WASHINGTON DC – There are an estimated 3,000,000 gifted children in the U.S. The 8,000+ members of the NAGC work on behalf of these students. We donated books to the attendees of their 2008 national convention and Josh was the featured interview article in the association’s back-to-school issue of Teaching for High Potential . We worked closely throughout the year with the NAGC and their state affiliates to ensure a large turn-out at the November 2009 convention where Josh delivered the keynote address and garnered a standing ovation as well as a robust attendance at his follow-up Q & A session the next morning. We connected with many educators who want to integrate The Art of Learning into their classrooms and introduce the concepts to their state-level gifted organizations.
Programs stemming from this exposure and launching at the beginning of 2010: Linda Robinson will present the book at a workshop for teachers attending the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented (NCAGT) Conference in February. Linda is the Director of CONNECTIONS-NC, Inc. (CONsultants IN EduCaTIONal Services) They offer staff development in all aspects of gifted education through school systems and institutes across North Carolina.
* Heather Danforth, a teacher of K-5 gifted learners in the StarGATE Gifted and Talented Program, will be creating a blog for The Art of Learning Project website that will document her utilization of the book in three classes.
* Jeff Danielian will develop a science program integrating the book’s principles that can be used by other educators.
* Bob Bishop, a teacher of the gifted at the Cynthia Mann Elementary School in Boise, Idaho will read and discuss the books with his 5th- and 6th-grade students as well as conduct a teacher book club discussion devoted to The Art of Learning.
* Alison Gordon, Principal, Elizabeth Meyer School & Director of Student Services, Skokie School District 73.5 in Skokie, Ill has various ideas about how to use the book. She is beginning the process by giving copies to her core administrative team to introduce them to The Art of Learning. With their support, the book could be selected as the summer read for the entire faculty.