Together we can make a difference!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Meade
We are looking for parents, teachers, and students who support advanced and gifted education for Rochester Community Schools in Michigan. Please subscribe to Rochester SAGE to receive updates.
Also, please visit the "How to Help" link in the upper right.
Gifted in Michigan Picnic in Rochester, July 7
Gifted in Michigan Picnic in Rochester ♦ Sunday, July 7 at 12:00 PM
Rochester Municipal Park ♦ 400 6th Street Rochester, MI 48307
Please forward!
Please bring a picnic lunch and come to socialize with other Gifted In Michigan members while your kids play!
We will be meeting at the play structure just across the creek. You can see the bridge from the parking lot.
Gifted in Michigan is a partner organization of Rochester SAGE and provides many social activities for gifted learners. Come meet other local gifted families in the Rochester area!
If you reply and RSVP, I will pass it on to Melissa Jenkins, Gifted in Michigan leader.
About Rochester Municipal Park
(Photo in original post may not be visible to some readers.)
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE. Together we can make a difference for gifted children!
Differentiation Study Session in Rochester Community Schools
Rochester Community Schools Board of Education and District Administration hosted a study session on differentiation on March 25, 2013. Mrs. Debi Fragomeni, Curriculum Director – Pre-K through Grade 7, and Ms. Irene Larson, Director of Assessment and Grants, invited four master teachers and a principal to demonstrate methods of differentiation that can be found in Rochester Community Schools. The presenting instructors were:
- Ms. April Wuest, Long Meadow Elementary Principal
- Ms. Monica Harvey, Hart Middle School Science Presenter
- Ms. Jennifer McPherson, Delta Kelly, Math Workshop Model Presenter
- Mrs. Liz Schrein, Hamlin Elementary, Language Arts Presenter
- Mr. Tom Plotzke, Hugger Elementary, Social Studies Presenter
Each took a sample class through an example of differentiation as they would use it in the classroom, varying the discussion topic, difficulty of question, and level of book to match the student or providing a project open-ended enough that students could work at their ability level. Ms. Wuest differentiated a lesson for the entire Board and the superintendent, Dr. Shaner. After that, each teacher demonstrated their area of expertise for two Board or administration members. Read more…
Action Alert: Study Session on Differentiation
There will be a Study Session on Differentiation in the Rochester Community Schools at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 25 at 7:00 PM, 501 W. University, Rochester, MI 48307. Differentiation is the technique currently used in RCS to address the needs of all students, including gifted learners.
The Board Packet for the Study Session can be found here. In the packet are two articles regarding differentiation techniques and examples. Please take a few moments to read these articles and make your opinions known to the Rochester Community Schools Board of Education and administration as to the appropriateness of these techniques for gifted learners.
Three ways to present your opinion to the Board of Education are:
- Email the Board of Education through its website: http://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/pages/5037/contact-the-board
- Talk with two members of the Board of Education beginning at 6:30 PM during Chat with the Board before the BOE meeting
- Speak for up to three minutes during the Additional Business portion of BOE meeting. This is just prior to the Study Session.
Public comment is not usually taken during the Study Session. However, the Board of Education can ask questions and hopefully will mention any concerns we raise.
I hope to see you at the Board of Education meeting and Study Session!
Remember, together we can make a difference for gifted children!
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE.
Please take a moment to read this and write the House Appropriations committee members. With Michigan making changes to its education funding, we are doing a full court press to make sure gifted students are not left out.
I have included a sample letter at the end if you would like to cut and paste it to each committee member.
– Joshua @ Rochester SAGE
Dear Supporters of Gifted Children, Youth, and Families:
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) has asked the Michigan House Appropriations and Education Committees to allocate 1% of the upcoming Michigan Education Budget for gifted education. Our message is that ALL children and youth matter, including the gifted.
Next Tuesday, March 19, the Michigan House Education Budget Committee will make financial decisions regarding Michigan Education Budget allocations for the Fiscal-Year 2013-1014. This meeting is open to anyone who cares about education in our state.
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 2013
TIME: 12:00 PM
PLACE: Room 426, State Capitol Building, Lansing, MI
AGENDA: Decision-Making on Department of Education Budget for FY 2013-14: HB 4214 (Rep. Rogers) Appropriations; zero budget; Department of Education; provide for fiscal year 2013-2014.
Michigan legislators need to hear your voices if we are to have any chance of receiving an allocation for the gifted.
While the U.S. and Michigan eliminated funding for the gifted, China recently allocated $500 billion dollars for gifted education. In its quest to be the next world superpower China is investing substantially in its gifted children, understanding that future success is tied to that of its high-potential youth.
Michigan’s gifted students have struggled academically, socially, and emotionally in classrooms without an appropriate education for far too many years. We only ask that the gifted are included in the word ALL when funds are allocated for Michigan students.
Please send emails ASAP, within the next day, to Michigan legislators, especially those on the Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Their names are listed below. Click on the link and paste your heartfelt email to all representatives.
Thank you,
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC), Advocacy Committee
Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee
Joe Haveman (R) Committee Chair, 90th District
Matt Lori (R) 59th District
Bill Rogers (R) 42nd District
Greg MacMaster (R) 105th District
Earl Poleski (R) 64th District
Fred Durhal (D) 5th District
Andrew Kandrevas (D) 13rd District
_____________________________
Ben Williams, Jr., Committee Clerk, 517-373-1988
Sample letter:
Michigan is one of the few states that does not identify or provide services for gifted students. Many other states have budgets for gifted education, but most gifted learners in Michigan are underserved.
I am requesting that 1% of the Michigan education budget be allocated to providing services for gifted students.
The money would ensure:
- Teacher training in gifted education for public school teachers
- The development, implementation, and assessment of gifted and talented programs that take place during the school day for gifted and talented students
- High quality gifted and talented materials, resources, programs and services for gifted students in grades K-12.
As a Michigan parent of gifted students, this is a vital issue for me and my children. I eagerly await your response and your vote supporting the gifted learners who make up 5-10% of Michigan’s school children.
Thank you.
———-
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE. Together we can make a difference for gifted children!
Another Side of Giftedness
Usually this blog focuses on the academic side of giftedness. The main purpose of the Rochester SAGE group is to promote gifted education options in Rochester Community Schools.
The somewhat hidden side of giftedness is the nonacademic side. The intensities. The emotional attributes. The qualitative differences in perception. Why are these so rarely talked about?
First, many people have a hard enough time accepting the intellectual differences of gifted children. Telling them that many gifted children have heightened senses, emotions, or energies would be truly unbelievable to most. Many parents of gifted children are worried enough about being seen as bragging when we try to explain how our children are different academically. Read more…
Just 7 Minutes to Gifted Education!
What if those years of struggling with the school system to get gifted programs, explaining to the teachers what gifted learners need, and having to supplement at home could be over … in 7 minutes?
We need your 7 minutes. Right now. Before you do anything else, because you might forget later. Take 5 minutes to write a letter to your Michigan legislators. Take 2 minutes to pass this along to your friends and relatives, letting them know this important to you and asking them to take 7 minutes too. Each person over 18 in a household should send a separate letter.
The Education and Appropriations Committees meet jointly on March 6, 2013 to discuss allocations in the School Aid Act that funds education in Michigan. We need our voices heard now.
Here is my letter. You can just cut and paste it into an email or form on your legislator’s site or write your own. If your legislator isn’t on the list below, please send to Lisa Posthumus Lyons, Education Committee Chair, and Joe Haveman, Appropriations Committee Chair.
——–
Michigan is one of the few states that does not identify or provide services for gifted students. Many other states have budgets for gifted education, but most gifted learners in Michigan are underserved.
I am requesting that 1% of the Michigan education budget be allocated to providing services for gifted students.
The money would ensure:
- Teacher training in gifted education for public school teachers
- The development, implementation, and assessment of gifted and talented programs that take place during the school day for gifted and talented students
- High quality gifted and talented materials, resources, programs and services for gifted students in grades K-12.
As one of your constituents, this is a vital issue for me and my children. I eagerly await your response and your vote supporting the gifted learners who make up 5-10% of Michigan’s school children.
Thank you.
——–
Don’t know your district? Find it at www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/
House Education Committee Members:
Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) Committee Chair, 86th District
Ray Franz (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 101st District
Hugh D. Crawford (R) 38th District
Kevin Daley (R) 82nd District
Bob Genetski (R) 80th District
Pete Lund (R) 36th District
Tom McMillin (R) 45th District
Tom Hooker (R) 77th District
Bradford Jacobsen (R) 46th District
Amanda Price (R) 89th District
Ken Yonker (R) 72nd District
Ellen Lipton (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 27th District
David Knezek (D) 11st District
Winnie Brinks (D) 76th District
Thomas Stallworth (D) 7th District
Collene Lamonte (D) 91st District
Theresa Abed (D) 71st District
Ben Cook, Committee Clerk, 517.373-2002
House Appropriations Committee Members:
Joe Haveman (R) Committee Chair, 90th District
Al Pscholka (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 79th District
Eileen Kowall (R) 44th District
Matt Lori (R) 59th District
Bill Rogers (R) 42nd District
John Walsh (R) 19th District
Jon Bumstead (R) 100th District
Anthony Forlini (R) 24th District
Peter MacGregor (R) 73rd District
Greg MacMaster (R) 105th District
Nancy Jenkins (R) 57th District
Paul Muxlow (R) 83rd District
Earl Poleski (R) 64th District
Phil Potvin (R) 102nd District
Michael McCready (R) 40th District
Martin Howrylak (R) 41st District
Rob VerHeulen (R) 74th District
Rashida Tlaib (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 6th District
Terry Brown (D) 84th District
Fred Durhal (D) 5th District
Sean McCann (D) 60th District
Brandon Dillon (D) 75th District
Sarah Roberts (D) 18th District
Andrew Kandrevas (D) 13rd District
Pam Faris (D) 48th District
Adam Zemke (D) 55th District
Sam Singh (D) 69th District
Ben Williams, Jr., Committee Clerk, 517-373-1988
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE. Together we can make a difference for gifted children!
An Important Message from the Michigan Association for Gifted Children
February 28, 2013
Dear Families with Gifted and Talented Children and Youth in Michigan:
A joint meeting of the House Appropriations and Education Committees is taking place next Wednesday in Lansing at the State Capitol Building to discuss allocations for the State Aid Act that funds education in Michigan.
Since there is no funding for gifted education in Michigan, only children whose families can afford private gifted schools or those fortunate enough to reside in the few school districts that offer gifted programs receive an education commensurate with their abilities.
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children (MAGC) asked the House Appropriations and Education Committees to approve an allocation of 1% of the Michigan education budget for gifted students. The money would ensure:
- Teacher training in gifted education for public school teachers
- The development, implementation, and assessment of gifted and talented programs that take place during the school day for gifted and talented students
- High quality gifted and talented materials, resources, programs and services for gifted students in grades K-12.
The “live email links” to members of the MI House Appropriations and Education Committees are listed below. Please contact them immediately and let them know how much the 1% allocation would mean to your own and other gifted children. Briefly, share your stories with them; tell them what it has been like for your children and families without access to gifted education.
In addition, please ask family members, friends, teachers, and administrators to do the same. Every person you know, who is 18 years of age and older—including different members of the same household, can and should send a separate communication—because each person is a separate constituent. This increases the number of letters legislators receive and therefore multiplies and underscores the importance and urgency of this issue.
Together we CAN change the future for gifted children in Michigan!
With Appreciation,
The Michigan Association for Gifted Children, Advocacy Committee
.
.
Just “click on the names below” and reach as many committee members as you want to support gifted education.
House Education Committee Members:
Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) Committee Chair, 86th District
Ray Franz (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 101st District
Hugh D. Crawford (R) 38th District
Kevin Daley (R) 82nd District
Bob Genetski (R) 80th District
Pete Lund (R) 36th District
Tom McMillin (R) 45th District
Tom Hooker (R) 77th District
Bradford Jacobsen (R) 46th District
Amanda Price (R) 89th District
Ken Yonker (R) 72nd District
Ellen Lipton (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 27th District
David Knezek (D) 11st District
Winnie Brinks (D) 76th District
Thomas Stallworth (D) 7th District
Collene Lamonte (D) 91st District
Theresa Abed (D) 71st District
Ben Cook, Committee Clerk, 517.373-2002
House Appropriations Committee Members:
Joe Haveman (R) Committee Chair, 90th District
Al Pscholka (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 79th District
Eileen Kowall (R) 44th District
Matt Lori (R) 59th District
Bill Rogers (R) 42nd District
John Walsh (R) 19th District
Jon Bumstead (R) 100th District
Anthony Forlini (R) 24th District
Peter MacGregor (R) 73rd District
Greg MacMaster (R) 105th District
Nancy Jenkins (R) 57th District
Paul Muxlow (R) 83rd District
Earl Poleski (R) 64th District
Phil Potvin (R) 102nd District
Michael McCready (R) 40th District
Martin Howrylak (R) 41st District
Rob VerHeulen (R) 74th District
Rashida Tlaib (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 6th District
Terry Brown (D) 84th District
Fred Durhal (D) 5th District
Sean McCann (D) 60th District
Brandon Dillon (D) 75th District
Sarah Roberts (D) 18th District
Andrew Kandrevas (D) 13rd District
Pam Faris (D) 48th District
Adam Zemke (D) 55th District
Sam Singh (D) 69th District
_____________________________
Ben Williams, Jr., Committee Clerk, 517-373-1988
Action Alert: Educational Priorities in Michigan
TIME FOR ACTION!
by Sherry Sparks and LaToya Tung, Michigan Association for Gifted Children Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
The Michigan House of Representatives Education Committee is currently holding hearings to hear from organizations about their highest educational priorities and set the fiscal education budget for 2013-2014.
At the present time there is no mandate or funding for gifted education in Michigan. We are NOT one of the 30 states in America that mandates gifted education nor are we one of the 36 that requires identification of gifted children and youth. Wayne County alone has approximately 13,000 gifted children and youth and there are hundreds more in every other Michigan county. Most of them are left to fend for themselves.
As a result, far too many Michigan gifted students are underserved, underperform, and may ultimately underachieve and/or under-contribute to their chosen fields of endeavor, our state and our nation.
Sherry Sparks, MAGC President-elect, testified before the House Education committee Wednesday, February 20, 2013 about the current state and needs of gifted children. In her remarks, Sherry laid out MAGC’s four high leverage proposals for meeting the needs of Michigan’s gifted students:
“Michigan cannot afford to waste the minds of ANY our children. MAGC wants to ensure that ALL children, including the gifted, demonstrate academic growth and personal development commensurate with their potential. In that spirit we offer the following pathways:
1. MEANINGFUL ASSESSMENTS
Michigan’s mandate for one year of student academic gain for one year in school went into effect this fall. The MEAP and MME tests do not provide educators with specific data about the true extent of a student’s knowledge; they only measure minimum proficiency. In order to advance the academic achievement of all children, including the gifted, we must accurately assess both current academic levels and growth.
2. TEACHER TRAINING
Teacher training that includes gifted education components is essential for working effectively with gifted students. What we are asking is what I’m sure everyone sitting on this committee would like to see for all Michigan students: trained teachers provided with the necessary tools to help students attain measurable annual growth. One wonderful benefit is that gifted educational strategies, curriculum, and assessment tools benefit all children…so why not ensure these engaging, exciting, challenging methodologies are available to all children by training teachers in gifted education?
3. GIFTED CHARTER SCHOOLS
Families with gifted children have few options if their public school does not offer the types of educational programs and opportunities that will help their children realize their potential. The majority of parents with gifted children cannot afford private gifted schools.
For this reason, we ask you to allow gifted charter schools for students as an alternative pathway to maximizing their potential and ensuring their future contributions. We believe that most students would prefer to stay in their home districts if gifted programs were available, but in cases where districts do not offer these programs, we ask that you make gifted charter schools possible.
4. AN ALLOCATION OF 1% OF THE MICHIGAN EDUCATION BUDGET FOR GIFTED CHILDREN AND YOUTH
In order to cement its status as the next world superpower, China has invested $500 billion dollars in gifted education. China holds the firm belief that gifted children is the key to their nation’s innovation, progress, and economic future. By identifying and targeting gifted children from all socio-economic groups, China has no doubt that the return on its investment will be massive.
In Michigan, gifted children in large part, remain unidentified and under-developed. When they are underserved they underperform. That means that gifted children ultimately, will under-contribute. Economically speaking, Michigan simply cannot afford to leave the potential of its gifted children to chance.
We are happy to provide more details than time allows today regarding the criteria, distribution, and uses for the 1% allocation for gifted education. Briefly the allocation would fund:
- Teacher training in gifted education
- The development, implementation, and accountability educational plans for gifted and talented students
- The purchase of high quality gifted materials, programs, and services
‘It is the gifted children of today who will make the future scientific and medical contributions that will someday improve lives. It is these children who will write novels and compose symphonies that will someday move souls. If we want young gifted people to be prepared when society needs them, we need to be there for them when they need us.’ Please include them in your budgetary and legislative decisions.”
IMPORTANT: This is the time that families and educators of the gifted can have impact. If you support the proposals MAGC made to the MI House Education Committee, please call or email your local MI House Representative, the members of the Education Committee, or Representative Lisa Lyons, chair of the Education Committee.
Education Committee
(To send a message, go to the MI House Website at http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/committee.aspx, under “committees” click on education , then click on the name to send emails)
Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R) Committee Chair, 86th District
Ray Franz (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 101st District
Hugh D. Crawford (R) 38th District
Kevin Daley (R) 82nd District
Bob Genetski (R) 80th District
Pete Lund (R) 36th District
Tom McMillin (R) 45th District
Tom Hooker (R) 77th District
Bradford Jacobsen (R) 46th District
Amanda Price (R) 89th District
Ken Yonker (R) 72nd District
Ellen Lipton (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 27th District
David Knezek (D) 11st District
Winnie Brinks (D) 76th District
Thomas Stallworth (D) 7th District
Collene Lamonte (D) 91st District
Theresa Abed (D) 71st District
_____________________________
Ben Cook, Committee Clerk
517-373-2002
Please encourage your family and friends to support gifted students by doing the same.
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE. Together we can make a difference for gifted children!
“We may have a perfectly adequate way of doing something, but that does not mean there cannot be a better way. So we set out to find an alternative way. This is the basis of any improvement that is not fault correction or problem solving.”
― Edward De Bono, Six Thinking Hats
A recent article on Rochester Patch asked “As millions of Americans make resolutions to improve their lives, what could we do right here in Rochester and Rochester Hills to make it an even better place to live?”
What about our schools? This was scarcely addressed in the comments.
Dr. Robert Shaner is starting soon as our new superintendent. Part of his transition plan is listening to parents, teachers, and community members to better understand our needs and goals.
I believe this should be the Year of the Parent in Rochester Community Schools. As we transition to a new superintendent, this should be a year for parents to become more involved in their children’s education. Take this year to learn more about what is happening in your children’s classrooms, schools, and district. Volunteer there in some capacity. Improve your relationship with your children’s teachers. Make your voice heard and let administration know what you value in your schools.
Some of my suggestions include:
- Monthly meetings with the Board of Education trustee responsible for each school. BOE trustees would rotate among the three schools they are responsible for, holding meetings where parents, teachers, and students could ask questions, get information, or hold discussions. This would provide a venue where all parties are comfortable and an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to that particular school. Read more…
Board of Education votes to hire Dr. Shaner
After 40 minutes of discussion, the Board of Education voted 7 – 0 to hire Dr. Robert Shaner for the position of Rochester Community Schools Superintendent. Board trustees praised his honesty and integrity, credentials, humility, servant leadership, loyalty, visionary instructional leadership, high standards, and consensus building. He was also described as authentic and genuine, approachable, caring about kids, sharing our values, a respected leader, supporter of his staff, strategic, very intelligent, a sincere educator, a lifelong learner, and collaborative. Board members were impressed that he has seen the complexity of a large district, has a commitment to continued scholarship, has a continual focus on student achievement, has a diverse background, and an advocate for public education.
REA President Doug Hill and PTA Council President Michelle Bueltel thanked the Board of Education for their commitment to the process and working hard to select the right individual.
Congratulations to Dr. Robert Shaner! We look forward to working with him to make our district even better, particularly in increasing options in gifted education.
Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE. Together we can make a difference for gifted children!
Rochester SAGE - Supporting Advanced & Gifted Education 