"When human connection and shared vision exist, organizations thrive" Kristy Macdonald, VAGTC President

November 2017

With the support from the Department of Education, the VAGTC is hitting the road, and heading to regional Victorian schools to conduct professional development days for educators, and information seminars for parents and caregivers.  Bookings and more information here

April 2017

As part of Gifted Awareness Week (March 12- March 18, 2107) the VAGTC launched two competitions for students that included submitting an original poem as well as a photograph with the theme “Giftedness Redefined. Who Am I?”. With a huge number of entry submissions, our judges were at odds for weeks trying to decide a winner. Congratulations to Sam and to Tvisha for work well done. Their winning entries are viewable here

Gifted Awareness Week: March 12 - 18 2017

The AAEGT's 2017 Gifted Awareness Week sub-committee has been working hard at local, state and national levels to encourage and promote a multitude of events centred on celebrating and raising awareness of the needs of gifted and talented children. We invite you to be a part of Gifted Awareness Week Australia in 2017.

Join the VAGTC in promoting and attending our Victorian-based activities - many of which are listed on our Events page and booking links attached. All VAGTC events are free of charge, so bookings are essential. Great PD for educators, and pertinent information available for families and other community members.

If you are organizing an event we would love to hear what you are doing. Email us your details or post on our Gifted Awareness Week Australia Facebook page. And be sure to like our VAGTC Facebook  page to follow event updates and other exciting news.

Are selective schools the best place for gifted students?

26 February, 2017

There has been quite a lot of chatter in the public space about the government's plans to build a boarding school for gifted and talented students from regional Victoria. In her capacity as VAGTC president, Geraldine Nicholas was asked by ABC Online's Erin Stewart to share her insights into the pros and cons of select entry schools for gifted and talented students. On re-posting the ABC Online's article to our Facebook page, we were sure to note that there was much more that Geraldine revealed, and we felt it important enough to share this with our VAGTC community. So here is the alternative (albeit real!) insight:

1.     What kinds of problems do gifted children have in mainstream classrooms that selective schools may be able to address?

Generally, gifted students, like all students, require  curriculum and learning opportunities that is appropriately meaningful and appropriately challenging (this is what Vygotsky termed in 1978 as the ‘zone of proximal development”). In the mainstream school, this is traditionally managed through a variety of methods such as subject or grade acceleration and/or content enrichment. Problems arise when the curriculum being delivered stops being appropriately challenging or appropriately meaningful. Underachievement is a huge issue for gifted students who have ‘switched off’ and have stagnated in their ‘yearn to learn’. They also risk suffering from poor mental health and/or dropping out of school.

It is however, difficult to expect a school to be able to cater for the diverse learning needs of their gifted students when they do not have an active policy that meets the needs of gifted students, or have limited resources and/or limited staff trained in gifted education.

2.     Are there any instances where selective schools might have a negative impact on gifted students?

There is extensive literature on the Big Fish Little Pond effect, where a reduction of academic self-concept may occur when gifted students are placed in settings with other similarly gifted or like-minded students. However, more empirical research is needed to fully quantify the social-emotional consequences and the extent of the effect of attending selective schools. In the meantime, it is important for students to have access to services such as student support and student counseling, and for teachers to be aware of the various implications that arise for students who are transitioning into new environments.

Research has also shown that there are gifted students who may not fit the ‘ideal gifted student’ image. These are students who may be highly/profoundly gifted, or those students who may be considered twice exceptional – that is, those students who are gifted with a disability that may hinder their ability to learn (e.g. dyslexia, anxiety, ADHD).

NEWS UPDATE: 2017 World Council for Gifted and Talented Children

As we get closer to the 22nd WCGTC World Conference in Sydney, it is time to begin accepting applications for scholarships and awards as well as nominations for President and Executive Committee members. Please see below for a list of key dates.

• Scholarships: To apply for a scholarship to attend the World Conference in Sydney, please visit www.world-gifted.org/scholarship. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2017.
• Awards: The WCGTC presents awards in four different areas of recognition: Distinguished Service, Creativity, Research, and Leadership. To nominate someone for an award, please visit www.world-gifted.org/awards-nomination. The deadline for nominations is February 15, 2017.
• Elections: The term for the current President, Leslie Graves, will end at the conclusion of the World Conference in Sydney. To nominate an individual to serve as President for 2017 - 2021, please visit www.world-gifted.org/wcgtc-nomination-form-president/. The deadline for nominations is January 1, 2017. Nominations for Executive Committee members will follow the election of President. Delegate elections will follow.
• 2019 World Conference Bid Guidelines: The guidelines for submitting a bid to host the 2019 WCGTC World Conference are now available. If you are interested in submitting a bid, please contact Headquarters at headquarters@world-gifted.org.
• Make sure you register for the World Conference that will be hosted by the School of Education at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia July 20 - 23, 2017. Visit www.worldgifted2017.com/registration for more information.

VAGTC 2016 Resource Book: The ultimate resource for parents, educators and students

VAGTC Resource Book-Sixth Edition
Melbourne, Victoria. September 26, 2016

The VAGTC is pleased to announce the launch of the sixth edition of the VAGTC Resource Book- in time for the 2016 AAEGT National Conference for Gifted and Talented Children in Sydney during October. Published biennially, the sixth edition includes up to date links and recommended programs, opportunities and resources for parents, educators and students.

"Characteristics of gifted and talented children include their extreme thirst for knowledge and their ability to draw information from a variety of sources. Some of these though, can be less authentic or particularly well-researched. This is where the VAGTC Research Book becomes 'golden'; its contents are compiled, edited and authenticated by qualified and experienced educators of the gifted and talented". Carmel Meehan, VAGTC President, 2016

Note: subscribers and members of the VAGTC receive a copy of the Resource Book as part of their membership fees.

The VAGTC Resource softcover book is available to purchase for $25 via request to the VAGTC Administration Assistant at info@vagtc.org.au.

A Kindle digital edition is also available for purchase via the Amazon Kindle store here.

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