Summer Institute for the Gifted - eNewsletter: The Gifted Student

SIG eNewsletter: The Gifted Student

February 2012

From the President's Desk

A letter from Barbara Swicord, President of SIG:

How appropriate that Leap Year (in the Gregorian calendar) and Valentine’s Day occur in the same month! Falling in love is sometimes referred to as leaping into love, suggesting a leap of faith or suspension of logic. The dictionary defines leaping as springing free from a surface or over an obstacle. How many of us have ignored or worked around obstacles in the name of love! Probably quite a few.

Here at SIG, we LEAP every day – that is, we Love Extraordinary Academic Pupils. We strive to create programs that spring students free from academic restrictions and encourage them to invite challenges and overcome obstacles. We cheer them into jumping into mental risk-taking and open-ended questioning. Our hope is that by leaping into the unknown, young people will learn to soar on their own, given sufficient practice.

That practice can come in many forms, both at home and at school. We encourage our readers to use February 29 to leap out of your usual routine. If you are a parent, ask your child about his or her current educational situation. What is going right? What would you change if you could? What would you like to learn about if you had the opportunity? See if you can help your child leap into increased responsibility for learning or uncover a new area of thought or study.

If you are an educator, take February 29 to try something new for a gifted student you teach or know. You might suggest a new topic that you think might interest that student; you might try asking a new question that has only complex answers; or you might have a conversation with that student about what topics are running through her head now, and then weave those ideas into the curriculum.

If you are a student, do some reflecting on February 29. What can you do with an extra day? Are you where you want to be now in your personal development? What’s been nagging at your mind lately? What can you do with that thought that would help you jump into another category of thought? With whom can you share a new idea? Whom can you tell about something interesting that you’d like to pursue? Leap into something new and enjoy the invigorating processes of expanding beyond what you normally do and of jumping over obstacles that normally get in your way.

We at NSGT wish everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day and a soaring Leap Day!

You’ll love leaping into this month’s newsletter. It contains information useful to parents of gifted preschoolers and English language learners as well as those looking at college, information about our Live Chat option and new student portal, alumni news, our T-shirt design contest, ways to support gifted students and your Valentine all at once, a very full calendar of events, Beyond programs and Info Sessions, and of course a puzzle for your mental leaps! Enjoy your extra calendar day, our newsletter, and the last official month of winter.

Barbara Swicord
President, Summer Institute for the Gifted

Ask Angela

Question: My son will be turning four this summer and seems very advanced to me. What are some indicators of early giftedness in children?

Answer: While there is no single "magic identifier" of giftedness (this is true for children 4 or 14!), primary indicators tend to be early achievement of developmental milestones. Pediatricians, baby guides and the internet are replete with lists of developmental milestones, and one way to think about early signs of giftedness is the early achievement of these milestones, for example, drawing/scribbling at 9 months rather than at 13 months or saying a first word at 5 months rather than at 8. Beyond early achievement in motor skills (fine and gross) and language development, you can also look at overall thinking skills, curiosity, creativity, imagination, and humor. Several researchers indicate that gifted youngsters spend less time sleeping or napping and have greater persistence and focus on tasks than their age peers.

You can read more about these developmental milestones at www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10106.aspx.

You can read about indicators other than development milestones at www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Testing/ or www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-if-your-preschooler-is-gifted_65003.bc.

We use many of these indicators in our letter of recommendation for entrance into the four-year-old program at SIG. In addition to the behavioral and language development indicators listed above, we also ask about memory, recall, maturity, and potential for intellectual growth. Four-year-olds can also qualify for our program using nationally-normed aptitude or ability tests, such as the WPPSI-III (soon to be WPPSI-IV), or through participation in a gifted program.

If you’d like information on ideas or activities for gifted preschoolers, check out Carol Bainbridge’s article on keeping gifted youngsters stimulated at home, or the Farmer article cited earlier.

Puzzle Corner

How many times on average must an ordinary six-sided die be tossed before every number from 1 to 6 comes up at least once?

Submit your answer online at www.giftedstudy.org/newsletter/puzzlecorner.asp. The first student who submits the correct answer will receive recognition in the next issue of The Gifted Student!

Last Month's Puzzle

Which of the following nonsense phrases is the odd one out?

1. More solo goals
2. Lame animal pairs
3. Only some sail
4. Plaza mail louse

Answer: 3. In the others each word is an anagram of a capital city: Rome, Oslo, Lagos; Male, Manila, Paris; La Paz, Lima, Seoul.

Congratulations to Michael from Boise, ID, for being the first to respond with the correct answer to last month's puzzle!

Alumni (and Staff!) Spotlight

Arianna Groveman currently attends Union College in Schenectady, New York, and is in her junior year. She majors in psychology with minors in Jewish Studies and math. SIG, it seems, has always been a part of Arianna’s life. Her sister first attended SIG at Amherst College. Then, her father worked for SIG in the main office back when SIG Central was in New Jersey. He also worked at Drew University and Amherst College with SIG.

Arianna spent all three of her summers as a SIG student at Amherst College. She and the friends she met there decided to return together each year. In her first year with SIG, Arianna remembered being terribly homesick for the first few days; so homesick, in fact, that her sister had to stay with her for a night. But, in the end, Arianna was crying because she did not want to leave. Her advice to campers who do get homesick is not to give up. “Just keep trying and stay busy. It will get better, and by the end, you won’t want to go home. Also, make the most of your three weeks – try everything new!” She says she made some great friends at camp and is still able to keep in touch with them today through social networking sites such as Facebook. She has also been able to meet other SIG alumni through college. It was her first experience feeling like it was cool to be smart.

After taking a few years' hiatus from SIG, Arianna decided to come back in an administrative position. She remarked how it was cool to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making the program thrive. She never realized how much hard work it takes to make the program run smoothly and be a success. She said that one of the best parts of SIG is the people who work there; their dedication to the program and the students is unparalleled.

This is one of the many reasons she keeps coming back. “The program as a whole – working with the staff, seeing campers come back year after year, helping students prepare themselves for being away from home at college. This is a really nice way to learn about the school work/social life balance, experience having a roommate, and check out a college campus all in one.” Arianna loves coming back year after year: she enjoys seeing the returning students and watching them go from intellectual to silly and getting together with returning staff and catching up.

Thinking of working for SIG in the future? Arianna is here to give you some advice: “Be prepared for the fast pace. It is fast-moving, but you can have lots of fun with it! The kids are a great deal of fun. And relax when you can!”

If you would like to re-connect with Arianna Groveman, please contact Siobhan at sosullivan@giftedstudy.org.

SIG’s 3rd Annual Photo Contest Fan Choice – And the Winner is...

Misinterpretation by Sarabeth Davis!

This photo had an overwhelming number of “likes” – 181!

Sarabeth will be receiving a Canon PowerShot A3300 IS digital camera. Thanks to all who voted and congratulations to Sarabeth!

NEW AND IMPROVED! SIG’s Student Portal Gets a New Look!

This January, SIG released its new student portal with the goal of making your SIG experience even more enjoyable before, during, and after your program. Here are just some of the things you can do:

Upload a photo
Meet your SIG Program Director
Live Chat with any questions
Print your application, acceptance letter, and Visa Invitation letter (for international students)
Enter emergency contact information, request a roommate, or change courses
Download and Print Medical, Medication and Physical Exam Forms – All medical forms must be completed and sent to the SIG Stamford office by May 15th
Sign up for our transportation and unaccompanied minor service, select a single room, purchase sheets and pillows in advance of registration (if you are attending a campus that doesn't provide linen service)
Billing – View or print your invoice and conveniently make online payments. Your first deposit is due upon acceptance
Are you a returning student? You can view and print your student performance evaluations from your previous years
Refer a friend
And much, much more!

SIG is proud to be a green organization, preserving our planet for future generations. We hope you will join SIG in our efforts to “Go Green” by filling in as much information online as you can.

Go Live with SIG!

SIG is thrilled to announce the implementation of Live Chat on our website! Got a question while browsing programs, classes, or how to apply? Click on the blue Questions box on the right-hand side for immediate assistance from a SIG advisor. This function is currently available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, or you can leave a message and someone will get back to you. Go live with SIG today!

Celebrate Leap Year by Leaping into College Prep with a Free Webinar on Feb. 28!

SIG is pleased to announce a free webinar on college preparation, specifically geared toward the needs of gifted students. The webinar, College Prep for the Gifted Student, will focus on the collegiate options for gifted students, such as honors programs and undergraduate research. SIG’s newest addition, SIG College Week at Bryn Mawr, will also be highlighted during the hour-long presentation. The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session.

Please join Dr. Matthew Greene from Howard Greene & Associates and Dr. Angela Lycan, SIG’s Academic Director, on Tuesday, February 28th, at 12:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. (EST). You can register for the free webinar using these links:

Register for Webinar at 12:30 – 1: 30 p.m. EST

Register for Webinar at 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST

Questions about the Webinar? Contact Angela at alycan@giftedstudy.org.

Learn About SIG at One of Our Upcoming Info Sessions!

We are pleased to announce Info Sessions for two of our summer programs, and one of our SIG Beyond Saturday programs. Please see locations and dates below:

Dunham Academy Saturday Program, San, Rafael, CA
Monday, February 13, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sierra Canyon School Day Program, Chatsworth (Los Angeles area), CA
Monday, March 5, 2012, 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Adelphi Academy Day Program, Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, March 31, 2012, 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

To register, contact Michelle Holleran at 866-303-4744 ext. 5159 or mholleran@giftedstudy.org.

Highlighting UC Berkeley Session 2

For students from around the globe looking for the rigorous academic challenge that SIG provides, as well as for social interaction with their global peers and an English language study program, SIG is pleased to provide an English Language Learners (ELL) course offered solely at UC Berkeley, Session II.

Students must be eligible for the SIG program per the eligibility requirements; however, this program will accept students who require English language support services. While all of our sites require evidence of English language fluency, these requirements at UC Berkeley Session II are less stringent, as we will be providing support for English language learners. Students for whom English is not their first language have the option of taking 1 ELL (English Language Learners) course during one period to improve their English writing and speaking skills to enhance their total SIG experience.

Learn more about SIG at UC Berkeley

REMINDER: SIG’S 2nd Annual T-Shirt Contest!

Don't forget! SIG is looking for fun and witty t-shirt designs that reflect the spirit of SIG summer camps. If we use your design, you’ll receive a t-shirt for you and two of your friends with YOUR design on it.

Submit your designs to Siobhan O’Sullivan at sosullivan@giftedstudy.org. Deadline for entry is February 15, 2012.

T-shirts and other fun items can be ordered at www.cafepress.com/NSGT/7484976. All proceeds benefit the NSGT Scholarship Fund.

Attention SIG Alumni

Answer a few questions below; let us know what you've been doing since the last time you attended SIG and be featured in our next Alumni Spotlight! We want to hear from you!

Which SIG campus(es) have you attended? Please include the year(s).
Where do you currently live?
Have you graduated from high school or college/university since you attended SIG? Which high school/college did you attend?
Are you currently in college? If yes, which college are you attending and what is your current major?
What do you recall as your favorite aspect of SIG?
If you could give any advice to current SIG students, what would it be?
List any organizations or clubs you belong to.
What are your hobbies?

Please feel free to share any additional information about yourself. Also, please include a current picture and a picture from the time you attended SIG.

Send your response to kvieillard@giftedstudy.org.

Spring into SIG Beyond

SIG Beyond Afterschool Programs, Saturday Programs and Weekend Workshops

In response to requests from parents and educators, SIG has launched its Beyond programs. They were established to enhance the school year learning options for academically talented youth. We are offering programs in Connecticut, New Jersey and California.

Upcoming SIG Beyond Programs

Afterschool:
Williams Elementary School, San Jose, CA – March 14 – May 23, 2012

Saturday:
Dunham Academy for the Gifted and Talented, San Rafael, CA– March 3- March 24, 2012
Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT – March 3 – March 24, 2012
Stuart Country Day School, Princeton, NJ – April 14- May 5, 2012

For more information about hosting a program in your area, check out www.giftedstudy.org/beyond/.

NEW SIG Alumni Association!

Calling all SIG Alums! Please join us as we form the SIG Alumni Association. We are looking for a group of motivated alumni to help other former SIG students reconnect with old friends and make new connections. We hope to plan both social and professional events for alumni of all ages. If you are interested in being a part of this new and exciting component of our organization, please contact Program Director Rebecca Levine at RLevine@giftedstudy.org.

NSGT Board of Trustees Scholarships for 2012

The Board of Trustees Scholarship is a prestigious award given each year to outstanding students who demonstrate excelled ability in their field of interest. These funds may be used to help pay tuition for gifted, leadership, or foreign language and cultural programs.

In total, 16 scholarships will be awarded: (4) $250, (6) $500, (6) $1,000. The application deadline is April 1, 2012.

To learn more and submit your application, visit www.nsgt.org/index_scholarships.asp.

SUPPORT NSGT – Shop for Your Valentine Through Give Back America and Give Back to Gifted Students!

Do you shop at Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, Staples, or Office Depot? These stores and many, many more have partnered with Give Back America to make donating to organizations like NSGT effortless. All you have to do is visit www.givebackamerica.com/charity.php?b=824, click on the store where you will be shopping, and then shop! The rest is done for you. A small percentage of the sale will go directly to NSGT. It’s a quick, easy, and feasible way to support NSGT.

Upcoming Conferences & Events

Are you in the Austin, Texas area? Come visit us at the annual TAGT Parent Conference on February 11th! We’d love to see you there! Dr. Barbara Swicord, SIG’s President, will be presenting a session for parents at this conference.

Northwest Gifted Child Association (NWGCA)
February 4
"Connections Symposium"
Edmonds-Woodway High School, Edmonds, WA

30th Annual Westchester Camp Fair
February 5, 12-3 pm
SIG will be there!
Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, NY

Illinois Association for Gifted Children (IAGC)
February 5 - 7, 2012
Keynotes: Andy Mahoney and Bruce Mau
Chicago, IL
Register by January 20 to save!

Kentucky Association for Gifted Education Annual Conference (KAGE)
February 6 - 7, 2012
Marriott Griffin Gate Hotel
Lexington, KY

Parent Seminar Series sponsored by Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy
February 8, 2012
"Finding School Support for Your Gifted Child," Dina Brulles
Gary K. Herberger Young Scholars Academy, ASU West, AZ

UC Irvine’s Free Gifted and Talented Webinar Series
February 8, 8-9 p.m. PST
"Understanding and Supporting the Emotional Aspects of Giftedness," online, free

WOW! NAGC Webinars On Wednesdays
February 8, 2012, 7 p.m. EST
"Common Core State Standards: What Gifted Leaders Need to Know" with Joyce VanTassel-Baska of College of William & Mary; online

Arkansas Association for Gifted and Talented (AGATE)
February 8 - 10, 2012
Hot Springs Convention Center, Little Rock, AR

TAGT Annual Parent Conference
February 11, 2012
Keynote: Patricia Gatto-Walden
Anderson High School, Austin, TX
SIG will be in attendance and also presenting at this conference.

Round Rock Independent School District Parent Workshop
February 11, 2012
Austin, TX,
SIG will be in attendance at this event.

SIG Info Session at Dunham Academy for the Saturday Program
February 13, 2012
Dunham Academy, San, Rafael, CA 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

UC Irvine's Free Gifted and Talented Webinar Series
February 15, 8-9 p.m. PST
"Identifying, Serving, and Enfranchising Our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Gifted Students," online, free

WOW! NAGC Webinars On Wednesdays
February 15, 2012, 7 p.m. EST
"Instructional Strategies for Differentiated Assessments and Products Within the Classroom" with Julia Roberts & Tracy Inman of Western Kentucky University; online

Emory University Camp and Learning Expo
February 16, 2012, 10am -2:00pm
Woodruff PE Center, Atlanta, GA
SIG will have materials available at this fair.

UC Irvine's Free Gifted and Talented Webinar Series
February 22, 8-9 p.m. PST
"Technology Tools for GATE Teachers," online, free

WOW! NAGC Webinars On Wednesdays
February 22, 2012, 7 p.m. EST
"Action Plans: Bringing P-12 Gifted Programming Standards to Life" with Alicia Cotabish of University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Sally Krisel of Hall County Schools; online

Beyond Giftedness XIX
February 24, 2012
"Critical Connections or Hokey Hook-ups?" Keynote: Lou Lloyd-Zannini
Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, CO

Global Virtual Meeting for Gifted Education in Second Life
February 25, 2012, 9-10 p.m. (CEST) (3-4 p.m. US-EDT)
Guest speaker, Josh Shaine, online, free!

WOW! NAGC Webinars On Wednesdays
February 29, 2012, 7 p.m. EST
"P-12 Gifted Programming Standards: Models & Program Design" with Bill Keilty, Cheryll Adams and Chrystyna Mursky; online

Nebraska Association for the Gifted (NAG)
February 28 - 29, 2012
"LEAP: Leading Exceptional students towards Advanced Performance," Keynote: Sally Reis
Scott Conference Center, Aksarben Village, NE

California Association for the Gifted (CAG) Conference
March 2-4, 2012
Palm Springs, CA
SIG will be in attendance and Dr. Barbara Swicord, SIG’s President, will be presenting at this conference.

SIG Summer Day Info Session at Sierra Canyon School
March 5, 2012, 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth (Los Angeles area), CA

SIG Summer Day Info Sessio at Adelphi Academy
March 31, 2012, 10:00-noon
Adelphi Academy, Brooklyn, NY

Spread the News!

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