The Difference A Gift Can Make

I grew up in a poor family. I didn’t realize that we were poor at the time, but my single mother had 4 children and a 9th grade education.  Mom was an only child who had lost both of her parents, leaving her with no family to depend on, and an alcoholic dead-beat husband, who left when I was too young to remember. So she did what she could to provide for us by waitressing and taking in ironing.  Money was tight, often leaving us with minimal groceries. We often ate inexpensive foods like meatless spaghetti or creamed of potato soup for dinner. Bags of hand-me-downs were welcomed and I was taught early how to sew my own clothes. Mom drove a very old Mercury that was not very dependable, often leaving her stranded and catching a ride home from co-workers.

Then, when I was about seven years old, something amazing happened. My mother received an anonymous gift of $500. with a note saying, “I know you’ll put this to good use.” This was a large sum of money in 1961. Mom didn’t tell us about this gift, but one day she showed up with a used, but dependable, 1957 Pontiac Station Wagon!  

Now, with a dependable form of transportation, she could attend classes to complete her G.E.D. Mom worked nights and weekends, and attended classes and did school work when she could.  After obtaining a G.E.D., she went on to complete an Associate’s Degree in drafting. This led to a job working as a draftsman at General Dynamics Mondays through Fridays. Finally, she had a reasonable income, benefits, and we were no longer latch-key kids.

Seeing how my mother’s newly acquired education changed our lives, as a young girl I realized that education gives a woman choices. This motivated me to become the first one in my extended family to pursue a college education.  Driven by the passion of knowing how transformative education can be, I went on to obtain a teaching credential and made the education of others my career for 25 years. I wonder how many of my students’ lives were touched by my career choice which was sparked by a gift.

In this season of “Giving”, I really wish I could personally thank the person who changed so many lives with their amazing gift over 50 years ago. We never know the ripple effects of our giving.

Giving and Receiving; Reflections on Retirement from the Classroom

Like every teacher I've ever known, I have been driven by an innate need to make a positive difference for others, and therefore selfishly, feel that my life has had a lasting impact and a sense of purpose, thus ensuring some odd sense of immortality.  While much is said about the altruistic traits of teachers, I plead guilty to ulterior motives in my 25 years of servitude in the classroom.   Webster defines altruism as "unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others".

While I have sacrificed and given a great deal in my teaching career,  it would be dishonest and misleading not to admit that I received more than I gave.   In the giving, we receive, and  I have been abundantly blessed. As I have matured, I've come to realize that one of my most favored possessions is the rich and diverse treasury of memories I've accumulated.  Many of these, of course, are based on interactions with my closest family and friends.  However, I estimate that I have directly taught at least 800 students in my career.  While I hope that my presence in those students' lives has had a positive impact, I am certainly the one who has come out way ahead!  I have so, so many meaningful memories that are like little gifts from each of these students.  Some memories remind me of happy times, and some serve as reminders of the lessons learned when we pay attention and work through the difficult times as well in a reflective way.  My students have taught me so much about life, myself and the important lessons of knowing our place in this world. I'm so grateful for these experiences.

The desire to BE A POSITIVE DRIVING FORCE IN EDUCATION still burns strong for me.  The difference is that I'm ready to transition from the frenetic pace of the classroom and create a consulting business that will enable me to focus my experiences, education, training, and passion in new directions.  I am confident that this new career path will be as enriching and fulfilling as the past 25 years.

Next:

• Your Guidance Office - I will be working as a Success Coach and Affiliate with this outstanding college planning program with the most comprehensive tools and innovative program I've ever experienced. Start to finish assistance with ALL of your college planning needs, and then some! http://yourguidanceoffice.com/tucson-az-college-coaching-services.htm
• Thrive Life Coaching - Professional Coaching Services to assist individuals needing some specific goals and actions to transform.
• Advocare Distributor - Advocare is a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss nutrition, and sports performance products along with a rewarding business opportunity.
• Homeschool Consultation and Coaching - In my initial market research, I find that many families are turning to the positive benefits of homeschooling.  I am here to assist with curriculum planning, consultation, and success coaching to ensure that goals are accomplished.

Change is the exciting herald of something new and different.  "New and Different" causes our neurons to dance and rejoice in being alive and so the process of our personal human evolution continues to THRIVE!  Contact me to see how I can assist you in your quest to Thrive as well!

Gifted Ain't Easy!

This school year I am teaching 28 third grade gifted students in a GATE Inclusion class. Many people would assume that my job is a "piece of cake". What a dream job to work with so many smart and inquisitive youngsters.... or, not! They question EVERYTHING, insist on being heard, need to be right at all costs, and want to do things their way! Kind of like herding cats. At the end of each busy day, I imagine what it must be like to be in a beehive!

In reading The Autobiography of Steve Jobs, it's interesting to note how difficult he was with his parents, his 3rd grade teacher, his employees, and pretty much everyone. Being "gifted" does not mean that individual is anything less than intense, strong minded, difficult, and incredibly interesting and full of unlimited potential. These same traits that are not easy for others to embrace are the same ones that drive those gifted individuals to aspire to unique and great accomplishments.

Summer Sites to Explore

I've just returned from an amazing vacation, which is the reward this time of year, especially for those in the field of education. Vacations provide a much needed time to "exhale" from a busy school year and recharge.

Part of vacations is the fine art of packing just enough to be ready for anticipated adventures, like swim fins/snorkle and a versatile black dinner dress. Then comes the choice of books to bring along. I choose a contemporary novel for my book club, but lost it somewhere in my travels. Three of the other four books in my suitcase dealt with gifted education and I completed two of them.

I marvel at the opportunities to stay current in the field of gifted education and to have my enthusiasm rekindled (no pun intended). I am attaching a list of resources that I hope prove useful for your summer reading and investigations, and thank Melanie Hayes for sharing this information with me.

Websites:

www.hoagiesgifted.org – The definitive website for homeschooling gifted kids. Filled with information on all aspects of parenting and teaching gifted children. Has great links to learning materials and resources and special links for kids. Comprehensive research papers and Q&A section.

www.giftedhomeschoolers.org – Wonderful informative website. Great online parent community to share information and ask questions. Also has great links to learning materials, resources, research, and Q&A.

www.clickschooling.com - Wealth of information regarding free online curriculum. Terrific homeschooling resource. Has great virtual field trip websites.

Organizations:

http://giftedonlineconferences.ning.com – Our Gifted Online Conferences: A Gathering Place for All Gifted (like Facebook)

www.seng.org– Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (great information on meeting gifted children’s emotional needs)

www.davidsongifted.org – Davidson Institute for Talent Development (lots of information for profoundly gifted children and families)

www.nagc.org – National Association for Gifted Children (comprehensive support of gifted children)

www.tagfam.org – Families of the Talented and Gifted (resources for families)

Books:

Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, Depression, And Other Disorders by James T. Webb, Edward R. Amend, Nadia E. Webb, Jean Goerss, Paul Beljan, F. Richard Olenchak, and Sharon Lind

Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds by Jan and Bob Davidson, with Laura Vanderkam

Exceptionally Gifted Children by Miracia Gross

Definitions and Conceptions of Giftedness by Robert J. Sternberg and Sally M. Reis

Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual Spatial Learner by Linda Kreger Silverman

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, Revised Edition by Carol Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller

Creativity and Giftedness by Donald J. Treffinger and Sally M. Reis

Artistically and Musically Talented Students by Enid Zimmerman and Sally M. Reis

A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine

Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults by Susan Daniels and Michael M. Piechowski

Creativity and Giftedness by Donald J. Treffinger and Sally M. Reis

Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children: What Do We Know? by Maureen Neihart, Sally M. Reis, Nancy M. Robinson, and Sidney M. Moon

Grouping and Acceleration Practices in Gifted Education by Linda E. Brody and Sally M. Reis

Culturally Diverse and Underserved Populations of Gifted Students by Alexinia Y. Baldwin and Sally M. Reis

Twice-Exceptional and Special Populations of Gifted Students by Susan Baum and Sally M. Reis

Reference:

http://www.solutions4students.com/

Melanie Hayes, MEd - Educational Consultant

Arizona Association of Gifted & Talented Conference 2011

On February 4th, I attended and presented at the AAGT annual conference in Phoenix. The theme for this year's conference, Taking our students from proficiency to.... Infinity and Beyond!", seemed to be about the importance of addressing the needs of the "whole child". Sound familiar? If you've been in education for more than 10 years it probably does. Dr. Olenchak's keynote speech made me want to jump out of my seat in spontaneous applause as he put data and research behind the notion that children's social-emotional health is imperative to their academic success. I've always known this and felt this in my core, and therefore became a life coach to address it. But, to have this idea so enthusiastically and professionally shared at a state level conference was tremendously validating.

"We are human beings, not humans doing" is a phrase I first heard in Coach for Life training in 2005. I still try to remember this daily as I get swept into the current of life and all of it's hustle and bustle. We need to place the essence of who we are at the fulcrum of all of our decisions, choices, and actions. I'm so thrilled to think that this notion may be gaining momentum in the world of education.... again.

Sincerely,

Tricia

p.s. Please check out the following great resources for parents:

Registation is open for this year's Parenting High Ability Children Conference for you and the kids! www.aagtparentday.com

"Christine Carter & the Greater Good Science Center"

Innovation!

In Obama's recent State of the Union Address, what I heard was filtered through the biased perspective of a teacher. It seemed to me that Obama's speech was riddled with suggestions about improving education and "racing to the top". I am still pondering how we can insure our students are being adequately prepared to be innovative thinkers. In our current climate of data driven curriculum, it is a constant personal challenge to integrate ways in which students are being motivated to be innovative thinkers.

I welcome your thoughts or ideas on this topic.

p.s. I am looking forward to attending and presenting at the Arizona Association of Gifted and Talented Conference in Phoenix this week. Will you be there?

December 2010

Happy Holidays! This year I am trying something new in my gift giving. I was inspired by one of my favorite websites: Greater Good

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/raising_happiness/post/giving_the_gift_of_generosity/

After reading about the value of giving, I decided to purchase everyone on my list the opportunity to GIVE to any charitable organization of their choice. www.TisBest.com made it very easy to do my holiday shopping. I can't wait to hear who my family members decided to GIVE to. Give the gift of giving to the ones you love and become part of something very meaningful.

Below are some additional suggestions to deepen the meaning of this wonderful season:

• Holiday Volunteering
• Holiday Recipes
• Holiday Decorating
• Holiday Stories
• Holiday Cards
• Holiday Gift Making
• Holiday Movie Making/Watching

Holiday Fun
Following is a list of some sites with activities you can do with your children while they are on break from school.

• The Northpole; Celebrating the Spirit of Santa; Welcome to Clause; Merry-Christmas; These sites have games, recipe’s calendars, naughty/nice charts and more.
• This is the official NORAD Santa Tracking site.
• Hanukat; Torah Tots; Children’s Judaica - These sites have Hanukkah (Chanukah) activities
• Elf Yourself - This website allows kids and adults to upload pictures of their faces, which then become the faces on the bodies of animated elves.
• Disney’s family fun website – Christmas Activities
• Design your own Gingerbread House

Warmly, Tricia