Advocacy, Hypersensitivities, Education, More

MASSACHUSETTS ADVOCACY. The Daily Hampshire Gazette describes efforts of advocates in Massachusetts to foster programs for the gifted and the twice-exceptional. Only 3.7 percent of schools in Massachusetts have gifted programs compared to 57.6 percent for schools nationwide, according to the article. The article focuses on one particular advocate/volunteer who also teaches a free math class for 2e students, one of whom is profiled in the article. The particular student’s mother is quoted as saying, “Everybody focused on his disability, not his ability.” Sound familiar? Find the article.

ADDITUDE says its most popular recent article was on hypersensitivities. “ADHD seems to exacerbate and exaggerate everything — especially our senses. If you taste, smell, or hear in extremes, you’re not alone. Here are common ADHD hypersensitivities — and expert recommendations for dialing them down.” Find the article.

TiLT PARENTING’S newest podcast is with an author of the “Little Senses” children’s books written especially for kids on the spectrum who have sensory issues. Find the podcast.

DAVIDSON INSTITUTE. This organization’s December newsletter is out. Find out about applying for the Davidson Academy, brick-and-mortar or online; Davidson Fellows applications; other Davidson News; gifted-related legislative and policy news, and resources and news about gifted education in general. Find the newsletter.

ON EDUCATION. A variety of articles over the past week deal with general education topics that nonetheless might be of interest to those here:
— Common Core: What happened? That’s the question addressed by a New York Times article. Find it.
— Reading programs aren’t necessarily backed by science, writes Education
Week. Find the article.
— A Mississippi reading program is backed by science. Read more.

SCIENCE, RESEARCH
— Cognitive training aptitude, from Science Daily: “People with specific brain attributes are more likely than others to benefit from targeted cognitive interventions designed to enhance fluid intelligence, scientists report in a new study. Fluid intelligence is a measure of one’s ability to adapt to new situations and solve never-before-seen problems.” Find the study write-up.
— DIY EEG? And finally, this. “Researchers have developed a free open source computer program that can be used to create visual and quantitative representations of brain electrical activity….” Sounds like a neat idea. Unfortunately, it’s for laboratory animals, and it sounds like it’s directed at treating drug use — but who knows what fun you might have scanning your kiddo’s brain waves using this open source software. Read more. (And our lawyer says for us to note that this is humor, not a practical suggestion.)

Holiday Gifts for Teachers, Family

We suggest that a couple of our Spotlight on 2e Series booklets would be ideal for informing that significant teacher or that close relative about twice-exceptionality. These two booklets are concise and affordable:
— For a teacher: Understanding Your Twice-Exceptional Student
— For a relative: Understanding Your Twice-Exceptional Child.

We’ll be able to ship Spotlight booklets, print or PDF versions, until December 21. Find out more.