Update from Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

GECO Upcoming Events

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 7:00-8:30 pm, Clarendon Hills Middle School MRC

“Testing in District 181:Using Testing Data to Inform and Guide Decision Making” Dr. Janet Stutz, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, will explain and discuss the testing currently being administered by District 181, including how the tests are used to measure academic progress and how they are used for placement in the gifted and talented tiers. Click here for more details. This event is open to the entire community

Thursday, March 18, 2010:  12:30 to 2:30 at a member's home

GECO Planning Meeting:  All members are encouraged to attend monthly planning meetings.  Please email GECO@ArvaMont.com for location. 

Tuesday, March 23, 2010:  12:30 to 2:30 at a member's home

GECO Parenting Book Club: A Love for Learning: Motivation and the Gifted Child by Carol Strip Whitney with Gretchen Hirsh   Contact GECOParentingBookClub@ArvaMont.com for information and with nominations.

Thursday, April 8, 2010:  12:30 at a member's home

GECO Literary Book Club – Come to discussLook Me in the Eyeby John Elder Robinson.  Contact GECOLiteraryBookClub@ArvaMont.com for location and to RSVP. Flyer.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010:  12:30 to 2:30 at a member's home

GECO Parenting Book Club:  Book still to be determined.  Nominate your choice!  Contact GECOParentingBookClub@ArvaMont.com for information and with nominations.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010, in Springfield, Illinois

SPRINGFIELD DAY 2010 A day for gifted and talented children, their families, and their teachers to gatherin Springfield, Illinois- Sponsored by the Illinois Assoc. for Gifted Children

Mark your calendars and plan to join hundreds of gifted and talented children, their parents, and their teachers from CPS and across the state on a visit to our state capital. Last year over 1,000 parents, students, and teachers participated, and for the first time in five years, the state provided some funding for Gifted Education. Our collective voices were heard! With your participation this year, it is our goal that the level of funding will be increased. Contact Kathy Marinko atkathyjamz@aol.comfor moreinformation.   

Thursday, April 29, 2010:  12:30 to 2:30 at a member's home

GECO Planning Meeting:  All members are welcome and encouraged to attend monthly planning meetings.  Please email GECO@ArvaMont.com for location.

• Information from the Summer Camp Fair

  A variety of day and overnight camps from near and far sent representatives and information to our annual GECO Summer Activities Fair on February 4. Click here to view detailed information and find website and contact information for all of these organizations.

• On Tuesday, March 2, GECO hosted Dr. Michael Piechowski, speaking on “Living with Intensities and Sensitivities”. During that talk, Dr. Piechowski handed out an informal intensity assessment. Click here for a copy of this form. In addition, Dr. Piechowski sent a reference on mediation as a follow-up to a question her received that night. He recommends this book as a “terrific source”: Teaching Meditation to Children by D. Fontana and I. Slack (London: Watkins, 2007).

Click Here.

• In her talk “Encouraging Reluctant Mathematicians”.. Dr. Edna Bazik, recommended several math websites, click here for her full list.  Dr. Bazik, a noted educator and author, is the winner of the 2009 Illinois Council of Math Teachers Max Beberman award for outstanding service in the field of mathematics education.

• Gifts for the Thinking Child.  Are you stymied for a good gift for your child?  GECO has compiled a list of parent recommendation, click here: Gifts for the Thinking Child.

• Thanks to Theresa Wilkie and Dr. Edna Bazik, who have been kind enough to share their annotated bibliography of sixty-four children's literature books with a Mathematics theme. This list was created as part of an action research project for National Louis University and includes books for a wide age range.  For more information: Book List

• Literature for gifted kids:  This article by nationally recognized speaker  and gifted consultant Dr. Bertie Kingore contains an annotated bibliography with dozens of quality examples of children's literature that meet three important criteria: the books are written by authors of merit; each book contains well-developed characters who display gifted behaviors; and the stories include thought-provoking problem situations, issues, or personal needs with which gifted students can identify.  Includes books for grades K to 8.  http://www.bertiekingore.com/gtchildreninlit.htm