GDC Newsletter Updates
World Hope Project
Our hope lies in shifting our perspective from “me” to “we.” The time has come for a new social construct rooted in global connection instead of individual protection. When the children look at we adults, may they see hope.
Stranded in the Multiverse
Identity is important to all - no matter where your tipuna (ancestors) come from or who they were. Some people declare their identity as a way of establishing a link of belonging to a certain group or to establish their turangawaewae (a place of standing); this I note can change depending on who people are with - a desire to feel accepted or to establish rights; sometimes this is social, sometimes political.
For others, expressed out-loud or not, self-identity is part of addressing that inner question we all have: ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Why am I here?’
Art That Takes Wing
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | iographer Amy Alznauer’s second picture book biography is every bit as masterfully written as her first success, The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity* (Candlewick Press, 2020). Employing a narrative voice that is close to being poetry, Alznauer tells the courageous and remarkable life stories of the Chinese-born and now American sibling artists, the Zhou Brothers, who are prominent contemporary painters, sculptors, and performance artists of world renown.
Books That Honor Family Heritage
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Patricia Polacco is one of the most creative and prolific author-illustrators in the field of children's literature. Her picture books feature essential subject matter such as family stories and traditions, history, autobiography, twice exceptional (2e) students, great educators, tall tales, contemporary social issues, and holiday stories straight from the heart. She champions multiculturalism, diversity, and tolerance as hallmarks of American democracy.
Gifted Children and Honesty
Leta Hollingworth, the founder of gifted education, developed a program of emotional education for the gifted. She noted that exceptionally gifted children tend to be exceptionally honest, and that their honesty often gets them into trouble. Leta felt that learning when not to tell the truth is as important a skill for the gifted to learn as any school subject. This was part of her emotional curriculum.
Murder on the Orient Express
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Translated into 105 languages, her mysteries have sold billions of copies, surpassed only by Shakespeare and The Bible. In the 1930s, The Orient Express was the most famous and romantic train in the world—a grand hotel on wheels in the golden age of travel in Europe, Asia, and Africa
Social Development of the Gifted
Socialization means adapting to the needs of the group, whereas social development indicates positive self-concept and concern for the welfare of others. The former may result in alienation from one’s inner self, while the latter leads to self-actualization. Gifted children have positive social development when they are respected in their families; when their parents value the inherent worth of all human beings; when they find true peers of similar ability at an early age; and when they interact with the mainstream after they have developed a strong sense of their own acceptability.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | The primary focus of Shark Lady highlights Dr. Eugenie Clark’s scientific accomplishments, but a companion story thread relates how one very courageous woman triumphed in an academic world that had previously been totally dominated by men.
What Makes a Quality GT Program for Gifted Students of Color that Benefits All Students?
By Theresa Newsom | “We need to make learning something interesting by connecting it to the student. The best thing we can do is excite their passion for learning.”
A Thoughtful Fable for Our Times
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Cozy is a beautiful fable that symbolizes the harsh difficulties that face human beings today. In the age of the COVID pandemic, people regardless of their different origins and backgrounds need to huddle together and live in harmony to survive a very cold season of danger and discontent.
Eliminating Gifted Programs Increases Inequity
An article by Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman | At the age of 4, Michelle read fluently. She skipped second grade. By sixth grade, she stood out among her peers and began attending gifted classes. She learned French and took accelerated courses. Michelle attended Chicago’s first magnet high school for gifted students. She graduated cum laude from Princeton where she did her thesis on “Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community.” She went on to earn a law degree from Harvard Law School. If we abandon gifted programs, as we are being entreated to do once again, we ignore the benefits of gifted programs for diverse students like Michelle Obama. We worsen inequality, because children of privilege have access to a wealth of resources, whereas children with limited means are dependent on public schools to identify and develop their special abilities.
Celebrate Life with Color!
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | “Ashley Bryan and his work are more than a national treasure; they are one of the great treasures of the world. His astonishing mind and gentle heart bring back our natural optimism about life, without which we can’t actually grow together. He is a gift to us all.” - Virginia Euwer Wolff
New Insights into Overexcitability
An article by Dr. Linda Kreger Silverman | What is overexcitability (OE)? Is there empirical evidence that gifted children and adults have greater OE? Does OE portray gifted children as emotionally needy and peculiar? Why is the concept controversial? Can we distinguish OE from AD/HD, sensory processing disorder, and other issues? How should we respond to OEs?
Jane Goodall: A Great Life
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Jane Goodall’s life story is a wonderful avenue to use to introduce young readers to the intellectual pursuit of scientific discipline and the world of biography. Here are 3 picture book biographies that celebrate her.
Book of the Year!
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Barnes & Noble booksellers everywhere participated in the selection of the corporation’s inaugural Book of the Year prize... British author-illustrator Charlie Mackesy’s incredibly exquisite children’s book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, was the overwhelming winner...The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse presents a journey not to be missed.
A Beloved and Timeless Classic
Review by Dr. Jerry Flack | Few books in any language have the lasting appeal for both children and adult audiences as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic, The Little Prince, first published on April 6, 1943. Generations of readers and listeners have loved this novella with its fairy tale-like structure and its sweet, gentle, and yet also satirical humor and pathos. Le Petit Prince has been translated into an astonishing 300 languages.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: A Life to discover
Companion Activities for The Little Prince | Explore the life of Antoine de Saint Exupéry.
ADJ Volume 18 Now Available!
The inner experience of giftedness has been neglected in most research and theories, especially in adults. Consequently, definitions of giftedness that exist do not reflect how gifted adults see themselves and in what ways they value their giftedness. Learn more in our newest ADJ Volume!
Investigate the Natural World
Companion Activities for The Lost Words | Encourage children to explore the world of nature through Haiku poetry, etymology, nature journals, painting and more.