BVGT is excited to welcome the new year with a fresh new look! We have a brand new logo, an updated version of our original design created by BVGT Board Member Becky Whittenburg. You'll notice our new look and feel in this newsletter as well as on our website, www.bvgt.org.

If you haven't renewed your CAGT/BVGT membership for the 2009-10 school year, it's not too late! Your annual $40 membership makes you a member of both CAGT (the state gifted association) and BVGT (your local affiliate group). Remember, your financial support allows us to continue bringing you high-quality programs which we hope are making a difference in the lives of many gifted children, adults, parents, educators, administrators, and all others who are passionate about supporting the needs of the gifted.

Our upcoming BVGT events include a presentation on Twice-Exceptional Students in February, Asynchrony in March, and Autism in April. Read on for details about these programs and more!

Finally, if you would like to become more involved in facilitating communication between BVGT and your child's school, please consider becoming a BVGT School-Based Parent Representative. Please check out the article at the bottom of this newsletter to find out how to volunteer. We'd love to have you join our team!

Sincerely,

Tricia Carpenter
BVGT Communications Co-Chair, Newsletter

Support BVGT by becoming a member!

Twice Exceptional Children:
Gifted with a Disability

What does twice-exceptional mean and how do we teach and parent these students? As more and more gifted students are identified with learning difficulties, parents and teachers alike require more support as well. This presentation will focus on the unique needs of twice exceptional students and will provide specific instructional strategies, classroom management techniques and parenting ideas that can optimize the academic and social development of this distinctive population.

WHO:  Guest Speaker Cheryl Franklin-Rohr
WHEN:  Wednesday, February 10th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE:  Centaurus High School, 10300 South Boulder Road, Lafayette 
RSVP: RSVP to programming@bvgt.org
No charge (donations encouraged)

About the Presenter: Cheryl Franklin-Rohr is the Gifted and Talented Coordinator for Adams 14 School  District and is on the Twice-Exceptional Cadre for the state of Colorado. She is president-elect for the Colorado Association of Gifted and Talented. She received her Masters in Gifted and Talented from UNC in 1986 and is currently working on her Special Education Administrative Licensure at UNC.

"Twice Exceptional Children" event flier

Living with Asynchrony:
"Who Is That Child In My Daughter's/Son's Bedroom?"

Asynchrony or uneven development is inherent in every person. Every individual has skills, aptitudes, affiliations that come more naturally, are easier to learn or perform than others. For those who are gifted, this notion of asynchrony is amplified by the intensity, possibilities and potential discrepancies between all areas of development. For gifted individuals, children in particular, this inherent discrepancy between their talents and development can be both confusing and frustrating.

Whether asynchrony is related to mental, physical, emotional, social, spiritual or cognitive development (in infinite and changing combinations), gifted children and adults, and those who love and support them, need tools and knowledge to reach their potential. Accepting asynchrony as a fundamental aspect of their advanced development is an essential element to healthy emotional development and understanding of the self. In this presentation we will explore asynchrony and how it contributes to other intriguing, mystifying, frustrating and glorious characteristics of gifted children. Our goal is to increase understanding of these phenomena in others and ourselves and to develop strategies for advocating and supporting those who struggle with the consequences of asynchrony.

WHO:  Guest Speaker Barbara Mitchell Hutton 
WHEN:  Wednesday, March 3rd, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE:  TBA
RSVP:  RSVP to programming@bvgt.org
No charge (donations encouraged)

About the Presenter: Barbara Mitchell Hutton founded Rocky Mountain School for the Gifted and Creative and served as the Head of School for 18 years. Barbara holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Northern  Colorado. She has presented at numerous national and local conferences including NAGC, CAGT, SENG and the Hollingworth Center for the Highly Gifted. She is program chair of the Global Awareness Network of NAGC and active in the Special Schools and Program Division. She serves on the governing board of BVGT, the local affiliate of CAGT. In 2005, Barbara was an education delegate to the People's Republic of China where she presented a session on asynchronous development at the Beijing Gifted Education Institute. Barbara has written articles about gifted children, parenting and education models for gifted schools that have appeared in national journals and local newspapers. Barbara is a consultant to parents, educators, counselors, and other decision makers as they seek to understand and support gifted learners. 

Autism and Giftedness:
How to Develop the Child's Strengths

Asperger's Syndrome is one of the conditions found on the autism spectrum. Children with Asperger's Syndrome are described as having quite a range of abilities, as are gifted children. Most children with the disorder seem to have a special interest or ability which enables them to achieve quite extraordinary levels of performance in a specific area. Grandin advocates early intervention to address autism, and supportive teachers who can direct fixations of the child with autism in positive directions. Based on personal experience, Grandin will discuss:

• How and why people with autism think differently
• Economical early intervention programs that work
• How sensory sensitivities affect learning
• Teaching people with autism to live in an unpredictable world
• Careers and learning work skills.

WHO:  Guest Speaker Temple Grandin 
WHEN:  Monday, April 5th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Fairview High School, 1515 Greenbriar Blvd., Boulder
RSVP:  RSVP to programming@bvgt.org
No charge (donations encouraged)

BVGT is pleased to be sponsoring this presentation in association with the Autism Society of Boulder County. Due to the tremendous anticipated turnout for this event, BVGT will be offering a "Members Only - Preferred Seating" area which will be reserved for and limited to paid members of BVGT. Stay tuned for instructions on how to sign up for this reserved seating on our website.

About the Presenter:  Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is inarguably the most accomplished and well-known adult with autisum in the world. Dr. Grandin was awarded her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1989 and is currently a Professor at Colorado State University. She has been featured on major television programs, such as "ABC's Primetime Live," "The Today Show," "Larry King Live," "48 Hours" and "20/20" and written up in national publications such as Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and New York Times. Dr. Grandin is a past member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of America. Temple Grandin didn't utter a word until she was 3 1/2 years old. With the help of early education and a caring nanny, Grandin eventually learned to speak and flourish despite Asperger's Syndrome. Grandin has a lot to say about how to reach children on the autism spectrum and encourage them to meet their full potential.

Read more about Temple Grandin at www.templegrandin.com, including information about the upcoming HBO full-length film entitled "Temple Grandin: Autism Gave her a Vision, She Gave it a Voice," premiering on Saturday, February 6th on HBO, starring actress Claire Danes in the title role.

"Autism and Giftedness" event flier

Legislative Day 2010:
Celebrating Excellence

Legislative Day is less than a month away! For those of you unfamiliar with Legislative Day, it is a CAGT sponsored event that provides opportunities for gifted students grades 8-12 to shadow a legislator for all or part of the day and to participate in a lunchtime session with legislators at the History Museum. Please note that students must apply/pre-register and be accepted in order to participate in this experience. Registration forms and more detailed information are available online at www.coloradogifted.org. Be aware that the application process requires a parent permission form and teacher recommendation form and that all materials must be submitted by this Friday, January 29th.

WHAT: Legislative Day at the Capitol for Students (Grades 8-12)
WHEN: Thursday, February 18th,  7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
WHERE: Colorado History Museum (1300 Broadway, Denver) and Colorado State Capitol (Colfax & Lincoln, Denver)
DEADLINE FOR STUDENT SHADOW APPLICATIONS: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29th

What you may not know is that Legislative Day events also include a Special Morning Session for Parents, Educators & Advocates! That means YOU! Even if your gifted child is not participating in the Legislative Day events, as a parent and advocate, you are invited and welcome to attend this special session. In this time of critical budget cuts in government and education, your advocacy and "presence" is more important than ever. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about gifted education in Colorado, meet lawmakers, and make your voice heard. The more people we can get in the room, the more of a positive impression it will make on the Legislators. Please consider supporting the entire Legislative Day experience by participating in this important event!

WHAT: Legislative Day Special Morning Session for Parents, Educators & Advocates
WHEN: Thursday, February 18th,  9:15-11:30 a.m.
WHERE: The State Capitol Senate Conference Room 356

For more information, visit the CAGT website at www.coloradogifted.org or email CAGT at cagt@aol.com.

This is grass-roots advocacy at its best. Legislation that positively affects gifted children in our state has been passed before when Legislators see our involvement and hear our requests. We hope to see you there!

More information about 2010 Legislative Day

Beyond Giftedness XVII Conference

This event is not sponsored by BVGT but is provided for your information.

Open Space Communications, a Colorado-based company serving those who live and work with gifted children, is sponsoring its 17th annual Beyond Giftedness Conference for teachers, parents, and counselors at the Arvada Center next month. The keynote speaker is Susan Winebrenner, a renowned author and consultant, whose address is entitled, "Using Cluster Grouping to Provide Full Time Gifted Education Services on Limited Budgets." 

WHEN: Friday, February 19th, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Arvada Center for the Arts, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada 
REGISTRATION FEE: $129 (includes continental breakfast, lunch, materials)

View conference brochure and register online

Begin with the Brain:
Three Things Parents of Highly-Capable Kids Need to Know

This event is not sponsored by BVGT but is provided for your information.

WHO: Guest Speaker Martha Kaufeldt, M.A.
WHEN: Monday, February 8th, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Colorado Free University Ballroom at Lowry, 7653 E. 1st Place, Denver 80230

This engaging presentation provides recent research about how kids' brains grow, develop and respond to the environment. Learn valuable information about three key elements of Brain-Compatible Teaching and Learning. Parents will gain specific, practical strategies to help reduce children's stress, encourage discovery play, and understand the power of having choices. Discover how to create a brain and body compatible environment at home that will nurture the JOY of learning!

RSVP by Feb. 1, 2010 to Debbie Rothenberg, Metro Region Gifted Education Consultant
303-388-5092 or droth36@aol.com

"Begin with the Brain" event flier

Family Game Night by BoulderGPS

This event is not sponsored by BVGT but is provided for your information.

BoulderGPS (Gifted Parent Support) is a cooperative parent group that provides opportunities for families of gifted kids in the area to connect, socialize, and discuss relevant issues.

BoulderGPS invites you to attend their next BoulderGPS Family Game Night for families of school-aged gifted children (siblings included) -- children do not have to be formally identified to attend. Please bring a snack to share and some favorite games (we'll have some too). Optional donations will be accepted to cover ongoing costs for group supplies and fees.

WHEN:  Tuesday, February 9th, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:  Downstairs Meeting Room, Boulder Public Library - George Reynolds Branch, 3595 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder 
RSVP with tentative number in group to bouldergps@yahoo.com

Learn more about BoulderGPS

BVGT Parent Reps

Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented is looking for School-Based Parent Representatives.

The BVGT Parent Representative will:

• Coordinate communication between BVGT and your school.
• Communicate needs of school community to BVGT.
• Have access to information and resources that are important to both teachers and parents.
• Be an advocate for gifted education at your school.

Time Commitment:

• Approximately 2 hours per month.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Michelle Eckstein at secretary@bvgt.org.