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<div><font size="4"><b>A PDF version is attached and may be more reader-friendly, depending on your computer. You can also access the updates online at </b><a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843"><font color="#0000FF"><u><b>http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843</b></u></font></a><b>.</b></font></div>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" size="2"><b>Please forward this issue of the update to interested professionals!</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" size="2"> <font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Teachers may sign up for this or other newsletters at: </font><a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843"><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843</u></font></a></font></div>
<div style="text-align: center; "><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2">Past issues are also available at this website.</font></div>
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<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>1. Welcome to the TAG Teacher Update</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>2. Legal Reminder of the Month</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>3. TAG Service Centers Updates</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>4. Identifying and Serving Underrepresented TAG Students</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>5. Parents and Teachers Working Together to Address Stress</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>6. Apprentice Program for Highly Capable Students</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>7. Publication for Advanced High School Students in </b><i><b>The Concord Review</b></i></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>8. Music for Vocabulary Study</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>9. Saturday Academy at Reed College in Portland</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>10. Online Learning Resource</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>11. Residential TAG Camp at Southern Oregon University</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>12. Differentiation—Challenges, Research, and Materials</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>13. Gifted Education in Pennsylvania</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>14. Gifted Education in Congress</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>15. Charter Schools and Gifted Education</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>16. Legislative Advocacy from Gifted Youth</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>17. Middle School Scrabble Tournament at Southern Oregon University</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>18. Powerful Partnerships—Ashland School District and Southern Oregon University</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>19. OASL Battle of the Books </b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>20. Torrance Legacy Creative Writing Contest</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>21. Joyce VanTassel-Baska Retirement Celebration</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>22. Accurate Identification of Underrepresented Groups</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>23. Are You a Teacher in Need of Funding for a Learning Project or a Community Member Looking to Support Specific Education Projects?</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>24. Fifth Annual Celebrating Student Success Banquet</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>25. Check Out Teacher Updates in Other Content Areas</b></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>26. How to Submit Articles</b></span></font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 24pt; text-indent: -24pt; "><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>27. In Every Issue—Internet Resources</b></font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>1. Welcome to the TAG Teacher Update</b></font></div>
<div style="text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">This newsletter is designed to provide current information concerning teachers of</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">TAG students, guidance counselors, administrators, and coordinators of TAG programs.</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Please let your colleagues know they can subscribe to this and other ODE content</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">area newsletters by visiting: <a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843</u></font></a></font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>2. Legal Reminder of the Month</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> OAR 581-022-1310-5: “Despite a student’s failure to qualify under subsections (4)(a) and (b) of this rule, districts, by local policies and procedures, shall identify students who demonstrate the potential to perform
at the 97<font size="1"><sup>th</sup></font> percentile.” This OAR is designed to allow districts flexibility in identifying students who display characteristics of giftedness, but for whatever reason, do not demonstrate this by their scores on standardized
tests. The exact procedures for this are left up to local district control, but each district needs to make sure they are identifying students in this category whenever necessary.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>3. TAG Service Centers Updates</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> The work at the TAG Service Centers at SOESD and WOU is continuing with very positive results. SOESD has pulled together a cadre of over twenty professionals from all over Oregon who have been inundated with training
on differentiated instruction. They began in December with an on-site two-day training with <a href="http://www.ascd.org/professional_development/On-Site_Staff_Development/Search_Our_Faculty.aspx"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Marcia</u></font></a> <a href="http://www.ascd.org/professional_development/On-Site_Staff_Development/Search_Our_Faculty.aspx"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Imbeau
from ACSD</u></font></a>. This winter and spring, the cadre has been working on completing online courses from the ASCD titled <i>Differentiated Instruction, Success with Differentiated Instruction, and Using Assessment in the Differentiated Classroom</i>.
Each class takes approximately twenty hours to complete. The training will conclude in April when the cadre attends the <a href="http://www.cosa.k12.or.us/profdev/cosaoascdcaroltomlinsonconference.html"><font color="#0000FF"><u>COSA Differentiation workshop
with Carol Ann Tomlinson</u></font></a>.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> SOESD also supplied each cadre member with materials to use when they go back to their home regions and facilitate trainings with teachers in their area. The requirement was that each cadre member would hold at least
one training session in their area before the end of June, but three of the cadre members in Klamath County, Ashland, and Sandy had actually started providing professional development in their home regions as early as February! </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> The TAG Service Center at WOU completed an online needs assessment and formed an advisory committee in the fall that helped inform their next steps. The highlight of their work thus far has been a two-day workshop
in February that was co-sponsored with the <a href="http://www.becpdx.org/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Business Education Compact.</u></font></a> The focus of this workshop was on <a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/certificates/diploma/guidelines-for-school-districts-final.pdf"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Credit
for Proficiency</u></font></a> models for TAG students. Diane Smith, Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Albany schools, also participated and co-presented with WOU and BEC. The grant paid for fifty teachers, TAG coordinators, and administrators to come
from all over the state. There were representatives from all corners of Oregon including North Bend and La Grande. The workshop was so popular that a waitlist of over seventy people was started. This summer they are hoping to bring back teachers to work
with content area experts to design proficiency-based teaching units with an emphasis on TAG learners. These units will then be available for teachers all over the state on the ODE and/or WOU website.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>4. Identifying and Serving Underrepresented TAG Students</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Districts all over Oregon are trying to do a better job of identifying and serving students from underrepresented populations. Do you have a success story in this area? Have you found a particular assessment instrument
to be especially useful? Is there a form you’ve developed that has helped you to organize your evidence easily? I would love you to share your best practices with me, and I will then include them in future newsletter articles. There are great things happening
in education all over Oregon, and the more we can support each other in our efforts, the better our state will be. Please contact me at <a href="mailto:stacey.figgins@state.or.us"><font color="#0000FF"><u>stacey.figgins@state.or.us</u></font></a> if you have
an idea or a resource you’d be willing to share. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>5. Parents and Teachers Working Together to Address Stress</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> <a href="http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/nagc/downloads/CHPFeb2009.pdf"><font color="#0000FF"><u>This resource paper</u></font></a> from the NAGC highlights how parents and teachers can work together to identify
and help reduce gifted students’ stress levels.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>6. Apprentice Program for Highly Capable Students</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The Apprenticeship Program is a three- or four- week residential summer program in California that provides gifted high school students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in professional environments
with experienced and respected mentors in art, history, medicine, industrial design, science, law, and business. Placed either individually or in small groups, inquisitive and productive young people apply their talents to solve real-world problems and gain
insight into a variety of career options while learning from professionals. Working as Apprentices, students reside on a college campus and experience dorm living and college life first-hand. For 2009, the three-week Apprenticeship Program dates are July 19th
to August 8. The four-week program dates are July 12 to August 8. Applications and additional information about the program are available on their website at <a href="http://www.educationaladvancement.org/index.html"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.educationaladvancement.org/index.html</u></font></a>.
The final deadline is May 1st, 2009.<br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>7. Publication for Advanced High School Students in </b><i><b>The Concord Review</b></i></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> <b>The Concord Review, Inc.</b>, was founded in March 1987 to recognize and to publish exemplary history essays by high school students in the English-speaking world. With the 76th issue (Winter 2008), 835 research
papers (average 5,500 words, with endnotes and bibliography) have been published from authors in forty-four states and thirty-five other countries. <b>The Concord Review</b> remains the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic work of secondary
students. This would be a great opportunity for high school TAG students who have done exceptional work. For more information on submitting essays <a href="http://www.tcr.org/tcr/submissions.htm"><font color="#0000FF"><u>click here.</u></font></a></font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>8. Music for Vocabulary Study</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Why is it that we can’t get those commercial jingles out of our heads? The strong response of music on the brain has been researched for years. Teaching students chants, raps, and songs to remember content is an
effective instructional practice. Are you skeptical? I got eighth graders to sing songs about content, and they came back years later and sang them to me. If that’s not a plug, I don’t know what is. Here is a great resource with one-minute songs and raps
you can use to teach advanced vocabulary. <a href="http://www.princetonreview.com/vocab-minute.aspx"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click here</u></font></a> to access the Princeton Review Vocabulary Minute. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>9. Saturday Academy at Reed College in Portland</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Saturday Academy provides open enrollment, enrichment classes year round for students in grades 2-12. Reed College also offers a one-week TAG camp for students entering grades 4 or 5 in fall 2009, on the Reed College
Campus (Portland) June 22 - 26. For more information contact Gail Pyle at <a href="mailto:gail.pyle@saturdayacademy.org"><font color="#0000FF"><u>gail.pyle@saturdayacademy.org</u></font></a> or 503) 200-5856. You can also visit their website at <a href="http://www.saturdayacademy.org"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.saturdayacademy.org</u></font></a>.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>10. Online Learning Resource</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Visit <a href="http://www.funbrain.com/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Funbrain.com</u></font></a> to access learning games in subjects like math, geography, and grammar.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>11. Residential TAG Camp at Southern Oregon University</b></font></div>
<div style="text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif">ACADEMY offers stimulating academic experiences and exciting social activities designed for talented and highly able elementary and middle school students. Bring your love of learning, your humor,
and your unique talents to a community where intelligence and creativity are valued and supported! Students must be in grades 5-8 during the 2008-09 school year or at an equivalent home school level to apply. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Pursue existing interests and discover new ones in four courses that you will choose from a list of twenty-four options! Academic classes are offered each weekday in science, mathematics, literature, writing, law, cultural
studies, dance, theatre, media arts, and visual arts. Please visit the website for listings and descriptions of 2008 courses. 2009 courses will be posted online in late April as they become finalized.<br>
As a part of ACADEMY, get a taste of campus life at Southern Oregon University. Live in residence halls, learn in university classrooms, and eat in on-campus dining halls! Living groups are divided by age and gender, with two students sharing each room. Each
day balances structured time with social and recreational activities, which include attending a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Sessions run June 14-20 or June 21-27. Tuition assistance is available for those who qualify. For more information, visit:
<a href="http://www.sou.edu/youth"><font color="#0000FF"><u>www.sou.edu/youth</u></font></a> or write us at <a href="mailto:jensen@sou.edu"><font color="#0000FF"><u>jensen@sou.edu</u></font></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>12. Differentiation—Challenges, Research, and Materials</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Running an effectively differentiated classroom is challenging, but there are research studies and resource materials that can help make the job a little easier. <a href="http://www.courant.com/news/education/hc-readers0306.artmar06,0,5791544.story"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click
here</u></font></a> to read an article about how a Connecticut district is integrating leveled curricular materials to help engage students at their individual levels.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>13. Gifted Education in Pennsylvania</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_616258.html"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click here</u></font></a> to read an article about gifted education in Pennsylvania. Districts across the nation
face many of the same challenges as Oregon districts.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>14. Gifted Education in Congress</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> You can access legislative updates about what is happening in gifted education at the federal level by accessing the <a href="http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=585"><font color="#0000FF"><u>National Association for
Gifted Children’s</u></font></a> <a href="http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=585"><font color="#0000FF"><u>legislative update webpage</u></font></a>.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>15. Charter Schools and Gifted Education</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> A charter school in Oregon is a public school operated by a group of parents, teachers and/or community members as a semi-autonomous school of choice within a school district. It is given the authority to operate
under a contract or "charter" between the members of the charter school community and the local board of education (sponsor). Under Oregon law, a charter school is a separate legal entity operating under a binding agreement with a sponsor. A public charter
school is subject to certain laws pertaining to school district public schools, is released from others, and must operate consistent with the charter agreement.
<br>
Charter schools are not required to follow the state TAG mandate. However, many charter schools adopt curriculum and instructional strategies that may be particularly appropriate for TAG students. Local communities may want to consider whether or
not a school of choice could help provide educational options for high-achieving students. <a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=124"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click here</u></font></a> to visit the Oregon Department of Education’s website
about charter schools. A <a href="http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090307/ARTICLES/903071054"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Houston, Texas school district</u></font></a> has recently added a charter school program that may be advantageous for gifted students.
There are already charter schools in Oregon like the <a href="http://lewisandclarkcharter.org/www/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School</u></font></a> and the <a href="http://www.thecenterforadvancedlearning.org/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Center
for Advanced Learning</u></font></a> that may be well-matched to some TAG students’ needs.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>16. Legislative Advocacy from Gifted Youth</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> <a href="http://www.starexponent.com/cse/news/local/article/mr._flaherty_goes_to_washington/31931/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click here</u></font></a> to read an article about a gifted 18-year-old who went to Washington,
D.C. to advocate for gifted students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. </font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>17. Middle School Scrabble Tournament at Southern Oregon University</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> On April 30, SOU will host a middle school scrabble tournament. Middle School students enrolled in grades 6-8 may compete in this exciting one-day tournament. Each school may register up to five teams (two players
per team). Using School Scrabble rules, the tournament will consist of six games. For more information, <a href="http://www.sou.edu/youth/competitions/index.html"><font color="#0000FF"><u>visit the SOU Youth Outreach website.</u></font></a></font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>18. Powerful Partnerships—Ashland School District and Southern Oregon University</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> The Ashland School District and SOU recently announced a powerful partnership that will help more high-achieving high school students to take advantage of university courses. <a href="http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090314/NEWS/903140314/-1/NEWS"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click
here</u></font></a> to access the full article.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>19. OASL Battle of the Books </b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> The Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a statewide program for reading motivation and comprehension sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Librarians in conjunction with a Library Services and Technology
Act grant. Students are exposed to quality literature representing a variety of literary styles and viewpoints. The goals are to encourage reading for enjoyment, broaden reading interests, increase reading comprehension, and promote cooperative learning.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Lists of books are chosen and questions are written for elementary and middle schools. Students read the books, discuss them, and quiz each other on the contents. Then students compete in teams of four to correctly
answer questions based on the books in a "quiz show" format. Half of the questions begin with the words "In which book..." so that the answer will be a title and author. The other questions are based on content and require a specific answer from the book. Teams
compete at local, district, regional, and state levels.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> New lists of recommended titles for each level are compiled each year by the OBOB selection committee, which is made up of library staff and teachers. Titles are varied according to genre and difficulty so that readers
may encounter a broad range of books. For more information, <a href="http://www.oasl.info/OBOB/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>click here</u></font></a> to access the official website.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>20. Torrance Legacy Creative Writing Contest</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">NAGC, in conjunction with the Torrance Center, Scholastic Testing Service, and the Center for Gifted, is pleased to announce the Torrance Legacy Creative Writing Contest, for students in grades 4 through 12. Deadline for
submissions is August 24. <a href="http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=4320"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click here</u></font></a> for more information.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>21. Joyce VanTassel-Baska Retirement Celebration</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> One of the foremost experts in gifted education, Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska, was celebrated at a party in her honor at the College of William and Mary. <a href="http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2009/empress-of-gifted-education-celebrated-001.php"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click
here</u></font></a> to read the full article.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>22. Accurate Identification of Underrepresented Groups</b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Districts all over the nation are seeking to improve their identification procedures, especially for identifying gifted students from underrepresented groups. <a href="http://www.gazette.net/stories/02262009/frednew161748_32486.shtml"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click
here</u></font></a> to read about how a Maryland school district is addressing this issue.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>23. Are You a Teacher in Need of Funding for a Learning Project or a Community Member Looking to Support Specific Education Projects?</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> Donors Choose is a neat website that allows teachers to post projects for which they need additional funding. Then, people can make a tax-deductible contribution to that teacher. <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/homepage/main.html?zone=403"><font color="#0000FF"><u>Click
here</u></font></a> to visit the webpage and learn more.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>24. Fifth Annual Celebrating Student Success Banquet</b></span></font></div>
<div style="text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif">The Celebrating Student Success banquet unites educators, business people, and community leaders in a forum aimed at rewarding schools within the K-12 school system that are meeting the challenge
of closing the achievement gap in Oregon. These schools are focusing on how to increase success for all of their students, proving that there are strategies schools can implement that can, and do, meet the academic needs of all students. This awards ceremony
has helped to increase our understanding of what it takes to close the achievement gap in our schools and is an inspirational and powerful experience for those who attend. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> <u>Join us.</u> Learn what schools around the state are doing to close the academic achievement gap. Help celebrate the successes of 19 dedicated Oregon schools and learn what you can do in your school and community
to help all students prepare for educational success. </font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 72pt; text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>What:</b> Celebrating Student Success Awards Banquet</font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 72pt; text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>When:</b> Friday May 1<font size="1"><sup>st</sup></font>, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM</font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 72pt; text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Where:</b> Oregon Convention Center, Portland</font></div>
<div style="padding-left: 72pt; text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>Cost:</b> $40 a seat</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Registration is open through April 22nd. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Contact Crystal Greene at 503-947-5650 or <a href="mailto:crystal.greene@state.or.us"><font color="#0000FF"><u>crystal.greene@state.or.us</u></font></a> for more information or to register. Or visit <a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/CTAG"><font color="#0000FF"><u>www.ode.state.or.us/go/CTAG</u></font></a>
to learn more.</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> <font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>25. Check Out Teacher Updates in Other Content Areas</b></font></font></div>
<div style="text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">There are fabulous Teacher Updates being published monthly in other content</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">areas like foreign language, social studies, and mathematics. You can subscribe to</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">them by visiting: <a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=1843"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1843</u></font></a></font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><span style="background-color:#C0C0C0"><b>26. How to Submit Articles</b></span></font></div>
<div style="text-indent: 36pt; "><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">If you would like to submit information for this newsletter, please email</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">publication-ready short articles by the end of the month to <a href="mailto:stacey.figgins@state.or.us"><font color="#0000FF"><u>stacey.figgins@state.or.us</u></font></a>.</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif">Please include links and contact information but no attachments.</font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-BoldMT, sans-serif" color="#008000"><b>27. In Every Issue—Internet Resources</b></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Oregon Department of Education TAG</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2" color="#0000FF"><a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?=76"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=76</u></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>ERIC - Educational Resources Information Center</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2" color="#0000FF"><a href="http://www.eric.ed.gov"><u>http://www.eric.ed.gov/</u></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted (SENG)</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2" color="#0000FF"><a href="http://www.sengifted.org"><u>http://www.sengifted.org/</u></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Council for Exceptional Children</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home</u></font></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>National Association for Gifted Children</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2" color="#0000FF"><a href="http://www.nagc.org"><u>www.nagc.org</u></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2" color="#0000FF"><a href="http://www.oatag.org"><u>www.oatag.org</u></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>REAL - Resources for Educational Achievement and Leadership</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/real/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/real/</u></font></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Get Ready Oregon web page: New Oregon Diploma information for the general public</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://www.getreadyoregon.org"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.getreadyoregon.org</u></font></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Oregon Diploma web page: Resources and tools for educators</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2" color="#0000FF"><a href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?=368"><u>http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=368</u></a></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Contact the Education Specialist in TAG</i></font></div>
<div><font face="ArialMT, sans-serif" size="2">Stacey Figgins, <a href="mailto:stacey.figgins@state.or.us"><font color="#0000FF"><u>stacey.figgins@state.or.us</u></font></a><font color="#0000FF"> </font>(503) 947-5701</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>****Disclaimer--The materials contained in the Oregon Talented and Gifted Teacher Update produced by</i></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>Oregon Department of Education are drawn from both internal and external sources and inclusion of</i></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial-ItalicMT, sans-serif" size="2"><i>external materials does not necessarily indicate Oregon Department of Education endorsement.****</i></font></div>
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