A chance to try Math Circle at Emory
Think of Emory Math Circle as a club for kids in grades 6-12 who love math — not just working math problems, but deeper thinking about mathematical concepts.
The program meets on Saturday afternoons on the Emory campus. Groups are taught by Ph.D. students from the Emory Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
If Math Circle sounds like it might be a fit for your child, you can sign up for a sample session this fall. The sample classes are open to only to students who have not participated in Math Circle. (Those who have attended the math festival at Emory, but have never enrolled in Math Circle, are eligible.)
Saturday enrichment classes in Gwinnett for elementary & middle school students
The fall session of Gwinnett Alliance for Gifted Education’s Saturday Exploration Program will begin October 7, 2017.
These Saturday morning classes, held at Level Creek Elementary School in Suwanee, are designed for gifted and high-achieving students in grades 2 through 8. Topics for fall include computer programming, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and zoology.
Registration deadline is September 25.
Online certificate in gifted education for parents as well as teachers
When Arizona State University asked me to share information about their online graduate certificate program in gifted education, I was reluctant at first. I think of gifted ed certification as something for classroom teachers, and I think most of my readers are parents.
However, the university representative said this program of study would also be useful for parents who homeschool their gifted kids, or for parents who simply want to better understand their children’s learning needs and how to better advocate for their kids within a traditional school setting.
I’m all for parents becoming stronger advocates for their children — and, in time, for the general population of gifted children — so if you want to know more, download the PDF of the Graduate-Certificate-Gifted-Education-Program-Guide. To enroll, you must have a bachelor’s degree. The certification requires five classes and they say it can be completed in two years.
Duke TIP at UGA for 5th and 6th graders
Registration is open for the October 7, 2017 session of the UGA-Duke TIP Academic Adventures program for students in grades 5 and 6.
This one-day program, held on the UGA campus, gives talented kids a chance to study topics of interest with other high-achieving peers.
Topics for the October session include engineering and design, politics and rebellion, psychology, sharks, and an introduction to the criminal justice system framed as a trial of the young wizard Harry Potter.
To participate in Academic Adventures, your child must be registered with the Duke TIP 4th/5th/6th Grade Talent Search. Not registered with Duke TIP? Learn more about how to get started so you can take advantage of opportunities like this one.
Popular classes will fill up quickly. If you get shut out of your top choice, or if October 7 isn’t convenient for you, stay tuned — another session of Academic Adventures is planned for December 2.
November Duke TIP scholar weekend at UGA
UGA has opened registration for the Duke TIP Scholar Weekend at UGA to be held November 11-12, 2017, at the UGA campus in Athens. Students in grades 8 to 11 can spend the weekend on the UGA campus studying an academic topic of their choice.
Classes for the November weekend include topics in business, international politics, engineering, life sciences, music, and more.
The weekend program costs $450 for students staying in a hotel on campus, or $400 for students who want to commute to the program each day. Financial aid is available.
To participate, a student must either:
- Be registered with the Duke TIP Talent Search program; or
- Obtain confirmation of gifted status from the Duke TIP headquarters
Popular classes will fill quickly.
Enrollment open for Duke TIP 7th Grade Talent Search
Enrollment for Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) 7th Grade Talent Search opens today.
To enroll, your child must have scored in the 95th percentile or above on an accepted standardized test, such as the CogAT, ITBS, or Georgia Milestones.
Students who qualify for Talent Search are eligible to take the SAT or ACT as 7th graders. For kids who typically score in the 99th percentile of the standardized tests they’re given in school, taking these tests designed for high-school upperclassmen can provide a better gauge of where they stand academically.
When you become part of the TIP program, you’ll also receive information about meeting your child’s academic needs, and get access to TIP-sponsored programs, including summer programs on the Duke campus.
Make ’em laugh, win a college scholarship
Is your gifted kid a captivating storyteller with a great sense of humor? They can win a $1,500 college scholarship by writing a short (250 words or less), funny story for the Make Me Laugh Scholarship, sponsored by Unigo.
The contest is open to students ages 13 and up who will enroll in an accredited university by fall 2023. Submission deadline is August 31, 2017.
Free workshop for gifted parents, teachers, and students
EJECS, an educational consulting firm, invites gifted parents, teachers and students to an interactive workshop about meeting gifted children’s educational needs.
“How to Develop the Gifted Student” will be held Saturday, August 5, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library in Tucker. The workshop will cover such topics as identifying learning style, developing appropriate learning strategies, building a network of supporters, and finding community resources.
The workshop is free, but advance registration is requested.
Love fireflies? Help research them in your own back yard!
Last night, we spotted our first lightning bugs of the year, so this seems like an ideal time to plug the Museum of Science Firefly Watch, a citizen scientist program you can do by watching fireflies near you.
Firefly Watch is easy to do with kids. You’re asked to spend 10 minutes, once per week, counting lightning bugs in your yard, or a park, or whatever spot you choose — you just have to be consistent. You’ll record some simple data about weather conditions and the flash patterns you see. Then, you fill out an online report form to submit your observations.
My kids and I have done this, and it’s a great learning project. Not only do you get to be part of collecting research data, but you can also see observations recorded by other citizen scientists all over the country. The collected data helps researchers at the Museum of Science, Tufts University and Fitchburg State College to track how firefly species are faring and how they may be affected by environmental factors like light and pesticides.
Rockfest this weekend at Tellus
Tellus Science Museum presents its annual Rockfest rock and gem show this Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Rockfest features gem, mineral, fossil, and jewelry dealers from across the country, along with activities and workshops. Kids can even bring rocks they’ve collected to have them identified by the experts.
Rockfest attendance is included with general admission to the museum.
Gifted Atlanta 