For Our Community                           February 2012  

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In This Issue
Free IQ Testing
Spotlight on Connie Tucker

Gifted Development Center

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GDC Speakers' Bureau 

    

Contact our office for more information about having a GDC speaker at your conference or event. 

Linda.fave
Linda Silverman

 

Bobbie.new
Bobbie Gilman

 

 gattowalden
Patricia Gatto-Walden

kathi Kearney
Kathi Kearney

Check our website for more speakers.

 


Dabrowski Conference
July 19-21, 2012
Denver, CO
Martilaney
Awesome keynotes, Marni Laney Olsen (above) and Elizabeth Mika (below). Click here for more information.

Elizabeth Mika
 
Seeking Highly Gifted Children
(The News You've Been Waiting For!) 


 child very excitedThe GDC has been asked to conduct a validation study of the fourth edition of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) for the purpose of extending the norms of the scale to the furthest extent possible. We are seeking your assistance in locating children between the ages of 2.6 and 7.6 who meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Was previously tested before March, 2011, on the WISC-IV or WPPSI-III and attained a score of 145 or above.
  2. Was previously tested before September, 2011 on another standardized intelligence scale (Stanford-Binet, DAS, etc.) and attained a score of 145 or above.
  3. Has siblings who attend PG Retreat, are Davidson Young Scholars, or have tested 160 or above using quantitative or qualitative methods.

We are required to select a small number of children in each age range. We would like to include some children from diverse ethnic backgrounds or low socio-economic status or children whose parents have not had more than a high school education (or attained a Bachelor's degree). However, all qualified applicants will be considered, regardless of background. We expect to complete the study by April.

 

There is no charge for the IQ test. Valid IQ scores will be available to the parents early fall. Selected children 4 and over will receive $40; children under 4 will receive $20 from Pearson.

 

Testing sites include Denver, CO; Omaha, NE; Dallas, TX; Los Osos, CA; Palo Alto, CA; St. Louis, MO; Gulf Breeze, FL; Des Moines, IA; Wells, ME; and Dover, NH.

 

This is an IQ TEST ONLY. There is no interpretation, report or recommendations. If you need a comprehensive assessment for your child, please contact the Gifted Development Center to schedule this service.

 

If you believe that your child is a good candidate for this study, please download and complete the following three forms:

Abbreviated One-Page Developmental Questionnaire 

Characteristics of Giftedness Scale 

Overexcitability Inventory for Parents 

 

Please FAX the forms with IQ test results (if your child has had previous testing) to Lauren, Customer Service, Gifted Development Center, 303-831-7465.

If your child is not selected as a participant in the study, we will offer $50 toward a consult to the first 50 families who submit the completed forms.

 

Thank you in advance for your enthusiasm and for sharing the information so quickly.  Please continue to send children our way that you believe would qualify for this important study. Our previous research enabled Pearson Assessments to establish extended norms on the WISC-IV.With your help, the WPPSI-IV can become an excellent tool for locating highly, exceptionally and profoundly gifted children for early entrance to kindergarten and selection to gifted programs.   

connie.tuckerGDC Staff Spotlight: Connie Tucker  

We are pleased to introduce Connie Tucker, a GDC tester who holds a Master's degree in School Psychology, and a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology.  Connie recently retired after working for 20 years in Jefferson County Schools where she conducted psychological assessments to determine learning disabilities or emotional disorders, counseled at-risk children, and consulted with teachers to develop interventions to help children become successful in school.  Connie has assessed gifted children at the GDC since 2000. As the mother of gifted daughters, she has learned through experience the joy of giftedness and the need for advocacy for gifted children.

 

TWENTY PLUS YEARS  

AND NOT COUNTING 

    

I love the challenge of molding myself into the kind of person that will bring out the best in each child I test. Close familiarity with the IQ tests and their standardization procedures gives me the freedom to focus on the children's behaviors and patterns. I can go slowly or race along, speak in an animated way or softly, whatever works best. Though I notice, I can seem oblivious to high energy actions (getting kicked under the table) or to childish rudeness.  

 

kingWhy do I do this? I do this because I enjoy watching these kids feel confident, competent, and proud. They are kings or queens for a day. I am amazed by their passion to want to protect the environment, their compassion for people and animals, and their strong need to do something worthwhile in this world. They are positive, excited dreamers, and I am a privileged passenger along for the ride.

Connie Recommends.....  

    

Thai House is one of my favorite restaurants, and how fortunate that it is now so close to the Gifted Development Center.

Aree Pacharatam travelled to the US from Thailand to attend the University of Colorado and earn her MBA. She also met her husband, Tavee Yip, and together they opened a Chinese restaurant on Colfax in 1997. Tavee is Thai and Chinese. In March, 2007, they moved to their present location on 80th and Sheridan.
It is bright and simple, and you can find high quality food that has the spicy, sour, salty, or sweet flavors associated with Thai food.

They advertise that they "bring the most out of thaiThailand." One of my husband's favorite Thai dishes is Pad Kraphao with chicken, a noodle dish with saut�ed chicken, sweet basil, and other vegetables. Mild is a little spicy, and medium is plenty spicy, unless you really like the heat. You can choose your level of spice on any of their dishes. I love their Thai House Salad that is a lettuce leaf salad with chicken and a few vegetables, but they add apples, peanut bits, and their delicious peanut dressing. If you want low-carb, just skip the rice. Brown rice is available as a substitute for the traditional white, and there are always plenty of vegetables. 

It is obvious that Aree loves to cook. You can find her in the kitchen at the Thai House almost every day.

Sometimes her children can be found there snacking on their mom's cooking. They are 12 and 10 years old, and the newest member of the family was born last June. Check out their website, mythaihouse.org, for their specials and full menu.


We are delighted to be able to serve the gifted community by helping test constructors to stretch their norms to fit our population. Thank you for your assistance. Please forward this newsletter to those who may be able to find us participants for this study.


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 Warmly,
Linda's signature
                                                   
Linda Silverman, Ph.D.
Director, Gifted Development Center