July 2021
WATG Mission: To educate about and advocate for the needs of gifted in Wisconsin.
NEWS
WATG’s Annual Conference Registration is Open!
WATG will be hosting its annual dynamic 2021 conference, a virtual conference, Leading the World into the Future, on October 3, 4, and 5. Registration is now open! Join us to learn, and to share many great tips and strategies! 
We have engaged two amazing, nationally known keynote speakers, Dr. Jonathan Plucker and Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings. Additionally, our special guest speaker, Alonzo Kelly, a national expert on talent development in the area of leadership, will share his passion, humor, and stories. Finally, we have a powerful lineup of workshops, presented by other great speakers knowledgeable in our field, great exhibitors, and opportunities to network with others. In the past, participants have shared that this conference is a great way to learn and grow.
Register now during our Early Bird Special. From July 1 to September 3, you can get all three days of the live sessions, as well as access to the recordings of the sessions from the whole conference for an entire year for only $249! After September 3, the price will go up to $299. What are you waiting for?! It’s easy to register! Head over to our Eventbrite page today! We are looking forward to an outstanding event.
The Importance of Equity Based Talent Identification
Unless everyone counts, no one does. The Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted believes all students deserve appropriate and enriching learning opportunities (Advanced and Accelerated Learning in WI - WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION FOR TALENTED & GIFTED). Developing equitable learning environments requires analysis of quantifiable evidence from all students.
Support, Training, & Resources for Educating Able Minorities: Project STREAM, 1988-2000 
How many Wisconsin school districts would or should be interested in Project STREAM (Support, Training & Resources for Educating Able Minorities)? That was the question proposed when the late Dr. Donna Rae Clasen of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater authored the first Javits Grant ever awarded to a Wisconsin initiative. The grant was in place from 1989 to 2000 and was a highly progressive initiative. We lost Dr. Clasen in March of this year, and this article and request is crafted in her memory and honor.
WATG Blogs
News From the Board - Summertime!
“Summertime...and the livin’ is easy…”  these are words to a popular tune from American composer George Gerschwin’s famous English-language opera, Porgy and Bess. And while those of us on the WATG Board are enjoying the beginning of summer (as we hope you are), our “living” has been busy! As an organization, we have many projects and initiatives in progress, and we’d like to share these with you.
(WATG extiende un sentido de gratitud al Dr. German Diaz de las Escuelas Públicas de Milwaukee por ayudarnos con la traducción de este artículo en Español para nuestras familias de habla hispana y nuestros educadores. Esta traducción también se puede encontrar en nuestra página web). 
(WATG extiende un sentido de gratitud al Dr. Martha Lopez de las Escuelas Públicas de Milwaukee por ayudarnos con la traducción de este artículo en Español para nuestras familias de habla hispana y nuestros educadores. Esta traducción también se puede encontrar en nuestra página web). 
Preparing for Life Beyond High School

Jackie Drummer, WATG Advisory Board Member and Past President
Much of the literature in the world of gifted education and parenting seems to focus heavily on younger gifted children, and yet there are also many joys and challenges as our children move into adolescence and beyond.

Adolescence is a time of great brain growth, second only to the immense brain growth period of infancy and the first few years of life. It is during these later critical years, up to about age twenty-five, that brains continue to develop, and the frontal cortex (the governor of thought, judgment, and behavior) fully develops. Some experts believe that this development may not be fully complete until our mid-twenties or beyond. During this crucial period, many future habits and skills are learned and practiced, and sometimes the problems of childhood are exacerbated.
Ask the Doctor - Summer Fun
This summer we take a break from the intensities of the past year and enjoy some time together with our families, neighbors, friends, and others. Gifted students often use the summer to explore special camps or programs for gifted students and really enjoy being with others who are like them. There is freedom in being able to be oneself among peers who share similar abilities and interests.

For families who do not send students to camp, or for times at home other than camp, there are a myriad of activities that students young and old can do during the summer.
Dr. Wanda Routier
Past WATG Board Member
Ruth Robinson, WATG Past President
GT Meanderings - P.E.K. Day
Over the years, WATG has always been interested in programming for gifted children.The first planned event for children included parent, educator, and adult activities, and began in 1980. This event was billed as the P.E.K. Day (Parents, Educators, & Kids). The day was planned cooperatively by officers of the Wisconsin Council for Gifted & Talented (WCGT) and the Wisconsin Association of Educators of the Gifted & Talented (WAEGT). Additionally, the local school district, closest University of Wisconsin campus, and often the regional technical school participated in the planning and event. These events were held on a Saturday. Sometimes they were in conjunction with the WCGT Conference; sometimes they were held on a Saturday in the spring closest to the WAEGT Conference. Sessions were planned so that age groups could be grouped together, from elementary to middle school aged students.
Creative Giftedness
As an art teacher and visual artist, I have noticed that many articles and papers about gifted students discuss mostly academic giftedness. Occasionally articles explore creativity, but creative giftedness is not often explored on its own. 

We talk about students who are outliers -- those who prefer working alone, or those who are super sensitive to feelings, either their own or others, or those who wonder how to solve the hurts and troubles of the world, or the ones who seem to march to the beat of a different drummer. So how do we deal with those outliers - those who would rather dance than play kickball, or would rather be humming/composing a tune in their head than beating on a drum, or would rather draw a picture from their imagination instead of solving a math problem?
Dal Drummer
WATG Board Advisor
Sarah K photo
(WATG desea extender un gran agradecimiento al Dr. German Díaz de las escuelas de Milwaukee por traducir este artículo al español para nuestras familias y educadores de habla hispana. La traducción también se puede encontrar en nuestros blogs de sitio web.)
Creativity in the Classroom
Sarah Kasprowicz, WATG Board Member and Past President

I think you should start by checking out KK’s Creations Website and You Tube Channel (new subscribers are welcome). Once you do, I think you will want to know more about a sixth grader whom I will call KK. She attended virtually all year, and I was so happy to have a chance to be her teacher. In case you are also interested in dragons and digital art, you might want to see her Avery Myst site and YouTube Channel. But wait! There’s more! KK also invented her own fan fiction tribe of dragons, which is featured on her Moonwings site. 
Summer Activities
Stacy Novak, WATG Board Member

“I’m bored!” “There’s nothing to do!” Does this sound familiar? Maybe you’re hearing this on a daily basis now that kids are on summer vacation. 

Here are some activities your child can do if they are bored or looking for a challenge throughout the summer.
 
Literacy
  • Write a story (either digitally or on paper) – You could even find a website that will publish kids’ writings such as Storyjumper and Storybird.
  • Read some good books.
  • Kids can create a website with book recommendations.
  • They can discover new genres of books by playing Genre BINGO. Create a bingo card with different genres represented. Have kids “go for” a tic tac toe.
  • Join a book club

WATG desea extender un enorme agradecimiento a la Dr. Martha Lopez por traducir este artículo al español para nuestras familias y educadores hispanohablantes. La traducción también se puede encontrar en los blogs de nuestro sitio web. Es un extracto del informe de Aceleración de WATG. 
Any organization mentioned in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement by or partnership with WATG. No recommendation regarding the services of these organizations is being made by WATG. Families and educators are urged to perform due diligence in researching all organizations.
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