Comments for An Utter Waste of Time

Comment on Gifted Education by momma c

momma c — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:50:01 +0000

The ‘Gifted’ programs that do exist seem to lack real structure or serious lesson planning. We have journeyed from the UK, to North GA (fabulous gifted programs and extra cir activites), and landed in Huntsville. We were shocked at the lack of dedicated classes to those with ‘special learning’ needs – e.g. ‘Gifted’ kids. Given the population density of doctors, we expected more… I appreciate this forum very much. It is truly a safe haven- We are so proud of our son, he scores off the charts but we want him to remain in school (currently private school) for social purposes and prep for real world experiences. We are lucky that the school is stimulating enough and the small classes keep him ‘focused’. Otherwise, we are always looking for ways to feed his hunger for learning… in the right way. Thank you for this and we will seek to reach out to our lawmakers every step of the way !!!

Comment on Gifted Education by Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:34:05 +0000

Thanks to all of you that have read this post and thanks also to those who have commented. I am sorry I haven’t been able to respond to everyone. I have been caught up in a very busy period at work. I will be back though so thanks for reading!

Comment on Gifted Education by Karla Archer (@karlaarcher)

Karla Archer (@karlaarcher) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:56:13 +0000

Jeff – so excited to see you jumping into this. I know you had a lot of concerns about others would perceive your advocating, but fighting for our children always wins out, doesn’t it??

It’s frustrating to know that we are, once again, fighting and struggling with this issue in Alabama. Praying that common sense (which Archibald stated) will win out!

Can’t wait to read more.

Comment on Gifted Education by 18 Blogs You Can Use to Determine if Your Child is Gifted | Find A Nanny

18 Blogs You Can Use to Determine if Your Child is Gifted | Find A Nanny — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:53:41 +0000

[...] Gifted Education Often, the needs of gifted students are not treated to the same level as a child who has another special need, such as ADHD. This blogger discusses this issue in depth. [...]

Comment on Gifted Education by Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:25:50 +0000

I totally agree with you. I moved here from Webster Groves, MO five years ago, and was shocked that actual classes for gifted don’t begin UntilThird grade. I know we give consultative services before that, but it’s not the same as actual services! I feel that AP classes in Middle School and Hugh School aren’t the same as gifted classes. I wish we had more Montessori classes/schools in Alabama, they challenge the gifted child and the students are able to learn at their own speed! Good luck!

Comment on Gifted Education by teachfine

teachfine — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:52:02 +0000

It is going to take you, the parents, to keep existing gifted programs, and to gain programs that are not there. The parents of children who have special needs (people need to realize gifted is special needs) do not keep silent. They insist on getting the services their children need. Gifted parents need to learn all they can – get educated on the special social and emotional needs AND their educational needs of their gifted child. I have a grown son. He was lucky to have had a gifted specialist guiding him all the way through high school. It breaks my heart that this same system does not have those same services for gifted children. Parents need to organize and realize their rights to get what their children need and also be diligent to not lose what they have.

Audrey Fine, Immediate Past President
Alabama Association for Gifted Children
http://alabamagifted
Follow us on Facebook: AAGC Group

Comment on Going Out My Way by Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:16:25 +0000

Lexi – I am sorry for your loss. The personal memorials we give to the people we love are always more important than the public shows of grief. Funerals are just so weird to me. Almost as bad as weddings. They never seem to reflect the person or the people they are about. Just some weird traditions that seem to hang on.

Comment on Sound City by The Big Easy Express | An Utter Waste of Time

The Big Easy Express | An Utter Waste of Time — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 23:09:06 +0000

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Comment on Going Out My Way by Lexi Oldcrow

Lexi Oldcrow — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:29:05 +0000

My beautiful Uncle’s funeral (memorial) is in a couple of weeks. Loved him dearly, a down to earth beautiful man. There will be a ton of aresholes there spewing sanctimonious bullshit. Funny how these sort seem to be in their element at funerals. It’s almost like the perfect venue for hypocrisy and high drama. Also seems to be great for the nosey types. I’m not going. I had my own memorial a few days ago the day after he died. Reminisced and blubbered with people I care about. No – will not don my scratchy polyester pant ensemble and play the game. To offer support to celebrate his life? I just did that a few days ago with the people I chose to do it with, not the phoney knobs who will be at this plastic piss parade.

Comment on Gifted Education by Danny Thompson

Danny Thompson — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:22:11 +0000

Erik,

The best thing I learned at Thompson was that, if there is a system, it can be gamed. And I pretty much learned that in spite of the school, not because of it. I didn’t participate in the gifted program, but I knew several people who did. The biggest plus to being in the program in High School I could see was that the counselors hunted them down to give them scholarship applications while the rest of us had to hunt the applications down ourselves.

Things do seem to have improved. Meadow View happens to lie right next to Ebeneezer Swamp. In 3rd grade GRC, my oldest had a GPS unit, a notebook and a spyglass. They took trips out to Ebeneezer every few months and had to track the changes in flora and fauna in “his part” of the swamp.

The teacher tied this into a unit study of the Jamestown Colony, as it was apparently built in a similar environment. They also had to write and perform a play about Jamestown, along with other projects.

His experiences at Thompson Intermediate have continued along in a similar vein. The fact that the city kept requesting feasibility studies from different companies until they got on that gave them a favorable report kind of scares me. I’m afraid this program will be one of the first to go if the going gets tough.