By ElaineMendelow, NJAGC President, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

March is Gifted and Talented Students Month and this year, we are encouraging everyone (parents, students, educators, and advocates) to develop a variety of ways to celebrate. NJAGC kicked off the month with our 20th Annual Conference “20 Years of Growing Great Mindsr" on March 11-12, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewater. With nationally known speakers and numerous workshop presenters sharing cutting edge information about strategies for teaching and learning, resources and networking opportunities, the conference had something for everyone. Leaders in the field of gifted education, including Michael Kaelber, Esq. (Hall of Fame), Dr. Robert Krastek (Administrator of the Year), Elaine Chesebro (Educator of the Year), Cindy Alexy and Dr. Kathryn Stratton (Parents of the Year), and Miriam Hlawatsch and Kerri Scheinbach (Mini-Grant Winner)  were also honored at the conference as well as the winners of the student Art and Writing contests.

What are some ways you can bring attention to gifted children and the gifts and talents of all children during Gifted and Talented Students Month? Well, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Teachers

• Invite former GT students to your class as guest speakers.
• Host a parent visitation time, similar to American Education Week. Include administrators and Board of Education members.
• Invite administrators and Board of Education members to share their special gifts and talents with your students.
• Have students research famous gifted people (representing different areas of giftedness) and create a “Did You Know?” facts/picture display to be viewed throughout the month.
• Create a “Who Am I?” contest with a short biography of a famous gifted person for students and staff to enter.
• Create and deliver daily PA announcements, highlighting interesting facts on different types of gifts and talents that close with the question, “What are your gifts and talents?”
• Create a bulletin board display with pictures/cut-outs of light bulbs. On each light bulb write one of the individual gifts and talents of the school’s students and staff.
• Have gifted students write notes to members of the Board of Education thanking them for their support of gifted programs.
• In March, and as well as at different times throughout the year, have students write to administrators and Board of Education members updating them on class projects. Invite them to visit the class frequently.

Parents

• Encourage your Board of Education to recognize Gifted and Talented Students Month through a board resolution or bulletin
• Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper about gifted issues.
• Talk with your child about famous gifted adults and discuss what some of their challenges were as children.
• Talk with your child about some of your gifts and talents and how you discovered and developed them in your life. Create a “family tree” of gifts. Take note of any gifts or talents that many members of your family have in common.
• Ask your local librarian to locate biographies of gifted people for your family to read and discuss.
• Publish a class newsletter or web page describing class projects.

With a little thought and ingenuity, you can create an opportunity to advocate for gifted students and to raise awareness of NJAGC and its goals. Please send your ideas and activities to me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) so they can be shared with others on the NJAGC website (www.njagc.org). Click here for copy of the Joint Resolution declaring March “Gifted and Talented Students Month” .