This July marks the 9th year of a conference that has now educated thousands of teachers, parents, admin-istrators, counselors and psychologists about the needs of gifted children. Beginning in 1997, Edufest was the vision of Dr. Del Siegle, who at that time was a professor for Boise State University. He received his doctorate de-gree from the University of

Connecticut and had accu-mulated many friends who were experts in the field of gifted education. When Idaho passed a law requiring an endorse-ment for those who worked directly with gifted and tal-ented children, Del invited his talented colleagues to Boise to help him and his Idaho colleagues to create not only a premier confer-ence on gifted education,

but also an amazing week of camaraderie and collabo-ration for those who work with and advocate for gifted children. 1999 brought many changes for Del. He married Betsy McCoach, and re-turned to the University of Connecticut as an Assistant Professor. One thing he did not want to see change, was this opportunity to learn about the educational and social and emotional needs of our gifted and talented children. In January of 2000, he sent a proposal to the ITAG Executive Board and Boise State to work as official sponsors of Edufest. Realizing how much Idaho needed this event and how well it fit with the association's mis-sion and goals, the board, under the leadership of President Beth Brubaker, voted to approve sponsor-ship of the Edufest confer-ence. As a sponsoring or-ganization, ITAG became responsible for advertising, registering, printing, hospital-ity and many other confer-ence duties. Sherrie Bosser-man and Teri Powell agreed to be ITAG’s Edufest coordi-nators, an accountant was

(Continued on page 3 - Edufest)

ITAG/SAGEITAG/SAGEITAG/SAGE

Highly Gifted Jr. High 2

R. A. D. in Idaho Falls 3

State Department news 4

Idaho CEC Conference 5

Mini-grants available 6

Gem Award nomination 7

High School credit memo 8

Summer writing camps 9

History Day winners 10

Edufest 2005 11

Inside this issue:

Idaho, The Assoc iat ion for the Gif ted/State Advocates for Gifted Educat ion

Page 1 ITAG / SAGE May 2005

Newsletter Editor: Sherrie Bosserman sbosserman@homeinternet.net

Edufest 2005 registration information included

in this issue.

ITAG/SAGE website www.itag-sage.org

As one person I cannot change the world, but I can

change the world of one person.

-- Paul Shane Spear

Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.

-- George Halas

Two giants, our leaders, colleagues, mentors, and friends, Jo Henderson and Marti Agler, have announced their retirement from the Boise School District this spring. They have both given and accomplished much in the field of gifted and talented education throughout Idaho. Their willingness to lead and to share have touched the hearts and minds of many, across all ages and all around the state. Everywhere they’ve gone and everything they’ve done, they’ve created a wave of knowledge and left a path of inspiration for us all to share.

1t will be hard to fill these giants’ shoes! Their charisma has influenced, mentored, and spread wisdom and knowledge to everyone from the tiny child to the law-makers and trendsetters. They’ve made the impossible pos-sible and what is excellent appropriate for all to appreciate.

Jo Henderson, Gifted Services Supervisor for the Boise School District, has been in Idaho since 1969. After a brief time teaching junior high English, she worked as a gifted facilitator for 13 years before assuming administrative responsibilities for the past 15 years. Boise has been very fortunate to have such a knowledgeable

(Continued on page 2 - Retire)

The ITAG - Edufest Connection Marcia Wall

Nancy Gregory

advocate for its gifted students. Jo received her master’s degree in gifted educa-tion from Drury University in Missouri. When her daugh-ter was in fourth grade, she was identified as gifted and that launched Joe’s career into the field. As a founding member and president of ITAG in 1989, Jo helped establish relationships with CEC, the State Department and the legislature. She played an active role at the state level advocating for the gifted mandate, en-dorsement requirements, and the training grant funding. Jo has grown an enviable program for gifted stu-dents in Boise, taught endorsement courses and has done extensive consulting nationwide. She has been a much-needed and appreciated voice of advocacy for many indi-viduals and gifted students in general during her career. Jo and her husband, Jay, have a son and a daugh-ter, and now two wonderful granddaughters. Along with reading, gardening, and traveling, she plans to spend as much time as possible with her grandkids. But Jo won’t disappear completely. Look for her at Edufest and other projects we can entice her into over the coming years.

Marti Agler has also played an extensive role in the advancement of gifted and talented education in Idaho. She has worked for the Boise School District for

thirteen years. She is currently teaching in her third year in the Highly Gifted Program at Washington Elementary which she helped pilot in 2002. Marti came to Idaho from Cali-fornia where she received her BS in hu-manities and elementary education at the University of the Pacific. Her profes-

sional career included four years in the regular classroom followed by a MA in special education from the Univer-sity of Colorado, six years teaching special education, two years as a special education consulting teacher, and sixteen years teaching gifted children (grades K-12).

Marti served as president of ITAG in 1997 and as the legislative liaison for many years and held a seat on the State Department Education Coalition for several years. It was from her efforts that many education decision makers began to comprehend the diverse needs of gifted children in our educational system. Marti passionately spreads her knowledge and enthusiasm with everyone she comes in contact with. She has caringly mentored many teachers, parents, friends, and students.

Marti and Bill, her husband, whose a retired Air Force Medical Service Corps hospital Administrator, have two children and one granddaughter, born in November. Once retired, she plans to spend more time with her fam-ily, and doing the things she loves to do- dance, bike, ski, draw, read, do needle work, and watch good movies.

Page 2 ITAG / SAGE May 2005

Advocating for Gifted Education has always had its struggles. There is never enough money, people who don’t understand, too lit-tle time, so many needs. In spite of these barriers, much progress has been made over the years, and can be made when energetic, determined people combine forces to ad-vocate for what they believe is valuable and necessary: the education of our gifted chil-dren. It is with this spirit that I would like to move forward. We will do the work that is important, and we will do it together. ITAG is an organi-zation committed to support-ing and promoting gifted edu-cation. It is as strong as its membership. What can we do together? I invite and encour-age you to become an active voice in this important com-mon cause. Your ideas, talents and simple encouragements are valuable commodities. In sharing these gifts, we support each other. Modern technology has created ways for us to work together. Our webmas-

ter, Stuart King, has our new ITAG List Serve up and running. The list serve connects all who sign up by e-mail. A message, question, opportunity, piece of wisdom, cry for help will be received by all who have sub-scribed from our organization. In return, any members can respond to that e-mail, to be read by all. It is a great vehicle for discussion and sharing. Sign up today by simply e-mailing a message to Stuart at Gifted@itag-sage.org. Use that same address to post mes-sages. I also would welcome e-mails to me at rwall@imbris.net. I am excited for the opportunities we have to cre-ate a network of members working together. You are not alone in your work to make a difference in young lives. You are surrounded by members of an organization who, by combining forces, can move strongly forward together.

Message from the president Marcia Wall Looking forward with ITAG

The Boise School District will pilot a program for highly gifted students at Hillside Junior High this fall. The program is designed spe-cifically to accommodate jun-ior high students who have been at the elementary highly gifted program or who qual-ify for highly gifted services. Core subjects will be taught in two-period blocks then students will choose

electives within the regular junior high offerings. Flexi-bility in instructional delivery will accommodate rapid learning pace and student driven inquiry. A transition counselor will work with stu-dents and their parents to en-sure proper placement. Principal, Marlys Erickson and her staff are ex-cited to welcome this pilot program to Hillside Jr. High.

Highly Gifted Jr. High Nancy Gregory

Page 3 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

(Continued from page 1 - Edufest) hired to manage the financial records associated with the conference, Boise State offered facility rental discounts and credit through Lawrence Rogien, and Del lined up gifted education ex-perts as keynotes and presenters, put together the program, and provided guidance for everyone. After eight years of spectacu-lar conferences, five years with ITAG’s involvement, the sponsorship continues. Along the way, a few changes have occurred. Jann Lep-pien, Associate Profession of Univer-sity of Great Falls, Montana, now se-cures the keynote speakers and pre-senters and organizes Parent Day, Administrator and School Counselor andPsychologist Institute. The Council for Exceptional Children—Talented and Gifted Divi-sion (CEC-TAG) provides the link with national advocacy and speakers. And the Boise School District will be assisting with various technology needs and Northwest Nazarene Uni-versity will be offering seven different types of credit. Sherrie continues to serve as ITAG’s Edufest Standing Committee Chairman and is now the on-site coor-dinator for Edufest. Although from afar, Del still oversees the production of Edufest, maintains the website and preserves the friendly yet professional environment. Idaho and educators from across the country have benefited greatly from Edufest. ITAG is proud and pleased to be able to promote such a wonderful conference again this year. This event has provided ITAG the vessel of which to obtain our mis-sion and purpose. As written in 1999, when the ITAG executive board, un-der the leadership of President Mary Null and Treasurer Marti Agler, filed for Recognition of Exemption as a nonprofit organization, the main purpose of the organization was, “To educate parents and teachers regard-ing the special educational needs for intellectually gifted children. To pro-

vide workshops and seminars on meth-ods for advancing the educational op-portunities available to individuals with exceptionalities.” The document further states, “The association’s goal is to raise public awareness through the activi-ties that they sponsor. The associa-tion plans to expand their activities in the future to include additional con-ferences and workshops.” The op-portunity to sponsor Edufest pre-sented itself, and has become a vehi-cle to assist ITAG in accomplishing its purpose. The ITAG Executive Board invites you to join them at the 9th Edufest Conference in Boise this summer and celebrate this vehicle of collaboration to better meet the edu-cational and social and emotional needs of our gifted children.

The elementary gifted and talented fa-cilitators of Idaho Falls

School District #91, Elaine Lowrance, Mike Bayne, Linda Hawley and Vicki Krogstrand,

have developed a model for serving highly able learners in reading for kin-dergarten, first and second grades. Students scoring in the top third band of the IRI (Idaho Reading Inventory) went on for additional test-ing. The formal identification meas-ures used were the Critchlow Verbal Intelligence Scale and the San Diego Quick Assessment. Parent and teacher checklists were the informal measures used. Qualifying students attended the R.A.D. (Reading and Academic Development) classes held every other week for approximately 45 minutes. Students at each of these grade levels worked with curricular lessons created by the four facilitators. Dr. Seuss books were used for kindergarteners, novel books for first graders and Junior Great Books for second graders.

R.A.D. Elaine Lowrance

Mary Null, our dear friend and colleague, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2005, at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise. She was only seventy years old. Mary was known and admired by many as a “wonderful lady”, full of passion, enthu-siasm, and spark. Although much of her time and energy went towards children and education, it was always second to the love and devotion she and her lifetime companion and husband shared. She and Al were mar-ried for forty-six years. After retiring from her many years as a teacher and gifted/talented facilitator in the Burley area, Mary and Al, moved to Boise where she had been a gifted education facilitator for the Boise School District. Mary was a dedicated and creatively talented educator for over forty-eight years. She was president of ITAG in 1998 and advocated tirelessly for gifted education all across Idaho for many years before and after her term of office. She will be missed by us all. Fortunate were those who knew her.

NAGC member ? The National Association for Gifted Children has sent out their 2005 Offi-cers and Board of Directors ballot. You may have noticed several famil-iar names on the ballot. If you are a member, don’t forget to mark and send your ballot in.

The candidates are: President Elect: Del Siegle, George Betts Secretary: Jeanne H. Purcell Teacher Member: Sandra Kay ,Cindy Sheets Corporate Member: Frederick Ladt Members at Large: Jann Leppien, Betsy McCoach, Sandra Kaplan, Karen Rogers, Michael Clay Thompson, Carolyn Calla-han, Jonathan Plucker, Julia Link Roberts, Elissa Brown, Richard Cash, Donna Ford, William Keilty, Shelagh Gallagher, Sid-ney Moon.

Page 4 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

The Governor signed Senate Bill No. 1222 on April 5, 2005. Senate Bill No. 1222,

Section 6 states, “Of the moneys appropriated in Section 3 of this act, $500,000 shall be distributed to train general education teachers, gifted/talented (G/T) facilita-tors, administrators and/or parents to better meet the needs of gifted/talented students. One-half (1/2) of these funds

shall be allocated pro rata based on each district’s prior year total student enrollment compared to the prior year total statewide enrollment. One-half (1/2) of these funds shall be allocated based on the number of gifted/talented students identi-fied and served as indicated on the prior year’s De-cember 1 child count. The number of gifted/talented students identi-fied for purposes of this section shall not exceed seven percent (7%) of the district’s total student enrollment. No district shall receive less than $500. Funds shall be distributed upon submission and approval of an application submitted to the State Department of Education demonstrating how in-service training will establish or improve identification and service of gifted/talented students in the five (5) mandated talent areas. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may reallocate any gifted/talented funds that are left unre-quested by school districts to all other school districts that have requested gifted/talented funds, according to the distribution formula outlined in this section.”

Mexico AP Summer Institute AP New Mexico is pleased to announce the New Mexico 2005 AP Summer Institute at the Univer-sity of New Mexico in Albuquerque the weeks of June 20 and June 27. 43 sessions are being offered in everything from Pre AP Language Arts Strategies for Elementary teachers to AP Calculus AB for Experienced teachers. We are particularly pleased to have Professor David Jolliffe, Chief Reader for AP English Language, acting as lead consultant for the AP English Language for Experienced Teachers session. Please go to www.nmhu.edu/apnm/apsi.htm for the complete brochure and registration form.

Gifted/Talented Training Grant Passes Legislature

Neihart, Reis, Robinson, Moon. The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children, What Do We Know? Delisle & Galbraith. When Gifted Kids Don't Have All the An-swers

Levy. Starting From Scratch One Classroom Builds its Own Curriculum

Tomlinson. How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms

Tomlinson, Kaplan, Renzulli, Purcell, Leppien, Burns. The Parallel Curriculum A Design to Develop High Potential and Challenge High-Ability Learners

Peterson. Talk With Teens About Self and Stress Diehn. Making Books that Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up,

Twist & Turn ASCD. A Visit to a Differentiated Classroom ASCD. How to Scaffold Instruction for Student Success Davis & Braun. The Gift of Dyslexia: Why Some of the

Smartest People Can't Read and How They Can Learn Vail. Smart Kids With School Problems: Things to Know

and Ways to Help Kiesa. Uniquely Gifted: Identifying and Meeting the Needs

of the Twice Exceptional Student Freed & Parsons. Right Brained Children in a Left Brained

World: Unlocking he Potential of Your ADD Child Lovecky. Different Minds: Gifted Children With AD/HD, As-

perger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits Silverman. Upside Down Brilliance: The Visual Spatial

Learner Chapman & King. Differentiated Assessment Strategies Wagner. Inclusive Programming for Elementary Students

With Autism Wagner. Inclusive Programming for Middle School Students

With Autism/Asperger's Syndrome McMurchie. Understanding My Learning Differences Bender. Differentiating Instruction for Students With Learn-

ing Disabilities Artiles & Zamora-Duran. Reducing Disproportionate Repre-

sentation of Culturally Diverse Students in Special and Gifted Education

Bireley. Crossover Children, A Sourcebook for Helping Chil-dren Who Are Gifted and Learning Disabled

Baum & Owen. To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled: Strate-gies for Helping Bright Students With LD, ADHD and More

Friedrichs. Distinguishing Characteristics of Gifted Students With Disabilities

State Department Gifted/Talented Lending Library Val Schorzman

One of the most popular spots on the G/T web-site www.sde.state.id.us/giftedtalented is the Lending Library. The library contains many valuable resources that have been checked out by district personnel across the state and by parents interested in learning more about their gifted children. Adding to the current resources is an on-going project. The following books and videos will soon be available for check out. If you are interested in checking out these or other ti-tles, please send an e-mail to Dr. Val Schorzman at vschorzman@sde.state.id.us stating the author and title of the book or video. Materials checked out may be kept for a month. If you have questions, please contact Val at 208-332-6920.

Page 5 ITAG / SAGE May 2005

Bring the joy back into teach-ing math and science by attending the ITAG sponsored sessions during the annual CEC Conference. Bring the “Heart and Soul of Teaching”, this year’s conference theme, back into your instruction, and the “Heart and Soul of Learning” back to your students. Learn how to help students feel like real mathematicians and scientists, and de-velop a love for the fields. Thursday sessions will feature Rachael MacAnallen, or “Ms. Math”. Learn how to explain math concepts that are the basis for many other con-cepts that follow in the progression of understanding mathematics. Students are never too young, or too old to under-stand what they are really doing, and to love it! The Friday sessions, and the Saturday morning workshop will be presented by Dr. Lisa Melber, a profes-sor at California State University. Friday morning’s session will be “Science and the Gifted Learner…What We Know and What to Do About It.” Learn some of the theory behind creating qual-ity science experiences for our academic programs. Dr. Melber will review three distinct models of science enrichment she has successfully implemented and explore the pros and cons of each. Friday afternoon take part in hands-on inquiry based activities that challenge students to implement all as-pects of authentic research. Take time to plan your own student driven research project based on state standards. The Saturday post conference workshop is titled “Varied Talents: Tapping into Science Knowledge through Multiple Pathways”. Not all gifted students will be able to demon-strate understanding of science concepts in exactly the same way. Explore a vari-ety of hands-on, inquiry-based activities

that incorporate scientific illustration, creative writing, dramatic play, and mathematical computations, allowing students with a variety of academic tal-ents the opportunity to succeed, and pro-viding instructors with multiple assess-ment opportunities. Linda Stokes and Cheryl Richardson will also present a session on “Technology That Bridges the Communication Gap and Puts a Smile on Your Class!” Learn about a free website development tool that makes it a snap to set up a classroom website. One academic credit will be available. If you plan to take the Gifted Division sessions of the conference for credit, you must attend the Saturday morning workshop. These sessions, along with many other great offerings at the conference, will kick your year off on a positive note and help you put “The Heart and Soul of Teaching” into your classroom. The conference keynote speaker, Dr. Diane Montgomery, is the current president for CEC-TAG and on the Oklahoma Association for Gifted Board of Directors. She is a Professor of Educational Psychology in the School of Applied Health and Edu-cational Psychology, College of Education at Oklahoma State Univer-sity. Diane teaches courses on Creativ-ity for Teachers, Human Motivation, Emotion and Cognition and working with special needs children. She also directs the graduate programs in gifted education and conducts research in talent development, Native American Indian studies, creativity, gender issues, and children with exceptionalities. Dr. Montgomery is currently directing a research project that com-bines arts integration for all students in the arts based on interest and strengths.

ITAG Sponsors Math and Science Presenters

2005 Idaho Council for Exceptional ChildrenCouncil for Exceptional ChildrenCouncil for Exceptional Children

State ConferenceState ConferenceState Conference October 6—7, 2005 Sun Valley, Idaho

The Heart The Heart The Heart and and and Soul Soul Soul of Teaching of Teaching of Teaching

CEC Conference in Sun Valley

Lodging

Contact Sun Valley Re-sort for lodging information and

reservations.

Special room rates are available for any conference participant during the week of October 4—9th.

Just call the Sun Valley Resort Reservations office at

800-786-8259. Be sure you mention you are with the CEC Conference.

Reserve your accommodations ahead of time - rooms fill up fast!

CEC Conference Registration October 6 - 7, 2005

(Rates increase $30 after September 17, 2005) Name ___________________________ Position/district ____________________ Address _________________________ Phone ___________________________ Email ___________________________

CEC ID number ___________________

Registration with meals (Thursday banquet and Friday luncheon) _____ CEC Member: $140 _____ Non CEC member: $165

Conference registration without meals _____ CEC Member: $115 _____ Non CEC member: $140

Thursday ITAG luncheon _____ CEC-TAG member: free _____ CEC-TAG nonmember: $20

Saturday ITAG workshop _____CEC member: $30 _____Non CEC member: $45

Total due ___________________ Check # _______PO # ________

Send check /PO with registration to: Vicki Kulm

PO Drawer T, Filer, ID 83328 Kulmvi@filertel.com

(208) 326-5988

Questions or more info: itag-sage.org or contact

Sherrie Bosserman Sbosserman@homeinternet.net

Page 6 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

Up to ten mini-grants in the amount of $200 or less will be provided this year for innovative ideas that promote gifted education in schools and benefit gifted children. The grants are intended to help fund projects that pro-vide direct support for programs and/or materials for gifted chil-dren. However, ideas that in-directly benefit gifted children will also be considered. Applicants must be ITAG/SAGE members to be considered. Grant recipients will be announced at the ITAG/SAGE general membership meeting at the October CEC Conference in Sun Valley. Recipients do not need to be present and will re-ceive a formal award letter from ITAG/SAGE. A one “show-and-tell” page for our scrapbook will be due at the conclusion of the project. Applications must be postmarked by September 15, 2005.

2005 Mini-Grant Application I. Applicant Information

Name_______________________ H Phone____________ H Address/City/Zip _______________________________ Email __________________________________________ Role (Facilitator, Parent, Counselor, Administrator, Other)___________ II. School Information School District _______________ Schools_____________ Wk Phone___________ Email ______________________ Wk Address/City/Zip ______________________________ Number of students who will benefit from this grant______ III. I agree to submit a report at the conclusion of the project. Signature of Applicant_________________ Date________ IV. Description (Please be brief, but include necessary information!)

1. Describe the innovative idea you wish to implement. Be as spe-cific as possible and include such details as the dates of activities and roles of any persons working on the project/activity.

2. Describe how the project/activity will promote gifted education and benefit gifted students.

3. How will you evaluate whether or not you and/or your students achieved the goals and benefited from the project/activity?

4. Budget – Amount of money needed ($200.00 limit available from ITAG) and proposed expenditures of funds. Please be specific.

Mail before September 15 to: Karen Grindle karen81646@yahoo.com

924 E. Spartan St. Eagle, ID 83616 FAX (208) 938-4060

ITAG/SAGE mini-grants available

Funds for Regional meetings ITAG has appropriated $100 annually per region to help support regional facilitator meetings. Regions are divided roughly as North, Eastern, and Southwestern. Regional meetings are usually held two or three times a year, hosted by a different district each time. The meetings are a time when area facilitators can network, review new research findings, share in-formation, bring in speakers, and do planning for re-gional activities.

To apply, send the information to: Karen Grindle karen81646@yahoo.com

924 East Sparten Street Eagle, ID 83616 FAX (208) 938-4060

Regional Meeting Support Application Name _________________________District ______ Address /City/Zip ____________________________ Phone _________ E-mail ______________________ Write a brief description of intended meeting dates, location, and topics of discussion.

On Saturday, February 26th, approxi-mately eighty P.A.C.E students in grades 3 through 6, and their families converged on Sun-nyside Elementary School’s multi-purpose room to participate in a morning of Physics activities. P.A.C.E (Programs for Academic and Creative Education) is one of the Idaho Falls District 91’s gifted and talented options. One of the areas of study this year was Roller Coaster Physics. Students were given the opportunity to see the application of physics, first hand. Dr. Steven Shropshire, a Physics profes-sor from Idaho State University and his helpers provided the students with an hour-and-a-half presentation showing how much fun science and learning can be. The students reinforced their knowledge about Newton’s Three Laws of Mo-tion, inertia, mass, force and momentum by par-ticipating in break-out sessions: dodging a bowl-ing ball pendulum, lying on a bed of nails, riding a leaf blower hovercraft, traveling on a spinning chair, launching PCV pipe rockets, and testing personal strength by using the torque meter. This presentation was funded by a grant from the Idaho Community Foundation, the American Physical Society and the ISU College of Arts and Science.

Physics Day in Southeast Idaho

The ITAG/SAGE group has created a gifted education listserv in an effort to share information, questions or concerns about gifted issues in Idaho. This is a private list, which means that the list of members is not available to non-members. To post to this list, send your email to: gifted@itag-sage.org. Please feel free to participate as often as you like.

ITAG/SAGE List Serve Stuart King

Page 7 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

2005 Edufest Boise State University - Boise, Idaho

Parent Day - Saturday, July 23 The Mind-Heart Connection: A Parent's Guide to Under-

standing the Social and Emotional Issues of Gifted Kids

Counselor and Psychologists Institute Monday, July 25

Reversing the Underachievement Pattern of Gifted Students: The Role of School Counselors and Psychologists

Presented by Dr. Pat Schuler

Dr. Patricia Schuler is a partner in Creative In-sights, a counseling and educational consulting practice in Rensselaer, NY, that specializes in

working with high ability children

More information and registration available at www.edufest.org

Idaho Gifted Education Milestone ITAG/SAGE strives to improve the availability and quality of information, programs, and training for gifted and talented edu-cation in Idaho. This mission is accomplished through the advo-cacy and accomplishments of many people.

ITAG/SAGE would like to recognize and honor educators and/or community members who, through their dedication and advo-cacy, have helped improve gifted and talented education. Nominations are open for: Educators—Facilitators, classroom teachers, principals, program co-ordinators, counselors, administrators, etc. Community Members—Parents, legislators, elected officials, media people, authors, businesses, and etc.

Nominations must be submitted no later than July 30.

The recipients will be announced at the ITAG/SAGE luncheon at the October

CEC Conference in Sun Valley. I. Nominator’s name _______________________________________ Address/City/Zip ___________________________________________ Telephone ______________ Email address _____________________ II. Nominee’s name ________________________________________ Address/City/Zip ___________________________________________ Telephone ______________ Email address _____________________ III. Category: ____ Educator ____Community Member IV. Description (250—300 words) of the reasons this person should receive the ITAG/SAGE Idaho

Mail nomination information by July 30th to Marcia Wall mrwall@imbris.net

5018 S. Pinegrove Drive Coeur d Alene, ID 83815

ITAG/SAGE membership Idaho the Association for Gifted Education/State Advocates for Gifted Education is an organization whose mission is to

improve the availability and quality of information, programs, and training for gifted and talented education in Idaho.

ITAG/SAGE work together to: • foster communication among those with an

interest in the education of the gifted and talented • advocate for the future of gifted education

both in quality and funding • address concerns relative to

program development and teacher certification

• promote and provide gifted education training opportunities

• disseminate current information • support research opportunities in the field • identify and honor leadership in the field www.itag/sage.org

ITAG/SAGE (Idaho The Association for Gifted Education/State Advocates for Gifted Education) is a combined group. ITAG is the Idaho subdivision of the national CEC-TAG (Council for Exceptional Children-Talented and Gifted division). SAGE is a local affiliate of ITAG, hence, ITAG/SAGE. If you are a member of the national organization, CEC-TAG, you are a member of ITAG/SAGE. To join the national CEC, logon to www.sped.org. Only national CEC members are eligible for CEC conference discounts.

ITAG/SAGE MEMBERSHIP FORM CEC-TAG members are automatically members

Name _____________________________________ Home Address ______________________________ City/State/Zip _______________________________ School Address______________________________ City/State/Zip _______________________________ Home Phone _________ Work Phone ___________ E-mail ____________________________________ CEC member # (if it applies) __________________

Circle all that apply: Administrator Parent G/T Facilitator Classroom Teacher Other: _____________ Send $25.00 check payable to ITAG/SAGE to:

Ruby Brackett 2318 S. Wildrye Way

Nampa, ID 83686

Any new or renewed

ITAG membership

will be eligible for a

“great gift” drawing

on July 29.

ITAG/SAGE Officers

President

Marcia Wall, Kellogg mrwall@imbris.net H 682-2193 W 765-0992

President Elect Linda Stokes, Boise dale_stokes@yahoo.com H 362-9049 W 794-7054

Secretary Ruby Brackett, Nampa Rbrackett@nsd131.org H 466-9531 W 465-2700

Treasurer Karen Grindle, Meridian Karen81646@yahoo.com H 938-4060 W 888-3002

Regional Representatives

Region One and Two Amy Cowley, Bonners Ferry maecowley@meadowcrk.com amy.cowley@mail.bcsd101.com H 267-5861 C 290-1482

Region Three Kathleen Hodge, Meridian ephodge@cableone.net H 884-1869 W 455-3321

Region Four Kristi Turco, Hailey Kturko@blaineschools.org H 788-3018 W 788-3019

Region Five Cathy Kratz, Pocatello Kratzc@ds25.k12.id.us H 233-5352 W 237-2503

Region Six Elaine Lowrance, Idaho Falls lowrelai@d91.k12.id.us H 523-6734 W 525-7618

Additional Webmaster Stuart King, Boise webmaster@itag-sage.org stuart.king@boiseschools.org H 440-1188 W 794-7054

Edufest Committee Chairman and Newsletter Editor Sherrie Bosserman, Kuna sbosserman@homeinternet.net H 344-1761 W 922-1002

Page 8 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

Greetings, I’m writing to ask you to do what you can in one last push to get Senators to co-sign Sena-tor Grassley’s “Dear Col-

league” letter on funding the Javits pro-gram at $12 million for fiscal year 2006. The best way to communicate with Senate offices on this issue is a faxed letter; fax numbers are available on www.senate.gov. If you’d like to see NAGC’s letter to the subcommittee leaders, you can link on the .pdf file at www.nagc.org/Policy/update.html.

The budget debate rages, and there is very little wiggle room in the appropriations process for small educa-tion programs like the Javits program. It's going to be a wild ride this year and every supportive Senator helps!!

Co-signers of the Grassley let-ter: Lisa Murkowski (AK), Chris Dodd (CT), Joseph Lieberman (CT), Richard Durbin (IL), Richard Lugar (IN), Susan Collins (ME), Carl Levin (MI), Charles Schumer (NY), Mike DeWine (OH), Ron Wyden (OR), Tim Johnson (SD), Kay Hutchison (TX), Maria Cantwell (WA), and Russell Feingold (WI).

Federal Legislation Jane Clarenbach

MEMO To: Administrators of Special Services/Gifted-Talented From: Bob West, Chief Deputy State Superintendent Date: September 9, 2002

From time to time this issue has come up when very capable or gifted students enroll in some courses, par-ticularly mathematics, prior to the 9th grade. This seems to present challenges when decisions are made about how to document the courses taken and credits earned. Colleges and universities may require the names of certain courses on a students transcript to de-termine entrance requirements to make decisions about deficiencies to be made up or which courses a student must take their freshman year. It has been ob-served that policies may make it diffi-cult to document secondary courses taken before grade 9, creating problems for students when entering higher edu-cation. At the heart of this issue are the rules. State board rules call for the com-pletion of 42 semester credits during grades 9 - 12, including 25 semester hours of core course requirements. Of those requirements, four credits must be

earned by taking courses in mathemat-ics. Several courses are named as ex-amples appropriate for the secondary grades. 08.02.03.107. When very capa-ble students take algebra and/or geome-try courses typically taught in high school, but prior to the 9tI1 grade, for example, four semester credits in mathematics must still be earned in high school to meet graduation require-ments. This kind of acceleration is en-couraged, and preventable problems can be avoided. Developmentally, stu-dents are encouraged to make full use of their four years of high school and to continue to take challenging courses. Documentation on a student's transcript of secondary courses taken prior to grade 9 may be provided, when needed. Transcripted credits for courses typically taken in high school, but earned before grade 9, is allowed by existing state board rules. It remains necessary to complete 42 semester credits for graduation during grades 9 - 12, or additional credits at the discretion of the district. include 25 semester cred-its in. the core courses. The person teaching transcripted courses must to be properly certified to do so.

High School Credit for Courses Prior to Grade 9

2005 SENG Conference

July 8-10, 2005 Albuquerque, New Mexico

Social and emotional issues for the gifted Visit www.sengifted.org

for information and online registration.

ITAG/SAGE OFFICER NOMINATIONS OFFICER NOMINATIONS OFFICER NOMINATIONS

ITAG/SAGE is now accepting nominations for two positions Vice-President powers, duties and responsibilities are: 1. Take charge in the absence of the president and president-elect 2. Prepare for the future presidency 3. Begin making arrangements for the CEC conference program to be held in

two years Secretary (a two year position) powers, duties and responsibilities are: 1. Keep official records of the ITAG organization and send to board members 2. Serve as chairperson on the membership committee and keep accurate lists

of committees and general membership 3. Assist the president in conducting the business of the organization

Nominate yourself or another individual by sending the following information. A. Name of Nominee, work role/title, address, phone number, school district, and email B. Indicate the position to be considered for: Vice President, or Secretary

C. Please provide the information listed below. 1) Career experiences and highlights 2) Leadership positions held and/or other professional activities 3) Contribution to the gifted and talented field 4) A tidbit of personal info for a publicity bio

D. Name of person making nomination, phone, address, and email address

E. Send nomination information before August 15th to: Ruby Brackett, rbrackett@nsd131.org,

2318 S. Wildrye Way, Nampa, ID 83686

Log Cabin Summer Writing Camp offers Idaho's young people, elementary and middle grade stu-dents, time to share their poems, stories, and plays on our website, at a public reading on Friday, and in a professionally published statewide anthology. Scholarships deadline is June 1st. www.logcablit.org or (208) 331-8000

Wood River Valley June 20 - 24 Hailey Cultural Center Write along the banks of the Wood River, in the antique rooms of the Cultural Center, and at the Blaine County Historical Museum.

Caldwell August 1 - 5 Albertson College of Idaho Visit the Natural History Museum, the Gem and Mineral Collection, Whittenber-ger Planetarium, and more.

Twin Falls June 27 - July 1 College of Southern Idaho Explore the campus with new eyes.

Boise July 11 - 15, July 18 - 22, and July 25 - 29 Log Cabin Literary Cen-ter. Visit Zoo Boise, Boise Art Mu-seum, the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Julia Davis Park, and the banks of the Boise River.

Teton Valley July 18 - 22 Alta Elementary School, Wyoming Teton Creek and the garden are just the beginning. Field trips might in-clude visiting a sheep farm, an old cemetery, a glass studio, or the his-torical museum in Driggs.

Garden Valley July 25 - 29 Crouch Community Hall Explore the town, its history, the river, and the park.

Log Cabin Summer Writing Camps

Page 9 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

PAGE Parent Advocates for Gifted Education Annual Potluck Picnic

June 21st, 2005, 6:30—8:30 PM Boise Memorial Park (off Walnut / Warm Springs)

This is a great opportunity for our kids to meet each other and for all of us to reflect on this past year.

Nancy Gregory, 323-8354 nancygregory@juno.com Barb Minton, 344-0916 minmay@cableone.net

Are you a member of

the TVPAGE yahoo

group? If not, and

would like to be, con-

tact Jae Ellison at

jellison@cable

one.net

Over 90 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade “mathletes” from 28 Idaho schools com-peted Saturday in the 2005 Idaho State MATH-COUNTS Competition. The competition, which was hosted by the Idaho Society of Pro-fessional Engineers, was held at the Boise State University College of Engineering. Students vied for trophies, scholarships, HP calculators, and a chance to represent Idaho in the National MATHCOUNTS Competition.

The competition, which was sponsored by Hewlett Packard Co., Micron Technology, and the three state Colleges of Engineering, started with three rounds of challenging written questions. Based on the scores from these rounds, the following schools took team honors:

1st Jenifer Junior High School, Lewiston 2nd Rocky Mountain Middle School, Idaho Falls 3rd North Junior High School, Boise 4th Moscow Junior High School, Moscow

The top 10 individuals after the written rounds then competed in an entertaining one-on-one oral round, in which they raced to answer questions projected on a screen. The individual winners were:

1st Alex Kohn, Taylorview Junior High School, Idaho Falls 2nd Linyi Gao, Moscow Junior High School 3rd Ben Morrell, Rocky Mountain Middle School 4th Olivia Haberman, Jenifer Junior High School

These four students each received a $1,000 scholarship to the College of Engineer-ing at Boise State University, the University of Idaho, or Idaho State University. They also re-ceived an all-expense-paid trip to Detroit, where they represented Idaho in the National MATH-COUNTS Competition on May 6th. They will be led by the coach of the winning Jenifer Junior High team, Steve Branting.

Anyone interested in learning more about MATHCOUNTS can visit its web site at http://www.mathcounts.org.

MATHCOUNTS Competition

Page 10 ITAG/SAGE May 2005

Idaho History Day Winners 300 Idaho middle- and high-school students participated in the April 15 competition, hosted by the Idaho Historical Society and hosted by Albertson College of Idaho in Caldwell.

Albertson College scholarship winners: $20,000 — Holly Jo, Senior individual exhibit: "A Lasting Legacy: King Sejong and the Korean Alphabet" $10,000 — Neil Sing, Senior individual documentary: "An Epic Journey of Quan-tum Proportions: How Communication was a Catalyst for Scientific Discovery" $5,000 — Benjamin Losinski, senior indi-vidual performance, "World War II Slo-gans, Images, and Movies: United States Propaganda Wins the War"

The Governor's Award: Jessica Fox Brunn, senior historical paper: "How the Black Death Devoured the Church."

Senior individual winners Historical paper: First — Jessica Fox Brunn, "How the Black Death Devoured the Church". Second — Artie Vierkant, "Edward R. Murrow on the Blitz". Third — Eleanor Steven, "Communicating with the Unknown: Understanding Hostage Negotiation". Fourth — Emily Morrow, "Word of the Ages"

Exhibit: First — Holly Jo, "A Lasting Legacy: King Sejong and the Korean Alphabet". Second — Eleri Roberts, "Dulce et Decorum Est...The Old Lie: The War Poetry of Wilfred Owen". Third — Taylor Stem-ple, "Lincoln to Kennedy: Communications in Cam-paigning". Fourth — Jeff Jones, "Television and Com-munication: the Vietnam War"

Documentary: First — Neil Sing, "An Epic Journey of Quantum Proportions: How Communication was a Catalyst for Scientific Discovery”. Second — Katrin Tschirgi, "Sarah Winnemucca: The Voice of the Pai-utes". Third — Anthony Caliva, "From the Air to the Ground: Close Air Support". Fourth — Jonathan Meyers, "A Communication Blockade: The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall"

Performance: First — Benjamin Losinski, "World War II Slogans, Images, and Movies: United States Propa-ganda Wins the War". Second — Rebecca Ballenger, "Ich liebe die Freiheit!: Sophie Scholl's Communication of Freedom through the White Rose Resistance Group". Third — Anna Cheyney, "September 11, 1777: Miscommunication in the Battle of Brandy-wine". Fourth — Cory Whittier, "A Fireside Chat with FDR: Communication that Mobilized a Nation".

Senior Group Winners Exhibit: First — Anneliese Rice and Claire Steven, "Madame Chiang Kai-Shek: The Voice of China". Second — Laurel Lane, Jamie Marshall and Jesse Madsen, "M.I.A.: Communication for Missing Chil-dren". Third — Fernando Montenegro and Constanza Molina, "Mahatma Gandhi and Non-Violent Commu-nication". Fourth — Mark Christensen and Joe Thiel, "Iwo Jima: Nightmare in Hell"

Performance: First — Arie Verdoorn and Ian Troester, "Striking the Chords of Conflict". Second — Peter Josten and Ian Wilbanks, "Shakespeare: Conduit of Theatrical Communication".

Documentary: First — Brian Warden and Jessica War-den, "Coded Communication: You Need a Key to Understand". Second — Lauren Franklin, Kacey Jones and Paul Dodson, "Hitler's Propaganda Machine: Com-municating to the Masses". Third — Melanie Pace and Megan Cousin, "Defeating the British: A Mission Made Possible Through Espionage". Fourth — Allison Landrum and Andrea Christensen, "Flags: Waving Their Way Through the Breeze of History"

Junior Individual Winners Historical paper: First — Keats Conley Ishi, "Caretaker of the Last Wild Worlds". Second — Emma Maynard, "The Silent Epidemic: How Aids Became a World-wide Epidemic from Lack of Communication". Third — Lee Spears, "American Sign Language: Un-derstanding the Silent". Fourth — Alexandra Pace, "Creating a Communication Link: The Hotline, the Key to Avoiding Nuclear Destruction".

Exhibit: First — Katherine Forsythe, "Condemned to Work: Lewis Hine's Exposure of Child Labor". Sec-ond — Becca Thomas-Kuzilik, "For Your Eyes Only: Covert Communications of the Culper Spy Ring". Third — Joshua Ortiz, "Elizabeth Van Lew & the Yan-kee Spies: Communicating in the Heart of the Confed-eracy". Fourth — Lauren Farr, "Sculpting Social Change: The Harlem Renaissance Communicates Through Arts".

Performance: First — Amanda Taylor, "The Salem Witch Trials: The Influence of Gossip". Second — Chloe Peterson, "The Blizzard of 1888: A Curse and a Cure". Third — Melanie Jenson, "A Telegrapher's Story: The Impact of Electronic Communication on the Civil War". Fourth — Kevin Mulvey, "Protesting So-cial Inequity: Harlem's Artistic Renaissance".

Documentary: First — Alex Wixom, "Navajo Code Talkers: Creating the Code to Victory". Second — Lorin John Cashin, "The Media War: Propaganda on the American World Front in WWII". Third — Camille Osthed, "Secret Signs: Quilting on the Under-ground Railroad". Fourth — Allyssa Bateman, "Communicating Messages of Patriotism: The Propa-ganda of WWII".

Junior Group Winners Exhibit: First — Gwen West and April Dodd, "What We Never See: Censoring Our World". Second — Ryder Ashcraft and Joe Bren, "Rachel Carson's Silent Spring: Communicating the Dangers of Pesticides". Third — Carly Joerger and Melissa Reitcheck, "African American Spirituals". Fourth — Adam McCoy, Andrew Fortin and Kyle Olsen, "Espionage: Communication Through Spies and Lies".

Performance: First — Katie Jackson and Erin Baldwin, "Nellie Bly: Communications Through the Press”. Second — Melissa Schmidt, Samantha Field and Melissa Fitzen, "The Underground Railroad: Pathway to Freedom". Third — Jacob Jeppson and Tyler Hale, "Vote for Me and All Your Wildest Dreams Will Come True: How Politicians Trick or Treat Us". Fourth — Lisa Friedman, Kim Bates, Kate Johnesee and Kelsey Bernstein, "A Normal Boy to a Historical Genius: Shakespeare and His Rise to Literary Fame".

Documentary: First — Kate Franklin, Colin Cross, "The Navajo Code Talkers and their Role in the Coded Communication". Second — Bradley Montierth and Nathan White, "Alphabet Soup for a Sick Nation". Third — Chelsea Huntsman and Isabel Avila, "Helen Keller: Overcoming the Obstacles of Life to Under-stand the Disabled". Fourth — Richard Harrison and Zachary Funke, "Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press.".

Grand Champion—Marooned Monkeys from Mars

Second Place—Men From M.A.R.S. Third Place—Metallic Monkeys

Best Climbing Rover—Your Worst Nightmare

Lightest Weighing Rover—Your Worst Nightmare

Best Lab Notebook—Marooned Mon-keys from Mars

Art Contest Grand Prize Winner— Chad Carson Coeur d'Alene High School,

Teacher: Mrs. Leonard Competing Teams

Marooned Monkeys fromMars Lowell Scott Middle, Boise; Debbi Trumbull

Men From M.A.R.S. Pioneer Elem., Boise; teacher - Cindy Potts

Metallic Monkeys Lowell Scott Middle, Boise; teacher - Debbi Trumbull

Your Worst Nightmare Fox Hollow Elem., Idaho Falls; teacher - Janelle Chaffin

Galaxy Goons Oakwood Elementary, Preston; teacher - Penny McNeel

NASA All Over Again Post Falls Starbursts, Post Falls; Ann Cunningham

Space Beavers American Falls Intermediate School, American Falls; Kristen Jensen

Warped Cadets Spirit Lake Elem., Spirit Lake; Scott Thomson

Alpha Rams Mt. Ogden Middle, Mt. Ogden, Utah; teacher - Vickie Winn

M.A.R.S. Rover Competition

The University of Idaho College of Engineering sponsors the annual Idaho Junior Engineering, Mathemat-ics, and Science (JEMS) Summer Workshop for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school. The focus of the workshop is to expose students to en-gineering problems within technical and social contexts, and to encourage them to enroll in college. Idaho JEMS students live on-campus and are su-pervised by faculty and dorm counsel-ors. Students earn two college credits. The 2005 session is July 10-22, 2005. The application deadline for the 2005 program is May 27, 2005. The tuition for Idaho JEMS is $550. Scholarships are available.

JEMS Summer Workshop

9th Annual

Edufest 2005 July 24—29, 2005

Boise State University Student Union Building Boise, Idaho

Keynotes James Webb—Tom Hebert—Temple Grandin

Cloyce Weaver—Hunter Scott

New this year Northwest Nazarene

Credit

7 different ways Social and Emotional Needs, Curriculum and Differentiation, Creativity and Critical Thinking,

Foundations, or as elective coursework in the area of gifted and talented education

42 week-long sessions to choose from (Session descriptions now at www.edufest.org) And 36 special topic presentations

-Onsite computer lab- -Upgraded dorm facilitates -

Also featuring Dr. Pat Shuler

Parent Day—July 23 and School Counselor and

Psychologists Institute—July 25

www.edufest.org

Edufest is held in association with ITAG/SAGE and the National Council for Exceptional Children - The

Association for the Gifted (CEC-TAG)

Edufest 2005 Early registration discount if mailed by June 1st—Deadline July 10, 2005

Name Mr. / Mrs. / Ms. / Dr._________________________________________ First Name to be Used as Your Badge Name ___________________________ Home Phone ____________________________________________________ Home Address ___________________________________________________ City ______________________________ State _______ Zip______________ Email Address ___________________________________________________ School ____________________________ School Phone _________________ School Address __________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State _______ Zip _____________

($100 deposit per person with this form)

Method of Payment _____ Check payable to Edufest 2005 _____ Purchase Order Number ________________ Amount ______________ Registration Deadline -- July 10, 2005 (Deduct $25 per person if registration is postmarked by June 1, 2005) Four Options—Select the one that meets your needs! ___ $380 Commuter. Includes conference, Thursday banquet, no other meals ___ $475 Commuter with meals. Includes conference, lunches, and dinners ___ $515 Resident without meals. Includes conference, Thursday banquet and no other meals, and double occupancy dorm room without private bath ___ $615 Resident with meals. Includes conference, all meals, and double occupancy dorm room without private bath ___ I wish to have a private dorm room, please add $60 to my registration fee (Sorry...none of the dorm rooms have private baths.) ___ Female ___ Male Preferred Roommate ________________School District/Affiliation _________ All options include a snack before Sunday’s keynote and Thursday’s banquet.

Make check or purchase order payable to Edufest 2005 and mail to Edufest, 2420 Spaulding, Boise, ID 83705

General Information Conference check-in is 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 24. The first session begins Sunday evening at 5 p.m. The conference ends on Friday, July 29, at noon. Fees Registration fees include all cost of instruction, morning and afternoon refresh-ment breaks, materials packet, handouts CD, a snack on Sunday before the keynote, and Thursday evening's dinner. The residential packages can include all meals and overnight accommodations. Only breakfast is served on Friday.

A deposit of $100 per person is required with each registration form. Payment in full or a purchase order is required BEFORE Edufest 2005 begins. Special Discounts Deduct $25 per person if registration is postmarked by June 1, 2005. Refunds and Cancellations All monies will be refunded if paid registrations are cancelled by 4 p.m. MDT, July 15. If the participant does not attend and does not cancel on or before the above date, the $100 deposit will be surrendered. All requests for refunds must be submitted by September 1, 2005. Mail to Edufest 2005, 2420 Spaulding, Boise, ID 83705 or email info@edufest.org. Housing Accommodations will be provided in the Boise State University residence halls. Some single rooms are available for an additional fee. We will assign you a roommate if you do not specify a roommate on the registration form. Academic Credit You may elect to receive three graduate-level credits in Teacher Education for an additional fee. The graduate-level credits meet course requirements (or an elective course requirement) for the Idaho gifted and talented endorsement, as well as the requirements for re-certification and pay scale increases. Credit registration and payment occur during Edufest 2005.

You are invited to participate in this year’s

Edufest Special Topic presentations.

Share your expertise, gain professional recognition,

and to be considered as a candidate for a future strand presentation.

Special Topics are 90-minute presentations, showcasing great ideas,

hands-on activities, individual programs, student opportunities, curriculum extensions,

unique projects, or passions of the heart. For more information, visit the Edufest website,

www.edufest.org and fill out the Special Topic form.

ITAG/SAGE 2420 SPAULDING BOISE, IDAHO 83705

IDAHO, THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED/STATE ADVOCATES FOR GIFTED EDUCATION

Challenging all Children to Maximize their Potential

ITAG/SAGE 2005 May Newsletter