Congress Seeks Disability Terminology Revision

After passing a law in 2010 that changed the term "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability," the U.S. Congress is continuing its move to update outmoded terminology relating to disability. Many of these terms have been in the laws since their inception, and are derived from other languages such as Latin. Today, however, as society is continuing to change its outlook on disability, so too are these terms being changed in the books. Though the changes will not have any wide-reaching effect on the laws themelves, they do reflect the ways in which disability is now perceived, and aim to remove any stigma that is associated with certain words that are no longer in regular use. Read more about these changes here.

Test Anxiety and the Gifted Student, Part 2

Several weeks ago, we posted a blog about test anxiety and gifted students, which had been discussed on Psychology Today. A followup piece giving tips on overcoming test anxiety was posted last week. In addition to distinguishing between two types of anxieties (the dread of the familiar or fish out of water), the author gives a few tips on how to work at overcoming test anxiety, which include:

• Ask yourself this question: Which kind of stress is my keystone?
• Familiarize yourself with a particular occasion and practice for it! 
• Take care of the body so that the mind can work effectively.
• Recall the last time you succeeded—or just get it out!
• Use what you know about the test to prepare effectively. 
• Visualize the potential positives.
• Eliminate the “what-ifs.”
• Focus on the moment.
• Consider breaking your typical routine.
• There is no instant (magical) cure to test/performance anxiety.

By using these steps, your students may begin to conquer the type of test anxiety that is preventing them from performing to the best of their abilities on test day.

Children’s Book Week

“A great nation is a reading nation.”

May 7–13 marks Children’s Book Week, which began in 1919. Each year, schools, libraries, stores, and museums around the nation celebrate this week with author and illustrator appearances and other fun events. This link highlights a few of the events around the country going on through May 13. Children can download the official bookmark, illustrated by Lane Smith (The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales).

One of the week’s highlights is the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national awards program in which children themselves choose the winners. This year’s winners were announced on May 7, and the finalists and winners are shared here. The books are categorized by grade level (Kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3–4, grades 5–6, and teen).

In addition, to help celebrate this exciting week of reading, Sylvan Dell Publishing is offering free access to all 70 of its eBook titles. What a great way to get children excited about reading!

Learn More About the Needs of Gifted Students this Summer

The summer is a time when many parents and teachers finally have time to devote to some of those goals that were pushed aside during the academic year. For those wanting to learn more about gifted students and their needs, there are many opportunities for exploration. Educator Tamara Fisher shares some of these activities, some happening in-person at locations across the country, and others happening virtually that are accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Conferences are a great way to gain unique insight from other teachers and parents from across the nation concerned with these issues; I encourage you to take a step toward helping the gifted student or students in your life by taking a look at the events happening this summer.

Brain Teasers for Gifted Kids

by Carol Fertig

Looking for puzzles to exercise the minds of your students? Are you in search of interactive puzzles for your kids at home? Post a puzzle a day or a puzzle a week in your classroom. Present a puzzle to your kids while driving in the car. Create a puzzle corner at home or at school.

 

The Internet is full of games and puzzles that work the brain and help kids think outside the box. Just search on such terms as “brainteasers” or “puzzles.” Here are just a few sites that will keep you and your gifted kids occupied for a good long time.

 

Brainteasers, Puzzles, & Riddles is hosted by NIEHS Kids’ Pages. Some of these are easy enough for the younger set.

 

Brain Boosters is found at the Discovery Education website. Many of these are quite difficult, so are more appropriate for older students.

 

The Sunday Puzzle is brought to you by NPR. Each week, puzzlemaster Will Shortz presents an on-air quiz. At this site, you will find an archive of his puzzles. These are probably the most challenging puzzles of the three sites I have listed here.

This blog post initially appeared on the Gifted Child Info Blog on September 17, 2010.