Rochester SAGE – Supporting Advanced & Gifted Education

I sent each Rochester Community Schools Board of Education candidate questions about Advanced & Gifted Education. Candidates running opposed (Michelle Bueltel and Elizabeth Witten) and unopposed (Sandra Fiaschetti and Kevin Beers) had sufficient opportunity to respond, but only Mrs. Bueltel provided answers to the questions. Mrs. Bueltel’s responses are below.

1) Do you believe the opportunities and education that exist for advanced and gifted students in Rochester Community Schools are sufficient? Why or why not?

I do not believe that there are sufficient opportunities for advanced and gifted students.  In elementary school, the opportunities for advanced students are usually dependent upon the teacher.  Some do a great job of identifying ways to challenge students who already know the material such that a student is engaged and learning.  However, I believe that there should be a more formal process for identifying the students who already know the material and a game plan for how those students will learn more during the current year.  Every child should have at least one full year of academic growth during each school year in every subject.  At the secondary level we already have honors courses in English and math and I would like to see honors courses offered in science and social studies too.
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Admit it. You haven’t been to an MAGC Conference and you are a bit apprehensive. You probably won’t know anyone and you don’t want to spend your Saturday hanging with a bunch of nerds. Yep, I’ve been there too. This is why you should go:

1) You don’t know many parents of gifted kids. I remember first starting out parenting gifted daughters and wondering what was normal. She has imaginary friends. Is this normal? She talks about storing information in folders in her head. Is this normal? She read a book on cancer and is now petrified. Is this normal? I can’t get her to stop reading! Is this normal? Once I met parents of other gifted children, I found that gifted normal was a wide range. You need this conference to meet more parents of gifted children!

2) You can’t talk about giftedness.  I know that dance.  You think someone might have a gifted child. You ask indirect questions trying to find out because the g-word can shut down a conversation if their child isn’t. Eventually, you find out their child is gifted and have a nice chat – until someone else joins the conversation and you have to change the subject. At the MAGC Conference, there is no shame! No dance! Just nice chats with parents, teachers, experts, and other supporters of gifted learners!
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Register by September 10 for $10 discount on conference + membership!

Have you been wondering why your gifted child is so different academically and emotionally?  Have you been struggling to meet your child’s needs in these areas?

The Michigan Association for Gifted Children Fall Conference has answers!  Covering both the academic and emotional needs of gifted learners, these experts have solutions and information for parents just finding their child is gifted, advocates working to make changes at the school and district level, and educators with gifted students.
Join us on October 15 at the remarkable University Prep Science & Math Academy in Detroit!  Meet parents and educators advocating for gifted children!  Chat with experts!  Visit vendors with books, programs, and games aimed at gifted learners!  Earn SCECHs while gaining great info on gifted students!

More details and registration is at m90212.wixsite.com/magc

P.S. I’ll be wearing an MAGC name tag and look forward to meeting you!

Have you been wondering why your gifted child is so different academically and emotionally?  Have you been struggling to meet your child’s needs in these areas? 

The Michigan Association for Gifted Children Fall Conference has answers!  Covering both the academic and emotional needs of gifted learners, these experts have solutions and information for parents just finding their child is gifted, advocates working to make changes at the school and district level, and educators with gifted students.
Join us on October 15 at the remarkable University Prep Science & Math Academy in Detroit!  Meet parents and educators advocating for gifted children!  Chat with experts!  Visit vendors with books, programs, and games aimed at gifted learners!  Earn SCECHs while gaining great info on gifted students!

More details and registration is at m90212.wixsite.com/magc

P.S. I’ll be wearing an MAGC name tag and look forward to meeting you!

Giftedness.  The word conjures up ideas of students who have it easy and are at the top of the class.  It sounds wonderful.  However, as with most of life, it isn’t all great. Talking about being gifted seems elitist – as if being gifted makes one a better human being. It doesn’t. Giftedness is a difference and it changes one’s life in good ways and bad.

Giftedness is being a star pupil destined for greatness; giftedness is that idea being a false stereotype.

Giftedness is being gifted and knowing it; giftedness is educators and friends’ parents being skeptical.

Giftedness is the way you are born; giftedness is developing natural abilities into talent through nurture.

Giftedness is academics coming easy; giftedness is not learning to work hard.

Giftedness is understanding and retaining material; giftedness is not learning to study.

Giftedness is breezing through; giftedness is not learning to overcome obstacles.
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Due to inclement weather, the Gifted Magnet School Parent Information & Discussion Night has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 24.

Avondale Gifted Magnet School is committed to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners through highly-trained teachers, advanced curriculum, and a safe environment for gifted children. We are designing this school through the collaboration of parents and educators and request your participation at a dialogue exploring what parents want in a gifted program and the development of this school.

Scheduled to open in September 2017, this school of choice will be open to students in Oakland County.

Meeting info:
Thursday, March 24 6:30 PM
Board of Education Room
Avondale Administration Building
2940 Waukegan Street
Auburn Hills, MI  48326

Please RSVP through one of two ways:
1) Register for the event via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1684865305118342/
2) Send an email to neogifted@outlook.com with your name and number of people attending.

Join us at Avondale Gifted Magnet School Parent Group on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest information.

If you have not yet taken the survey, please do!  This will help us answer your questions and develop the school.

Forward this to your friends with gifted children!  Let’s show Avondale there is interest in gifted education!

Schedule:
+ Overview of Gifted Magnet School – Dr. Schwarz, Avondale Superintendent

+ Table Groups for Parent Input
– Curriculum
– Characteristics & Training of Teachers and Support Staff
– Characteristics of Gifted Learners
– Social & Emotional Needs
– Eligibility
– Extracurriculars
– Middle & High School Programs

+ Wrap-up and Next Steps

(Table groups and order of schedule subject to change.)

Light snacks will be served.

Avondale Gifted Magnet School is committed to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted learners through highly-trained teachers, advanced curriculum, and a safe environment for gifted children. We are designing this school through the collaboration of parents and educators and request your participation at a dialogue exploring what parents want in a gifted program and the development of this school.

Scheduled to open in September 2017, this school of choice will be open to students in Oakland County.

Meeting info:
Wednesday, March 2 6:30 PM
Board of Education Room
Avondale Administration Building
2940 Waukegan Street
Auburn Hills, MI  48326

Please RSVP through one of two ways:
1) Register for the event via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1684865305118342/
2) Send an email to neogifted@outlook.com with your name and number of people attending.

Join us at Avondale Gifted Magnet School Parent Group on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest information.

If you have not yet taken the survey, please do!  This will help us answer your questions and develop the school.

Forward this to your friends with gifted children!  Let’s show Avondale there is interest in gifted education!

Schedule:
+ Overview of Gifted Magnet School – Dr. Schwarz, Avondale Superintendent

+ Table Groups for Parent Input
– Curriculum
– Characteristics & Training of Teachers and Support Staff
– Characteristics of Gifted Learners
– Social & Emotional Needs
– Eligibility
– Extracurriculars
– Middle & High School Programs

+ Wrap-up and Next Steps

(Table groups and order of schedule subject to change.)

Light snacks will be served.