Anita Churchville, M.S. Ed. 11/20/21 Anita Churchville, M.S. Ed. 11/20/21

The 3 E’s of Authentic Parent Partnership

We begin each school year by welcoming new families into our community and assuring them that our philosophy is firmly rooted in the educator’s adage of “parents as partners.” As sincere as we are, how true is it in reality? Do all school staff, including administrators, counselors, and teachers, view the partnership through the same lens?

Cynthia Hogwood M. Ed. 9/24/21 Cynthia Hogwood M. Ed. 9/24/21

Neurodiversity: The Umbrella

There is little doubt that many aspects of our world are rapidly changing. I see this most notably in many societal areas rejecting binary, either/or thinking to recognize complexities that have long existed. People are rejecting being pigeon-holed into a single identity. And instead, what is developing are spectrums, ranges, and multiple options that help people more accurately describe who they are. We see this happening in education, particularly in the use of "neurodiversity" as a term to describe different elements of special education.

Dr. Selena Gallagher, PhD 9/9/21 Dr. Selena Gallagher, PhD 9/9/21

The G Word: Tension in the Terminology

Addressing the needs of highly able learners has long been a source of political tension in schools. The field of gifted education has suffered the slings and arrows of competing educational priorities: an unresolved tension between the notions of equity and equal; a resolutely egalitarian society; the rise of anti-intellectualism; confusing and misunderstood terminology, and uncomfortable associations with the Matthew effect – the idea that further advantage is given to those who are already advantaged.

Anita Churchville, M.S. Ed. 8/10/21 Anita Churchville, M.S. Ed. 8/10/21

Ability Grouping ≠ Tracking

Fear of returning to the oft-criticized academic tracking of students has led progressive educators to be hesitant to group highly able/gifted students by ability. However, recent research supports the effectiveness of ability grouping for the highest performers and, concomitantly, the detriments of the exclusive use of heterogeneous grouping.