Literature and the Gifted

TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED VOLUME XI ISSUE 3 Member, National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) SUMMER 1991 REGULAR FEATURES Literature From The President Adelle McClendon 2 Legi8lative Update And The Gifted CO/wie McLendon 3 OUI' Editorial Focus Bob Seney 4 Literature . .. is our reservoir ofinsight into the human Spotlighting Parent Affiliates 17 condition, the pool ofperceptions and conceptions from which we draw our own visions of what it is to be The Book Shelf 20 human. TAGTNews 22 -ROBERT E. PROBST University Network News 26 If we accept this definition of literature, then we can Can For Articles 27 readily see the importance of connecting the gifted reader with appropriate literature. A quick review of the various THEME SECTION lists of characteristics of gifted students is enough to remind Us of their qualities which make them more A Conversation sensitive to the world, to their own feelings, and to the With Karen Harri, Ma/y Seay 5 feelings of others. It may well be that literature provides the only guide that many gifted students have to "distill, Reading Isn't Just for Writing expand, deepen, recall, and relate to social, biological, and Kylene Bee,., 6 cultural history" (Dr. Karen Harris, Interview which A Baker's Dozen: Treat8 FOl' The follows). Because many of our gifted learners are avid Gifted Reader readers, we must be informed on how to guide them in Tel; S, Lesesne 8 their reading. We must learn to ask the right questions, such as; What is appropriate reading for the gifted? Why Litemture For '1'he Gifted: do we need to guide our gifted readers? What are impor Choice And Celebration A,,,, McCraJY Sullivan 10 tant characteristics of literature for the gifted reader? and What should we be looking for? Leade1'ship Through Literatur, Betty Henderson 11 In finding anSwers to these questions, we have turned to Every Doggie Should Have authorities both national and local. This issue of tempo His Day addresses our concern in matching the gifted reader with Patricia A. Leadbeater 12 the appropriate literature. Our lead article is the result of a recent interview with Dr. Karen Harris by Dr. Mary Seay. Dr. Harris' book, Books for the Gifted Child (written SPEClAL with Dr. Barbara Baskin), is an important resource in guiding our gifted readers. 199) l\xecutive Board Candidates' Statements 18 THE EDITORS I WRIJ~ II; Ia W3 M:J II) m~11 - .. Adelle McClendon ..••. ~.. ~ A VOLUME XI ISSU£: 8 The Three R's of Summer $UMMEll 1991 EDITOR Bob Seney LIKE MOS1' EDUCATORS, and I sup MANAGING EDITOR pose all students, I very much Donna TO'Wn8end ASST. MANAGING EDITOR look forward to the summer Linda Norelli months. Schedules are not quite as in 'Me,.,,,.,. flexible as those of the school year and time spent with family and friends takes PRESIDENT Adelle McClendon precedence over budgets and deadlines. I also take the time to replace the tradi· PRESIDENT-ELECT Amanda. Ba.tI$on tional 3 R's with my 3 R's of summer. I share them with you in the hope that you FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT will find time this summer to Rest, Re· Bob Seney flect, and Regroup. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Ann Trull Rest THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT Dixie Kingston For me, summer offers a time to refuel and relax whether by catching up on reading, attending an opera, cheering for a favorite tea.m, or SECRETARY Ann Weiss simply by doing nothing. Rest becomes a priority and not simply a lUXUry. As adults who serve as role models for the children we love, I IMl\.umIATEl PAST-PRESIDENT believe it is incumbent on us to help them learn ~he importance of rest Margaret Kress in keeping both a sound mind and a sound body. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Connie Mcl...@ndon Reflect During the school year, I seldom seem to have time to think about i ••••W. anything but survival from one hectic day to the next. Summer offers OFFICE MANAGER/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Beth Tracy a time to slow down and think about the goals we have set for ourselveSi which ones we have met, and which ones still need work. With the ACCOUNTANT/BOOKKEEPER slower pace of summer, it is possible to celebrate all the accomplish. DOUJJanoky ments ofthe past school year. In fact, reflecting over this first year of mandated programs for the gifted, I celebrate the numberofeducators who are receiving specialized training in the education of the gifted. I likewise celebrate that more and more school districts are taking a The Texa~ As.sociation for the Gifted l\nd Talented (TAGT) is a positive stand on meeting the special learning needs ofthe gifted. I also nonprofit organization of parents and professionals promoting celebrate the cooperative efforts among parents, communities, and appropriate education for gifted and talented in the State of'rexas. schools on behalf of the gifted. Of course , we still have much to do, but TAGT tempo is the official journal of the Texas Association for the reflection reminds us that we are making progress. Gifted and Talented. It is published four times a year in February, April, July and September. The cost of a ~ubS(ription is included in the association's annual membership aues of $15. Single copies are Regroup available upon request. Summer allows us the time we need to rethink priorities. With rest and Contributions should be sent by the 15th dayofthe month preceding publication. Send i!t computer disk if available (any format; specify reflection, we are able to redetermine what actually is important soft/ware used). Opinions expressed by individual authors do not during times of stress. I personally find that I can face a new school necesMrily represent official positions of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented. Material appearing in tempo may 'be year with freshness of heart and spirit when I have regrouped, reprinted if not protected by copyright or reprinted alreadY from established new priorities, and reestablished the importance of past another source. Please credit tempo and send a coPY of your priorities. As important as the basic 3 R!g are to those of us who love publication containin" the repl:'int W the tempo editor. and work with children, the 3 R's of Summer may be equally as Address all oorl:'espondenee and inquires to TAGT tempo, P.O. Box important. My wish for you this summer is to find the time to rest, 9802 0614, Au.Mn, TX 78766·9802. 512/343·1886. Fax, 512/a4a· 1936. reflect! and regroup; and then to face another school year of challenge and opportunities with renewed energy and enthusiasm. • @1991 TAGT 2 tempo SUMMER 1991 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Connie McLendon State Board of Education Adopts GfT Rules ON MAY 11, 1991, THE STATE BOARD OF EoucmON minimum of thirty hours of staff development for approved for final adoption the rules for implementing teachers of the gifted prior to assignment in the HB1050, Enrolled as law in 1987, this bill mandated program for gifted students.) that "each Texas school district shall adopt a process for identifYing gifted and talented students in the 2. The authority given to the commissioner of educa school district's population and, not later than the tion to waive rules and regulations for school dis 1990-1991 school year, shall establish a program for tricts. (Depending on the criteria established for those students in each grade level." (Section 21.652, granting waivers! this measure could pose some Texas Education Code) uncertainty about the implementation of the g/t rules recently adopted by the State Board,) The recently adopted SBOE rules for gifted and tal ented are tbe compliance regulations that school dis tricts should follow in the implementation ofHB1050, [SBOE rules forg/t, approved May 11,1991, are quoted Governor Richards Calls Spacial Sassi on on page 23,) On July 15, 1991, Chlvernor Ann Richards called Texas legislators back to Austin to write the 1992- 72nd Session of Texas Legislature 1993 state budget, One of their most challenging tasks will be to determine the resources needed for SB351, the school finance reform bill authored by funding the school finance bill. According to Lieuten Senator Carl Parker of Port Arthur, was the most ant Governor Bob Bullock I'an absolute minimum of important piece of educational legislation to come out $1.4 billion is needed to fund the school finance ofthe 72nd Session, This bill consolidates the tax bases equalization bill required by the Texas Supreme of the 1,058 Texas school districts into 188 county Court ruling. jj education districts (CEDs) wbich rougbly follow county lines, The combined tax revenues from the 188 consoli In the early part of July State Comptroller John dated tax districts are to be distributed to component Sharp released a performance audit report of state school districts witbin the larger tax areas, As SB351 government agency spending and identified areas was written, the state's poorer school districts were where budget cuts could be made. Chlvernment agency projected to receive $1.5 million of new money from the reorganization to reduce duplication of services is a funding formula changes in the way that state aid will mojor item on the Comptroller's list of cost-saving be distributed" " but that was as things stood in May, measures, Suggested budget cuts, coupled with in at the close of the regular session. come"producingmeasures proposed by the Chlvernor's Task Force on Revenue, could produce some of the On June 21 the Austin American Statesman reported needed dollars for the school finance bill and other that "the House: Appropriations Committee ..

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