WATG Mission: To educate about and advocate for the needs of gifted in Wisconsin. |
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From the Board - Membership Survey |
In our last month’s newsletter, we shared that WATG’s Membership Committee sent out a survey during the month of January. The purpose of the survey was to gauge how well we are doing as your state gifted organization. We wanted to find out what we are doing well, what we need to improve, and how we can more fully serve you, our constituents. In this month’s newsletter, we’d like to share some of the results of the survey 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). |
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(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). |
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Gifted in Perspective, Jackie Drummer, WATG Advisory Board Member and Past President |
It is no secret that many gifted children, adolescents, and adults are voracious readers. Though the literature does not expressly state that all gifted children are early readers, parental anecdotal evidence often suggests that many young gifted children seemingly, with encouragement and exposure, “crack the code” and begin their reading journey early and with gusto. These children often continue to read widely and enthusiastically well beyond the years when many other children give up reading for other activities such as sports and hanging out with friends. These children find joy and comfort in reading, and can often be found with their noses buried in a book or on devices such as Nooks and Kindles. |
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Ask the Doctor - Catching Up |
Dr. Wanda Routier, Past WATG Board Member
It is often the case that as we go through life, we lose track of people who were once very important to us. People such as a childhood friend, our friend groups in middle school and high school, college buddies, adult friends, and others. Sometimes losing track of these friends leaves one wondering about a particular person for many years. Now, with the wide use of social media, it may be easier than ever to find long lost friends and rekindle friendships, but that is not always the case.
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GT Meanderings - The Pyramid |
Ruth Robinson, WATG Past President
These Gifted Meanderings attempt to document major accomplishments and influences on the advocacy for “systematic, appropriate programming for those gifted, talented, and creative.” Those words were shared so often in my career that they are etched permanently in my memory.
One of the major guidelines for this process was the Pyramid Model used for the Wisconsin Integrated Gifted Education Model.
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Mary Budde, WATG Treasurer
My son, a sophomore at Gustavus Adolphus College, had the opportunity in early January to participate in a College Panel Discussion organized by CESA #1 PAGE (Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education) in the Milwaukee area. He had attended past events as an audience member and was very much looking forward to being on the panel. He was one of five panelists, each representing a different major and college/university spanning several states.
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(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.) |
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Jackie Drummer, WATG Past President
At a recent WATG Townhall meeting, “Leading the Way,” on February 25, educators and parents shared ideas on how to find and work with emerging leaders at all levels. Many great ideas were discussed, and one serendipitous idea especially caught our attention. What if we married current events articles about students finding themselves in leadership positions, and gleaning lessons learned?
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Families in the largely rural “Driftless” Region of Southwest Wisconsin – essentially, the greater Mississippi Valley blufflands – now have a new way to network with other local gifted and twice-exceptional families: A new parent group loosely based in La Crosse, Wisconsin covers the entire Wisconsin/Minnesota/Iowa tri-state border region and, in its effort to build community, is consciously reaching out to the underserved surrounding counties within about a 1.5-hours’ drive radius from the city of La Crosse. This new parent group has just become WATG’s first official partnership. |
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Dr. Pam Clinkenbeard, Government Action Committee Member; WATG Past President
It's state budget season again! Here is the short version of this article - details follow.
1. SITUATION. Wisconsin provides less funding for gifted education and advanced learners than any other state that provides funding.
2. SUPPORT. WATG has key supporters in the state legislature for increasing that funding in the upcoming state budget cycle, but they will need more colleague support.
3. ACTION. WATG needs YOUR support to make an increase happen; we’ll need effort from individuals, with participation from as many WATG members and friends as possible!
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