DOCUMENT RESUME ED 400 671 EC 305 156 AUTHOR Bortolussi, Vicki, Ed. TITLE Communicator. 1996. INSTITUTION California Association for the Gifted. PUB DATE 96 NOTE 142p. AVAILABLE FROM CAG, 426 Escuela Avenue, Suite 19, Mountain View, CA 94040; e-mail: [email protected]; fax: 415-965-0654; telephone: 415-965-0653. PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) Reports Descriptive (141) Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) JOURNAL CIT Communicator; v27 n1-4 Win-Fall 1996 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Advocacy; Bilingual Education Programs; Citizen Participation; Computer Literacy; Computer Uses in Education; Educational Policy; *Educational Technology; Elementary Secondary Education; *Giftad; Illiteracy; Internet; Language Arts; Leadership Qualities; *Literacy; *Parent Participation; *Politics of Education; Reading Aloud to Others; Reading Instruction; Special Education; Television Viewing; Voting IDENTIFIERS California ABSTRACT This compilation of four journal issues on gifted education in California focuses on the following topics:(1) literacy for the 21st century;(2) technology; (3) reflections on gifted education; and (4) politics. Major articles include: "English Language Arts in California's Schools: A New Beginning" (Diane Levin and Catherine Barkett); "Parents Promoting Literacy" (Marilyn Morrison); "The Illiterate Gifted Student: Oxymoron or Reality" (Kathie Aihara); "Nurturing a Nation of Nonreaders: Teaching Reading for Pleasure in a Show-Me Society" (Angel Barrett); "Teaching Literacy to Gifted Students" (Bill Raabe); "Read Aloud to a Gifted Child?" (Lisa Heimlich); "Bilingual Literacy" (Robbie Wedeen); "An Internet Primer". (Judy Lieb and Tony Anderson); "Exploding Myths About Television and Children" (Milton Chen); "Don't Let Your Kids Have All the Fun: Become A Computer Literate Parent" (Marilyn Morrison); "Computers: The Home Schooling Connection" (Roberta Ponce); "The Software Explosion: A Guide to Selecting Instructional Materials For Gifted Students" (Hillary S. Hertzog); "Technology Copyright Laws: Your District Probably Has a Policy--Do You Know the Guidelines?" (Marge Hoctor); "And the Internet Shall Set You Free? Road Signs and Insights for the Internet Traveler" (Andy Rogers); "The Internet: Check Your Sources" (Sara Armstrong); "Student As Instructor Project: Using Instructional Television To Empower Students" (Victor Lamkay); "Gifted and Talented Education Moves Forward" (Catherine Barkett); "Parent Involvement: Past and Future" (Sharon A. Freitas); "How To Turn Your Summer Vacation into a Learning Experience" (Marilyn Morrison); "Gifted Education Politics: School Reform" (Lisa Jeffrey); "Raising Our Children To Be Educated Voters" (Marilyn Morrison); "How Can I Get Involved? Being an Advocate for Gifted Education at All Levels of Government" (Lisa M. Heimlich); "Seven Characteristics of Highly Effective Technology Leaders" (John A. Vaille); and "Pondering Politics in the Classroom" (Victoria Siegel and Sandra N. Kaplan). (CR) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIO' Office of Educational Research and Improve/ EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMA, CENTER (ERIC) ...ZpT is document has been reproduceda\ssiN eceived from the person or organization r". originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. CD Communicator. Volume 27, Numbers 1-4. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent Bortolussi, Vicki, Ed. official OERI position or policy. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY 5.(Y1 0o TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) r BEST COPY AVAILABLE CL C 1 CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION FORTHE GIFTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS IN VOLUME 27, NO.1, WINTER 1996 CALIFORNIA'S SCHOOLS: A NEW ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS BEGINNING LITERACY FOR THE 21st CENTURY BY DIANE LEVIN AND CATHERINE BARKETT English Language Ads in Califor- nia's Schools: A New Beginning Recent national and state re- Reader, that a balanced and com- Gifted and Talented State Coordinator ports of assessment results prehensive approach must have: and English Language Arts Consultant demonstrate that the reading 1) a strong literature, language explain how the State is undertaking a achievement of California's stu- and comprehension program comprehensive 10-step approach to im- that includes a balance of oral proving literacy among all students. dents lags behind the achievement of every other state in the nation and written language, On the Home Front (NAEP report, 1993-94 data). An 2) an organized, explicit skills As a parent, find out what can be done alarming number of our students program that includes phone- in the home to improve literacy as well cannot read at basic levels. mic awareness (sounds in as questions and answers on the latest words), phonics, and decoding brain research and its implications for Last spring, in response to what skills to address the needs of parents. has been seen as a crisis in read- ing, Superintendent of Public the emergent reader, Bilingual Literacy Instruction Delaine Eastin formed 3) ongoing diagnosis that informs How can we develop this important the California Reading Task Force. teaching and assessment that skill? Comprised of 27 members, this ensures accountability, and Young People's Pullout group represented a cross section 4) a powerful, early intervention From snowflakes, poetry, opinion, and of teachers, principals, superinten- program that provides individ- awesome authors, here's a section for dents, school board members, ual tutoring for children at risk the young at heart and in mind. professors, community members, of reading failure. Read Aloud business persons, and parents. All children, even those who are gifted, Their assignment was to develop Another major conclusion of can benefit from good modeling. recommendations for both imme- the Reading Task Force is that diate and long-term implementa- teacher education and inservice Curriculum tion in order to improve student training "must be redesigned with Dive into the disciplines, use universal a greater emphasis on beginning themes, and nurture literacy. achievement so that "every stu- dent might leave the third grade reading. The public schools and TechNet no longer learning to read, but teacher training institutions need From an Internet primer to libraries of reading to learn." to increase their collaborativeef- tomorrow, find out more about techno- forts to improve the preparation logical literacy. Over a four-month period, members reviewed research and of teachers." listened to presentations from ex- The Reading Task Force de- perts in reading curriculum and veloped 10 major recommenda- instruction. As a result, the Task tions (See summary in accompa- Force determined and stated in nying box.) that provide the focal their report, Every Child a See NEW BEGINNING. 29 3 CONTENTS ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS English Language Arts in California's Schools: A New PUBLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA Beginning ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED Diane Levin and Catherine Barkett Executive Director, Carol Brown Spencer 416.966.0653 Fax 415.966.0654 Parents Promoting Literacy The CAO Communicator is published four times during the year: Fall Winter. Spring and Summer. Opinions expressed 7 Marilyn Morrison by individual authors do not necessarily represent official positions of the Association. Subscriptions are available to The Illiterate Gifted Student: Oxymoron or Reality? non-members et an annual cost of S25.00. 11 Kathie Aihara OFFICERS 1994-1996 Executive Committee Nurturing a Nation of Nonreaders President: Martha Flournoy Vice President Margaret Gosfield 12 Angel Barrett Secretary: Marge Hoctor Treasurer: Judith Roseberry Teaching Literacy to Gifted Students State Parent Council Chair Vera Eby 15 Bill Raabe Past President: Senora Kaplan Regional Representatives Read Aloud to a Gifted Child? Bay Ares: Joyce Kutaka Kennedy Patty Bert 17 Lisa Heimlich Capitol: Deanne Guinn Sharon Freitas Bilingual Literacy Joshua Tree: Margaret Jones Robbie Wedeen EmilieNaha( 23 Mission: Vic Id Steinitz Amelia Rodriguez Tomorrow's Public Libraries Mt. Shasta: Barbara Fox Rournesset 31 Al Milo Lyra Josefsson Orange: Iris Yamaoka Karen Grinfe Id Looking Forward: Schools and Research Pacific: Unda Calvin 32 Diane Oestreich Judy Smith Palomar: Dave Hermanson Pat Peluso Redwood Carol Butzbach Myra Keys San Joaquin: Donna Denham 3 Calendar Lisa Waters Santa LuciaGeri Wiliams 3 Letters Margaret Rodrigues 4 From the President COMMUNICATOR EDITORIAL BOARD Editor. Vicki Bono lussi Associate Editors 4 News Notes Curriculum: Angel Barrett Children's Topics: Linda Drug 5 From the Editor Parents: Marilyn Morrison Special Projects: Lisa Heimlich 6 Meet the Communicator Editorial Board Technology: Judy Lieb Production: MacIsteve On the Home Front Grow Those Dendrites!, MarilynMorrison & Special Assistance: Heather Schwen 9 Barbara Clark SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL Book Review Nongradedness--Helping It to Happen, To submit articles for publication, send hardcopy and a 16 3.5-inch disk IMac or PC) saved astext IASCIII file. All Ron Fontaine submissions will be given careful consideration. Photos and camera-ready artwork are particularly desirable. 19 Young People's Pullout Linda Brug Send all materiel with your name. address, phone num- TechNet An Internet Primer, Judy Lieb & Tony Anderson ber, fax number and Internet address toVicki 26 Bortolussi,CommunicatorEditor, Moorpark College, & 7075 Campus Rd., Moorpark. CA. Tel: 805-378-1405, 33 Curriculum Diving Into the Disciplines, Sandy Kaplan vckib @aoLcom Victoria Steinitz REPRINTING