New York State is among the few states in the USA that do NOT require educators to learn about the needs of highly able learners, or how to respond to those needs. Nor are programs to serve advanced learners required in NY State.
Decades of research and practice provide information about atypical cognitive, emotional, and social needs and characteristics. Plus, advanced competencies across diverse populations can present differently. To this day, as future teachers learn to be teachers in NY State, they are not required to learn about advanced learners.
As a result, educators - even the best classroom and subject matter teachers, no matter how expert, hard working and dedicated to our students - are not required to include even baseline awareness of gifted education in their skill sets. Kudos to the individual educators who choose to invest their time (and often their money) to study the needs and atypicalities of advanced learners, and how to recognize and serve highly able learners in diverse populations.
You are the expert on your student. As you advocate for your student, you will benefit from better understanding their needs, about how atypical needs require atypical responses.
Penfield is fortunate to have certified gifted/enrichment specialists who provide expertise in this educational specialty for our district. Teaching advanced learners is an educational specialty. Staffing gifted specialists, and programs like ours, are TOTALLY OPTIONAL in NY State, not required. That's why we need to support our enrichment specialists and programs (which, by the way, don't serve only gifted learners. They provide many benefits for general education.) Our enrichment/gifted staff and programs are the resource that counters New York State's neglect. Where there is inadequate knowledge of advanced learners, the misconception that often fills the vacuum is "They're smart kids, they'll be okay. They'll be fine."
What student has no needs?
Click on the tabs in the drop down at the top of this page to learn about:
Web site, newsletters, books, and associations under "Resources"
If you see outdated info or bad links on this website, please email PenfieldPACE@yahoo.com so they can be fixed. There's a lot of info on this website, and it's a big job to keep it up to date. Thanks for helping!
Web Sites
In the featured web sites below, you will find links to many additional resources.
SENGifted.org Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted is a nonprofit network of people who guide gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional (2E) individuals to reach their goals intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Twice exceptional (2E) individuals demonstrate both giftedness and one or more learning challenges. Non-members can access the website. Membership includes numerous "SENGinars," a regular series of highly informative webinars that you can watch live or on demand.
NAGC.org National Association for Gifted Children works to support those who enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research. Check out the Parent section.
https://cty.jhu.edu/ Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth fosters intellectual growth in exceptional students from all backgrounds and communities. Accredited, advanced online and on-campus courses often not found in school.
Books
Light Up Your Child's Mind: Finding a Unique Pathway to Happiness and Success, by Sally M. Reis Ph.D., Andrea Thompson (With), Joseph Renzulli
Finding Your Element: How to Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life, by Ken Robinson, Ph.D. and Lou Aronica (a great read for high school students and interested middle school students)
When Gifted Kids Don't Have All the Answers, by Judy Galbraith and Jim Delisle
Practical Strategies Series in Gifted Education https://www.routledge.com/search?kw=Practical+Strategies+Series+in+Gifted+Education
Bright, Talented and Black, by Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D.
Twice Exceptional: Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students with Learning Difficulties, by Scott Barry Kaufman
E-Newsletters
If you are interested in issues related to your children's screen time, check out Tech Talk Tuesdays, the free weekly newsletter from the film maker of Screenagers the movie. https://www.screenagersmovie.com/tech-talk-tuesdays
The blog in the weekly free newsletter of Kids Out and About is a must read! On top of that, the website and newsletter are chock full of opportunities and activities, some free, some paid, that you can sort by your family's interests. Debra Ross, the founder and publisher of KOA, is a Penfield mom. https://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/content/free-weekly-e-newsletter-signup-rochester-area
SENG is a nonprofit network of people who guide gifted, talented, and twice-exceptional individuals to reach their goals intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Enroll in the SENGVine free newsletter by going to https://www.sengifted.org and look for the signup window to appear.
GiftedNYS Gifted New York State, Inc. (GiftedNYS), is a not-for-profit organization of parents, educators, and professionals who have come together to support the needs of New York’s gifted and twice-exceptional (2E) student population and their families. The GiftedNYS Enewsletter is available to non-members. https://giftednys.org/about-us/newsletter/
WORLD CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION WEEK APRIL 15-21, 2024
Resources to help you extend your learning beyond Dr. Jonathan Plucker's presentations on April 17, 2024
JONATHAN PLUCKER’s BOOKS https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jonathan+plucker&crid=JOVE89CMUX5A&sprefix=jonathan+plucker%2Caps%2C152&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Dr. Plucker on WXXI Connections https://www.wxxinews.org/show/connections/2024-04-17/how-can-schools-better-meet-the-needs-of-high-ability-students
Dr. PLUCKER’s POWERPOINTS from 4/17/24 <<link will be inserted when available>>
SUNY BUFFALO STATE’s CENTER FOR APPLIED IMAGINATION Certificate, micro-certificate and degree programs in creativity studies https://creativity.buffalostate.edu/
CREATIVITY AND EDUCATION Support creativity in the home and classroom https://creativityandeducation.com/
CURIOSITY 2 CREATE By teachers for teachers https://www.curiosity2create.org/
FUELING CREATIVITY IN EDUCATION Free podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fueling-creativity-in-education/id1561020163
CREATIVE THINKING NETWORK Professional network for educators https://creativethinkingnetwork.com/
MY SANDWICH IS A SPACESHIP:CREATIVE THINKING FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN www.amazon.com
20 LESSONS TO WEAVE CREATIVE THINKING INTO YOUR CLASSROOM www.amazon.com
WEAVING CREATIVITY INTO EVERY STRAND OF YOUR CURRICULUM www.amazon.com
CREATIVE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Annual creativity conference for anyone, in nearby Buffalo https://cpsiconference.com/
Creative Thinking Tools for Teachers https://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org/tools-for-teachers/
Creative Problem Solving (CPS) for educators https://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org/educators/
Professional development for any workplace https://www.creativeeducationfoundation.org/pd/
THE SCIENCE BEHIND CREATIVITY American Psychological Association article https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/04/cover-science-creativity