INGENIOSUS

Ingeniosus has a new Web site and Blog. Check out www.ingeniosus.net!

I'm pleased to announce that Ingeniosus has a spiffy new Web site and Blog at www.ingeniosus.net! We're hoping you’ll find the redesigned site much easier to enjoy and navigate. Feel free to dig around and explore. Scroll down to learn more.

In the upcoming months, you’ll find more regular Ingeniosus Blog (www.Ingeniosus.net/blog) entries and news. Meanwhile, our new global #gtchat section of the site will make it a cinch to learn more about the new global chats taking place on Twitter. You'll also find it easy to Vote for Topics and Locate Past Transcripts. If you’re unfamiliar with #gtchat, click on Learn More.

As you know, Ingeniosus remains committed to igniting a fresh and powerful movement in the social media realm and beyond to support gifted learners worldwide. I hope you’ll bookmark the new site, sign up for the RSS feed and keep me apprised of how Ingeniosus and #gtchat can serve you best. There’s never been a more critical time in history to understand how to best “market” gifted education. Ingeniosus stands primed and ready to serve.

Important Note: To all of you who have kindly posted links to the Ingeniosus Blog on your own Web site, Facebook Fan Page and/or newsletter, I hope you'll take a moment to update your site (so that everyone gets directed properly to the new Ingeniosus Web site (www.ingeniosus.net) and/or the new Ingeniosus Blog (www.ingeniosus.net/blog). Thank you again; it's all about collaboration!

Cheers,

Deborah Mersino (@DeborahMersino)

Transcripts on Creating Balance & Disciplining the Gifted Child Available; New Twtpoll Up

Welcome parents, teachers and gifted advocates! If you'rel looking for answers and hope during this critical time in gifted education throughout the world, you've come to the right place. Scroll down for information on our latest global #gtchat sessions and what's coming up later this week.

For those who missed this week's global #gtchat on Twitter, you'll find the 03.05.10 transcripts with live links below. Be sure to check out the many resources shared; you'll find sage input on both subjects:

• "Creating Balance/Healthy Environment for Gifted Kids" http://bit.ly/c6LlWQ {scroll to 5pm/GMT}
• "Disciplining the #Gifted Child: Fallacies & Facts" http://bit.ly/9vjrGL

To vote on #gtchat topics for Friday, 03.12.10, please click here: http://twtpoll.com/7d2ljz

If you're new to Twitter and want to learn more about #gtchat, check out my past Ingeniosus Blog posts, which describe how we all come together on Fridays at noon and 7:00 p.m. (EST) to discuss timely topics of interest in real-time, using the hashtag #gtchat. Here's a post from our inaugural chat in January: http://bit.ly/cu0H2Q.

As always, if you have questions about Twitter, want to learn more about social media and/or Ingeniosus, please contact me directly at [email protected]. 

Cheers!

Deborah Mersino

02.26.10 Global #gtchat Transcripts Now Available; New Twtpoll Up

"Every Child Deserves to Learn Something New Every Day." - NAGC Past President Del Siegle / UConn

 

This past Friday’s global #gtchat session on “Finding Age-appropriate Literature for #Gifted Kids” inspired me greatly. Not only did I feel fortunate to have such lively comrades participating in our global #gtchat, like Carolyn K., gifted advocate extraordinaire and founder of Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page (@HoagiesGifted) and Erik, a family consultant and program specialist at the Davidson Institute (@DavidsonGifted), but I also realized how easily and quickly critical information can be shared via this medium. In addition, we welcomed a lot of new tweeps from all over the world during both chats. To view the transcripts from each session, click on the links below: 

Finding Age-appropriate Literature for Gifted Kids: http://bit.ly/bB6vbz.

Exploring the Role of the GT Teacher: http://bit.ly/bERgHL {scroll to start at 4:59 pm/GMT)

For a detailed look at some of the resources and links shared during the Finding Age-Appropriate Literature for Gifted Kids #gtchat session, see below:

• Hot Topics Reading List: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/hot_topics.htm
• Reading list via @HoagiesGifted | A must view | http://bit.ly/dy1dwE
• "Some of My Best Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers" book | http://bit.ly/cY56tr
• "Gifted Readers and Young Adult Literature: A Perfect Match" via @DukeTIP | http://bit.ly/a27ccl
• From @DavidsonGifted (some may overlap with Hoagies): http://bit.ly/b8WMKY
• Scholastic's Teacher Book Wizard (helps with levels) http://bit.ly/bFGRyn
• Top 10 Books for Gifted Children | via Carol Bainbridge | http://bit.ly/cnuWZ6
• Another resource via @PrufrockPress | Using Multicultural Literature in Gifted Ed Classrooms |http://bit.ly/dq6h8B
• Also via @HoagiesGifted  here's Hot Topics! Reading List On Being Gifted http://bit.ly/a7WIB1
• For parents of feisty boys via @HoagiesGifted | Hot Topics! Reading List for... Teen Boys  |http://bit.ly/9zLuQ6
• The Gifted Readers' Bill of Rights by Kingore | http://bit.ly/9gI4aN
• EdWeek: Mind the Gap: Engaging Gifted Readers by Miller | http://bit.ly/9onP44
• For nonfiction w/ text scattered around the page, publisher Usborne Books via @HoagiesGifted http://www.hoagiesbooks.com
• Via @armadillosoft: My daughters & I created a set of reviews with an associated search form of books for advanced young readers. http://bit.ly/6cZ8z2
• From @alisonwrites: Just Because They Can Doesn't Mean They Should: Choosing Age-Appropriate Books for Literature Circles http://bit.ly/bpcugq
• Via @DavidsonGifted If you are having trouble getting your hands on books, you could try http://www.booksfree.com/ It is Netflix for books!
• 'The Value of being... patient etc'... good series' in this vein by Free Spirit Press http://www.freespirit.com/
• From @DavidsonGifted http://www.classicreader.com/ has full text of thousands classic titles available online to anyone w a computer

Here are some links from the Exploring the Role of the GT Teacher #gtchat session:

• From Belin & Blank | A Nation Deceived (various languages) re acceleration http://bit.ly/c7ksWw
• Via @DavidsonGifted | A great resource - Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom: http://bit.ly/bGx3dK
•  Teaching for High Potential magazine | Must for teachers of gifted | via @NAGCGIFTED http://bit.ly/cRgIWX
•  An incredible resource for educators from @ByrdseedGifted http://bit.ly/9z21AC
•  Via @HoagiesGifted "Challenging Gifted Students in the Regular Classroom" by Parke http://bit.ly/a4qHut
• Info, Links, Upcoming Events & Blogs for Teachers of Gifted Children via @PrufrockPress |http://bit.ly/b9R2CY
•  Via @DavidsonGifted | What is the role of a GT teacher: http://bit.ly/9s2J8s
• Via John Hopkins CTY - Resources on Educational Studies http://bit.ly/ahJVsF
• http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/ has a wealth of information as well
• Recommend collaboration with other educators who value GT EdGuild http://www.davidsongifted.org/edguild/

@NAGCGIFTED closed our second #gtchat session poignantly with a quote from NAGC Past President Del Siegle with UConn, who said, "Every Child Deserves to Learn Something New Every Day." So true and so very vital to remember as we all face budget cuts and the continued proliferation of myths! Remember, global #gtchat takes place every Friday at noon and 7:00 p.m. (EST). Simply search for #gtchat and you’ll see the feed for our sessions. Don’t forget to include the hashtag (#gtchat) in your posts, so that we see your thoughts too. Be sure to make your tweets public (not private) if you want to participate. And thank you to everyone who continues to demonstrate a hunger for real-time learning, advocacy and collaboration via this platform. 

And now, I invite you to take a moment and vote for which topic you would most like to discuss this Friday (or Saturday – for our Australian tweeps!), March 5, 2010: http://twtpoll.com/4duejr.

If you have any questions regarding Twitter, #gtchat and/or social media advocacy, please feel free to contact me directly. As of today, March 1, 2010, my email is now [email protected]. Thank you kindly.

Cheers,

Deborah Mersino

February 19th Global #gtchat Transcripts Available; Twtpoll Up for This Week’s Topics

Many thanks to everyone who participated in our lively discussions last Friday! Our global #gtchat continues to draw new interest and collaboration. I’m grateful to everyone who shared their own personal experiences, research and/or resources pertinent to these critical topics. 

Photo Credit: Franck Boston

Below please find the transcripts from each session:

• February 19, 2010 Noon (EST) #gtchat session on Coping with Overexcitabilities and Intensities: http://bit.ly/aLkBaR
• February 19, 2010 7:00 p.m. (EST) #gtchat session on Launching a Parent Advocacy Group: How & Why?: http://bit.ly/dobhR7

Here are some of the top resources and links we shared during the “Coping with Overexcitabilities & Intensities” #gtchat session:

• Excellent book | "Living with Intensity" by Daniels & Piechowski | http://bit.ly/csz9Kn
• SENG overview of "Overexcitability & the Gifted" by Sharon Lind | http://bit.ly/bZEuF6
• Blog | "Raising Smart Girls" on "Overexcitabilities and the Gifted" |  http://bit.ly/ciL43x
• Strategies for parents of emotionally intense kids | http://bit.ly/dwk7pR  via @DavidsonGifted
• "Mellow Out” is a wonderful book from the OE child's perspective | http://bit.ly/bYgowx via @DavidsonGifted
• Downloadable teaching unit: http://www.nswagtc.org.au/info/articles/Strickland_Dabrowski.html via @jofrei
• Coming Soon: "Emotionally Intense" (Prufrock Press, 2011) by Christine Fonseca (@chrstinef) will focus on strategies to help parents manage the often intense behavior of gifted kids.
  

Here are a few links and resources worth checking out relative to “Launching a Parent Advocacy Group: How & Why?”:

•  “Start a Parent Group” information from NAGC via @NAGCGIFTED http://bit.ly/a8Dief
• Advocacy links and resources from @HoagiesGifted | http://bit.ly/aACRqz
•  Another fabulous resource from @PrufrockPress - "Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book" http://bit.ly/90go9z
•  Educational Advocacy for #Gifted Students is an excellent article: http://bit.ly/byba3T via @DavidsonGifted
• Resource from SENG re parent support groups | http://bit.ly/asIoEn
•  An Advocacy Guidebook DITD put together working closely with Karen Rogers (Author: Re-forming Gifted Ed): http://bit.ly/6PCD5U  via @DavidsonGifted
• Fuel for fire: http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/nation_deceived/ “A Nation Deceived” via @MyGiftedGirl

As a result of our second session, I believe Ireland is going to have a new #gifted leader – Ms. Catherine Riordan (@CathRiordan). Watch out as she works to grow a following and support for high-potential students throughout her country!

If you’re new to #gtchat and/or wondering how to participate, simply look at some of the earlier posts about our inaugural chat sessions. Feel free to click on links (upper right) and/or scroll down. We would love to have you join us, as we work to dispel myths about gifted children and their needs!

Many of you commented last week that you liked the choices offered in our last Twtpoll. As such, I’m including past choices in this week’s poll. The new Twtpoll is up with the following topics:

• Exploring the Role of the Gifted & Talented Teacher
• Examining Our Own Giftedness: Why it’s Vital
• Investigating Mentorship Programs for All Ages
• Celebrating & Supporting Our Visual-Spatial Learners
• Finding Age-appropriate Literature for Gifted Students

Vote now! Simply click on this link: http://twtpoll.com/ahu6md

A special shout-out goes to Missy Bedell (@gifts2love) for her recent blog post (http://bit.ly/9b9pBp) highlighting #gtchat. Your passion is contagious!

Thank you again for your continued support for this new forum! Remember, if you have questions and/or comments, contact me directly at [email protected].

Cheers,

Deborah Mersino (@DeborahMersino)

Welcome California Gifted Advocates! Twtpoll for 02.19.10 Global #gtchat Now Up

This past month, I have been seeing oodles of individuals visiting the Ingeniosus site, who have come from the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) Web site. First of all, welcome! I am deeply appreciative to CAG for including my "RED ALERT: Gifted Education is a Civil Rights Issue" on its homepage at http://www.cagifted.org/. 

I hope educators, parents and gifted advocates from California will join our global discussion of all things gifted via #gtchat. Click on the links to your right and/or scroll down to learn more about #gtchat. This new chat, which takes place every Friday at noon (EST) and 7:00 p.m. (EST), offers real-time learning and collaborative opportunities relative to gifted education, including tips and critical resources for parents, educators and gifted advocates. To vote on this week's #gtchat topics, click here: http://twtpoll.com/mlu36d.

If you're new to Twitter and this all sounds foreign, feel free to check out past Ingeniosus blog posts on how to get started. It's an incredible platform worth exploring!

Let me know what matters to you most relative to gifted education. I'm @DeborahMersino and will do my best to follow you back. Also feel free to drop me a note at [email protected]. Together, we can make a difference for #gifted students in California and throughout the world!

Cheers,

Deborah Mersino

Transcripts Available from 02.12.10 "Homework: Battles or Bliss?" & "Discovering Passion: Helping Gifted Kids Find Inspiration" #gtchats

Good morning or good afternoon (depending on where you reside)! Thank you to everyone who made yesterday's global #gtchat sessions so lively! Scroll down for more.

 © James Thew - Fotolia.com

While our noon session on "Homework: Battles or Bliss?" was small, it was mighty! The Davidson Institute (@DavidsonGifted) shared some excellent resources that you'll want to be sure to check out. 

Our second session, "Discovering Passion: Helping Gifted Kids Find Inspiration" proved to be both inspiring and thought-provoking. 

 Check out the transcripts here:

• Transcript from 02.12 noon/EST #gtchat, "Homework: Battles or Bliss?": http://bit.ly/b7yua4 {starts halfway down}
• Transcript from 7pm/EST #gtchat, "Discovering Passion: Helping #Gifted Kids Find Inspiration" http://bit.ly/91qqyG

The Twtpoll for next Friday's chat will be up later this weekend. Be sure to vote! 

We are witnessing the birth of real-time learning and collaboration on behalf of #gifted students worldwide via Twitter. And it's only the beginning. Spread the word. Mark your calendars. And know that YOU are helping launch a new platform, which is empowering parents, teachers and advocates worldwide, as we seek to better understand and serve our fascinating high-potential learners.

Cheers!

Deborah Mersino (@DeborahMersino)

Topics Chosen for 02.12.110 Global #gtchat

Thank you to everyone who took time to vote for our global #gtchat topics for Friday, February 12^th. Don't forget to mark your calendars for tomorrow! Here's what parents of high-potential students, gifted teachers and advocates from around the world will be discussing:

• At Noon (EST) #gtchat: "Exploring Homework: Battleground or Bliss?"

• At 7:00 p.m. (EST) #gtchat: "Passion Discovery: Helping Gifted Kids Find Inspiration."

Each week, our global #gtchat offers us fresh opportunities for learning and collaboration, along with the chance to tap incredible resources. Participants have said these sessions often leave them feeling a bit saner – another fringe benefit! As such, I hope you'll consider joining us. Both #gtchat sessions are sure to be both informative and energizing.

To see the results of this week's Twtpoll, click here: http://twtpoll.com/wx3pnv.

Until tomorrow, happy tweeting!

Deborah Mersino

Vote Now for 02.12.10 #gtchat Topics: New Twtpoll Up

It's time to vote for topics for our Friday, February 12, 2010 #gtchat sessions. Our choices for this week are: 

• Exploring Homework: Battleground and/or Bliss?
• Parenting the Gifted: Boundaries, Combat and Joy
• Homeschool? Pros, Cons & Strategies for Success
• Stressed Out Gifted Kids: Finding Balance Today
• Passion Discovery: Helping Gifted Kids Find Inspiration

To vote, go to this week's Twtpoll: http://twtpoll.com/wx3pnv. Remember, our poll will close end-of-day (GMT) on Wednesday, February 10. Vote now and feel free to pass along this link to others.

If you have a specific topic you would like me to consider for future #gtchat sessions, please feel free to send me an email at [email protected], direct message (DM) and/or an @DeborahMersino message via Twitter. I'll be delighted to consider your suggestions. Thank you!

Happy Tweeting,

Deborah Mersino

Transcripts Available from 02.06.10 Asynchronous Development and Twice Exceptional Global #gtchats

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 02.06.10 global #gtchat sessions. We had a lively and engaging discussion about the challenges of asynchronous development at noon/EST. At 7:00 p.m./EST, we covered how to positively support twice exceptional (2E) students. Scroll down for more.

© Pulsar75 - Fotolia.com

If you missed out on either chat, click on the transcript links below:

• Transcript from 02.06.10 "Asynchronous Development" global #gtchat at noon http://bit.ly/b6Z6Z3 (Chat starts half-way down first page)
• Transcript of 02.06.10 "Twice Exceptional" global #gtchat at 7pm/EST http://bit.ly/9urU00

I continue to be impressed with the collaboration taking place on this incredible platform. We continue to have new parents, educators and gifted advocates join us each week from across the globe. The amount of real-time learning taking place is astounding. Top-notch resources and critical links are being shared, as our community works to sharpen our focus on the issues impacting high-potential learners today.

I'll be posting a new Twtpoll by Monday with our topic choices for next Friday, February 12th (which happens to be my husband's birthday!). Be sure to vote by end-of-day (GMT) on Wednesday and mark your calendars for future chats, which take place every Friday. Your voice is important!

I'm in the process of redesigning my blog and Web site and will be unveiling both in the next month or so. I'm hoping to make it quick and easy to find past #gtchat transcripts, Twtpoll's, "Best of #gtchat Resources/Links" and more! 

Feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] if you have any questions and/or have comments. And if you're enjoying the chats, please invite others. Thank you again for your support.

Warmest regards,

Deborah Mersino (@DeborahMersino)

Coping with GT Cuts and Delving into the Digital Age: 1.29.10 Global #gtchat Sessions Spark Collaboration and Learning

Welcome to the Ingeniosus Blog! I want to thank you to everyone who participated in the 1.29.10 global #gtchat sessions. I continue to be inspired and impressed by the energy and collaboration taking place on this new platform. This week, Ireland, Australia and the U.S. truly aligned to tackle critical issues impacting gifted and talented students throughout the world. Scroll down for transcript links and more.

 

This past Friday, we were fortunate to have Joel McIntosh, publisher of Prufrock Press (@PrufrockPress), join us for both chats. I want to thank Mr. McIntosh, who not only provided excellent links and perspective, but also shared information about our global #gtchat with 18,000 Prufrock Press customers on Friday. If you haven’t checked out the resources of Prufrock Press, you’re missing out. Visit www.prufrock.com.

For those of you who missed the noon (EST) and 7:00 p.m. (EST) sessions, here are the transcripts:

•  “Coping with GT Program Cuts: Pragmatic Survival Tips”: http://ow.ly/11RYd (PDF) and http://ow.ly/11RZc (DOC)
•  “Delving into the Digital Age: Tips and Tools”: http://ow.ly/11ZjA (PDF) and http://ow.ly/11ZjM (DOC)

You’ll find many links and resources worth exploring. Corey Alderdice (@innervation), who oversees admissions and public relations for Gatton Academy, graciously and efficiently provided us with both transcripts. Thank you again, Corey.

I also want to applaud Catherine Riordan (@CathRiordan), a parent and advocate from Ireland, who has been spreading the word throughout her country. Thank you.

Our next #gtchat sessions will take place on Friday, February 5^th at noon (EST) and 7:00 p.m. (EST). Here are our possible topics:

• Supporting 2E Learners: Exploring Resources & Tools
• Rethinking Gifted Advocacy in Today’s Economy
• Exploring Schooling Options for the Gifted Learner
• Positively Dealing with Asynchronous Development
• Fostering Healthy Parent/Teacher Communications

To vote on this week’s #gtchat topics, visit this week’s Twtpoll: http://twtpoll.com/qply95. As a reminder, our #gtchat Twtpoll will always be posted on Monday and close at the end of the day on Wednesdays (EST).

If you’re new to the world of social media and have no idea how to get started, feel free to scroll down below for more information on #gtchat and/or click to your right on posts relating to “Twitter and Gifted Education: How Social Networking Can Propel Advocacy and Learning.” 

Be patient with yourself! It may seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually quite easy to get started on Twitter and get involved in #gtchat. The more individuals and organizations we have participating, the better chances we have of positively impacting the world of gifted education.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Thank you all. I consider it an honor and privilege to serve each of you. I’m already looking forward to this Friday!

Cheers,

Deborah Mersino