Advocacy Discussion Panel

Notes
4/28/2015
1) Advocate Defined
a) Advocate is a person who promotes a cause or supports a group of people.
2) Organizations/Supporters of Gifted Education
i) National Association for Gifted Children;
ii) Georgia Association for Gifted Children;
iii) Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted;
iv) University Based Seminars and Professional Development
3) Greatest effect of advocacy will happen at our local schools.
4) Constraints
a) Budget concerns
b) Data
c) Perception of giftedness
d) Perception of gifted education
i) When you think about advocacy for gifted students, think collaboration not
controversy.
e) Use everyday opportunities to help others understand what giftedness is and why it
is important.
5) Question: How do I challenge a gifted student at home?
a) Read to your children early. Extra activities like using technology, piano
b) Make real world connections, create projects, go places, enrichment activities,
reward system
c) Overexposure to whatever they are interested in
d) Answer 4: Turn what they are interested into learning from every discipline, i.e.,
baseball learn about physics, mathematics, science
e) Whatever they learn at school, talk about it at school.
6) Question: What are the challenges with Fulton Countys program?
a) Transitions with ADHD when 50 minutes a day with 9 week station. Students need
consistency and teachers struggle with assessing students when they miss using a
daily pullout program.
b) Teachers not using more choice strategies and letting students form their education
more. All teachers should use the learning/teaching strategies.
c) Understand that the students are different with learning styles and personalities.
7) Questions: What sets Fulton County apart from other places?
a) Fulton County is organized, school based supporters
b) There is a program and it has learning objectives and standards.
c) All the programs are state regulated. Fulton collaborates with other counties every
other month. There is more flexibility in Fulton.
8) Question: Are there any discrepancies between the North Fulton and South
Fulton programs?

a) There should not be. We teach the same standards, models are the same. Fight for
your school and think about how you can change it and make it better in your
school.
b) High potential programs are available.
c) High potential students often lack exposure to different opportunities in the
community.
d) We need to push students to take opportunities like the Academic Bowl. We need to
push students.
e) Dr. Avossa says that there is not a difference in resources and opportunities and
funding. Every school qualifies for a teacher at least two days a week. Each school
has different needs and must be flexible.
9) Question: How can a TAG department or teacher still support a gifted
student who is an ELL?
a) Educate teachers during the CISS process. Use ELL strategies and use tools from ID
and Assessment.
b) We have a lot of growth for our teachers. We need to use more nonverbal spatial
learners.
c) Talk with your ESOL department or teacher.
10) Question: How do our current identification process screen ELLs?
a) Creativity test are a great way for teachers to shine. Use the nonverbal ESOL
strategies with all students.
b) Tangrams, using higher level strategy lessons to reach all students.
c) It is all about collaboration.
11) Question: Do you think TAG students should be tested every three years?
a) Yes. I think kids qualify in first and second grade. Our IQs are not static. A lot of
factors factor into success.