An Open Letter: A Progress Report to Parents

Hello and Happy New Year!

We are sending this Progress Report because of your interest in iGifted School. This is the first of a series of newsletters about the school and our programs. We hope you find it interesting and informative.

2012 was an exciting year for us. Organizationally we have begun to develop a Board of Directors, attract interest from outside leaders in the field of Gifted Education, and we received approval from the IRS which will allow us to raise funds and grow our programs. Educationally we introduced our Debate Club, and grew it through a test of our Learning to Debate Series, and then a further test in an Advanced Debate Group where students worked on how to better build arguments and present speeches in a competitive environment. Our Math Club has been in a hiatus due to a lack of resources, but we have had and are continuing to have discussions about what prominent mathematics professionals think we may be able to due to deliver a world class program in the near future.

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0 comments - Posted by Jim O'Reilley at 1:20 PM - Categories: Board of Directors | Methodologies | Parents

Honesty, Integrity, and High Ethical Standards in the Use of Facts and Evidence

Prof. William Colburn, iGS Board Member, Thought Leader iGS Debate Club

As is the case for all matters related to providing superior supplemental education to our gifted students, the leadership team of iGifted School hold matters of honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards to be of utmost importance.  In no arena is the call for honesty more important than in the use of evidence used by our students to support the work they do to complete their enriching exercises or thought-provoking assignments. On the heels of a political season, we are all left with feelings of disappointment over the use of "so-called evidence" presented by political figures at all levels of our government.  The necessity of using "fact checkers" to verify the voracity and/or legitimacy of information presented as "the truth" by the candidates is troubling to every citizen.  We can only wonder what impact misrepresenting or stretching the truth may have upon our youngest citizens, especially those who have not yet reached voting age.

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0 comments - Posted by Jim O'Reilley at 7:13 AM - Categories: Education | On Gifted Eduation | Parents | Virtual Debate Club

I Own the Problem with Education...and So Do You

This is a continuation of a series of provocative thoughts about education.  During the current political season, one near unanimous topic is that the U.S. public education system needs to be fixed.  The solution seems to be to add more of the same, except more science and math, and if we wish really hard we can find a way to do more with less cost to the taxpayer. 

Have you noticed that no one owns the problem?  Throughout my adult life I have voted for school board members and state wide politicians who appoint state Boards of Education.

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4 comments - Posted by Jim O'Reilley at 12:34 PM - Categories: Education | Parents

Thoughts on Education: Homeschooling Philosophy

One of the segments of Gifted and Talented schooling is the area of Homeschooling.  I asked Christa Novelli of GalileoEducation.org to help me find information that can help those interested in homeschooling to learn more about the subject.  Christa contacted Lisa Rivero who has given us permission to post her writing about Homeschooling Philosophy.  Our sincere thanks to both Christa and Lisa for getting this discussion off on the right foot.  As always we welcome your comments and encourage discussion on the subject.

Developing a Homeschooling Philosophy: The Unschool Mambo -- By Lisa Rivero 

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0 comments - Posted by Jim O'Reilley at 12:20 PM - Categories: Education | Methodologies | Parents

Michelle Tinnel

Michelle Tinnel has homeschooled three advanced learner children.

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0 comments - Posted by Birgit Pauli-Haack at 9:29 PM - Categories: Advisory Board | Parents