to staffers from nearly 30 Senate Offices.
The TALENT Act, written to amend the Elementary & Secondary Education
Act (ESEA), includes support for gifted, talented and high potential students.
The bipartisan legislation focuses on the four critical areas for federal
attention: accountability, professional development, underserved gifted
students and research and dissemination of best practices.
State Updates
West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Resources
Parents can support their children's learning this summer with Learn 21
resources. The WVDE website includes educational games and activities
for Pre-K through grade 12. The resources are free, fun and ad-free.
Read WV is designed to encourage children and their parents and
grandparents to make reading a priority in their lives. The WVDE website
includes resources, a video contest and social media options to help find
exciting new books and build custom reading lists.
Thinkfinity offers a summer learning mini-site with fun, interactive
games and activities. It also offers educators professional
development
.
opportunities with free live and recorded webinars
Local Highlights
Monongalia County Students Take Marine Science Biology Trip
Providing support
and resources in
the field of gifted
education in
West Virginia
Joanna Patti-Jaworski and her students traveled to Wallops lsland, VA,
for a four-day visit to the Marine Science Consortium. The experience
included data collection and sampling with analysis during evening labs.
Ms. Jaworski reported that the trip was "fabulous" and very hands-on as
students explored marshes and dunes as well as the ocean shore. More
information may be found at the consortium's website at msconsortium.org.
page 2
P.A.C.E.
Providing Accelerated Content and Enrichment
Putnam County Continues Its Summer Academies
Putnam County will again sponsor two summer academies: one
focusing on the arts and humanities and the second on science
and technology. The academies are from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,
Monday throught Friday for two weeks. The two academies offer
reinforcement, enrichment and honors opportunities for students in
reading and math. This year, the theme for the academies is The
Amazing World of Animals.
Jorea M. Marple, Ed.D.
State Superintendent of Schools