鈥淲e make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.鈥� Winston Churchill

At the Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频), donors are important members of our community because their donations play a major role in making it possible for 优蜜视频 to transform the lives of hundreds of gifted children each year by helping them to reach for their full intellectual and personal potential. Donors are vital to the life of all non-profit organizations and most will agree that their giving is not just about making a donation, but about wanting to make positive difference in the life of an organization they care about.    

One of the most significant ways that a donor can support an organization is by becoming a recurring annual donor that an organization can count on each year for support. At 优蜜视频, our recurring donor group, the NAUTILUS SOCIETY was founded in 2000 by generous donors committed to the long-term success of 优蜜视频.  Members of the NAUTILUS SOCIETY pledge to donate annually to 优蜜视频 for three consecutive years and show their continued commitment to supporting gifted youth through our unique programs and services.  Annual pledge donations large and small are welcomed.  Every gift makes a meaningful difference. Sustained annual funding from these donors allows 优蜜视频 to focus directly on serving bright young people, many of which are overlooked and underserved. 

Annual donations to 优蜜视频 play a significant role by helping to:

• Provide gifted youth with scholarships and opportunities for support, growth and community to meet their intellectual, personal and financial aid needs.
• Keep tuition low to make programs and services for gifted youth more accessible.
• Fund high-quality teachers, mentors, and experts so they can be a resource for students and families.
• Provide supplies, technology and equipment needed for advanced teaching and learning experiences.
• Provide resources online and in-person for families and teachers of gifted children to help them meet the needs of these exceptional young people.

Experience the joy of giving by joining the Nautilus Society and helping to ensure that 优蜜视频 is able to continue providing its award-winning programming to all gifted youth who need our services.  Nautilus Members are recognized annually in our donor listings, annual report, and in the lobby of 优蜜视频鈥檚 headquarters in Pasadena, CA.

You can learn more about ways to support 优蜜视频 and become a member of the Nautilus Society by clicking here.

The GRC contains an abundance of easily searchable resources on how to advocate for gifted education, what gifted programs and schools are available, where to find supplemental learning opportunities, who can provide testing and counseling and how to meet the needs of the twice-exceptional (2e) learner. The team at 优蜜视频 strives to provide students, their families and educators with the most relevant and updated information.

We have released the second in our series of handy, downloadable guides, . This guide contains over 100 resources, organized by geography and indexed by topic and/or academic subject.

This free guide, which includes all of the resources found in听the online Programs and Services section of the GRC, provides an invaluable offline compilation for students, parents, educators and others who work with gifted children. Download your free copy today!

Looking for more resources? Download our !

The GRC contains an abundance of easily searchable resources on how to advocate for gifted education, what gifted programs and schools are available, where to find supplemental learning opportunities, who can provide testing and counseling 听and how to meet the needs of the twice-exceptional (2e) learner. The team at 优蜜视频 strives to provide students, their families and educators with the most relevant and updated information.

One of the most popular sections of the GRC is the 鈥淪cholarships and Competitions鈥� section. That鈥檚 why we compiled this online resource into a handy, downloadable . This guide contains over 100 resources, organized by geography and indexed by topic and/or academic subject.

This free guide, which includes all of the resources found in the online Scholarship and Competitions section of the GRC, provides an invaluable offline compilation for students, parents, educators and others who work with gifted children. Download your free copy today!

鈥淏yrdseed is all about better understanding our gifted learners. Stick around and you鈥檒l learn how to differentiate lessons, teach across the content areas, and appreciate gifted kids鈥� unique social and emotional needs.鈥�

鈥淚 am Vi Hart! I am a real person, and I make videos and virtual reality and other things. Sorry about the bright yellow. It amuses me. This is my personal website, not some 鈥榁i Hart brand Websperience鈥� created for your enjoyment or education or whatever.鈥�

鈥淏ASIC-256 is an easy to use version of BASIC designed to teach anybody (especially middle and high-school students) the basics of computer programming. It uses traditional control structures like gosub, for/next, and goto, which helps kids easily see how program flow-control works. It has a built-in graphics mode which lets them draw pictures on screen in minutes, and a set of detailed, easy-to-follow tutorials that introduce programming concepts through fun exercises.鈥�

鈥淭he Kid Should See This is a growing library of smart & super-cool, 鈥榥ot-made-for-kids, but perfect for them鈥� videos that can be watched in the classroom or together at home. Enjoy 8-12 new vids each week, and search 3,000+ videos in the archives, curated by me, Rion Nakaya, with help from my 6 & 9 year olds.鈥�

鈥淭ED-Ed is TED鈥檚 youth and education initiative. TED-Ed鈥檚 mission is to spark and celebrate the ideas of teachers and students around the world.鈥�

The series was specifically recommended.

鈥淚n an age where everything seems to have been explored and there is nothing new to be found, we celebrate a different way of looking at the world. If you’re searching for miniature cities, glass flowers, books bound in human skin, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, bone churches, balancing pagodas, or homes built entirely out of paper, the Atlas Obscura is where you’ll find them.鈥�

鈥淐overing the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.鈥�

鈥淭he School of Life is a place that tries to answer the great questions of life. We believe in developing emotional intelligence. We are based online and in 12 physical hubs around the world, including London, Melbourne, Istanbul and Seoul.鈥�

鈥淢ensa for Kids offers a variety of online resources for exceptionally bright youth.鈥�

鈥淕iftedness: Everything parents, educators, administrators, counselors, psychologists, and gifted children & teens need to know, including articles and research.鈥�

What would you add to the list?

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鈥淚sn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive鈥︹�� L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

There are many ways to explore and learn new things. One wonderful medium is the podcast. A podcast is an episodic audio program available via the internet. There are many incredible podcasts out there with themes ranging from science, to current events. Some notable programs you are likely to have heard of are This American Life, Radio Lab, and Serial. This week, I would like to share a few podcasts that I think are great for the gifted learner. Please note that, while I have provided a link to each show鈥檚 website, you should also be able to find each podcast for free on iTunes.

Get your daily dose of podcast with these tiny scientific expositions that manage to squeeze anecdotes, interviews, and a satisfying amount of information into two minute episodes. Episodes focus largely on biological topics about plants and animals, with occasional episodes rooted in other sciences such as 鈥淚s Mars Missing a Moon?鈥� 2-3 min

Aaron鈥檚 World is a very cute 鈥渁dventure鈥� podcast from the imagination of a little boy. Although the narrative structure does not really take off until episode six, each episode features a different dinosaur and some context about its听environment. To get context for the whole story it is best to start from the beginning. 2-3 min

A science show for kids, Brains On strives to be engaging and educational. The show is very kid-centric, which is great; however, I do feel that it at times lacks substantial content. Nonetheless, for a younger gifted learner, it may provide them with a space where curiosity is encouraged and celebrated. 30 min

There are 18 episodes of Kids Who Code. Knowing little about the world of coding, some of the concepts went over my head, making it more difficult to evaluate. However, I was so happy to come across a podcast for kids with this topic that I had to include it. 25 min

Physics Central is rich in content and well produced.听 The structure of the show follows a typical radio-story-telling format in that there is a narrator providing context for comments from scientists and researchers in the physics world on a given topic. This is an excellent podcast for kids who have a big appetite for science. 25 min

I like this show because it鈥檚 unique. Short and Curly is a podcast about ethics. The two Australian hosts ask questions like: 鈥淐an you trust a robot?鈥� 鈥淪hould you eat your pet?鈥澨� 鈥淚s Dumbledore as great as he seems?鈥� At times the level of reasoning may feel simple to a gifted child, but they do a good job of asking questions that do not have straight answers and therefore are capable of engaging a broad audience of listeners. Kids are encouraged to call in or e-mail, which I like. 20-25 min

Below are a few podcasts that would be well-suited to family listening, or teens due to mature content.

99% Invisible is a podcast about architecture and design. The show explores the power of architecture and the way spaces influence our lives. It is beautifully done and brings new meaning to the environments we spend our lives within. This podcast is produced by Roman Mars, whose Ted Talk on design has over 3 million views.听 25 min

FW: Thinking looks into the future of 鈥渢echnology, humanity, and the future.鈥� This podcast covers a wonderful variety of topics and entertains possible outcomes to the way the world is changing. In addition, its听website hosts a large library of videos I did not look into myself, but appear very interesting. 45 min

Invisibilia weaves together scientific concepts, input from experts, and the stories of everyday people to explore 鈥渢he invisible forces that control human behavior.鈥� This show has a tendency to explore some intense human experiences, and thus can be heavy listening for the more empathetic and sensitive among us. 60-70 min

Radio Lab is a downright amazing podcast. Not only is it a wonderful sensory experience but the content is rich, complex, surprising, humorous, and moving. Its听“About” page says it best:听 鈥淩adiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.鈥� 40 min

The Memory Palace is a historical story telling podcast wherein the narrator explores a place, person, or event and tells a story you probably have not heard before. For such a short show, it leaves a strong impression. 10 min

Other Suggestions: , ,

Please note that I have not listened through every episode of each program. I would recommend that parents look into each podcast before permitting children to listen alone.

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Morgan received a B.F.A in Studio Art from Biola University. She is an interdisciplinary artist committed to cultivating a rich awareness and engagement with the world around her. Morgan is passionate about education and deeply admires 优蜜视频鈥檚 commitment to developing the whole person. Over the past five years, Morgan has worked in a number of different educational and administrative roles. Prior to coming to 优蜜视频 she served as a school group docent for The Getty Center and a nanny to a family with a gifted child. She is exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such lovely people and to further 优蜜视频鈥檚 meaningful mission.

Upon accepting my position at 优蜜视频 I sought to learn more about giftedness in order to communicate our message in the best way possible. I was familiar with giftedness in a general way through my background in educational nonprofits, but wanted to learn more about the joys, struggles and nuances of the youth we serve.

Fortunately there are many resources out there, enough to satisfy a research junkie such as myself. Some of my favorites are:

Stephanie Tolan鈥檚 widely-read essay was one of the first recommended readings on giftedness I explored. Using the metaphor of a cheetah鈥檚 speed, Tolan makes the case that you can鈥檛 judge giftedness on one trait alone. If schools are using academic performance as the sole measure for placing students in gifted programs it is easy for bored, unchallenged children not reaching their full potential to be left by the wayside. The use of metaphor was helpful to understand the complex nature of giftedness and the trouble schools face in identifying and serving these individuals.

Hoagies is a more than just the page the name suggests, it鈥檚 a whole website filled with gifted resources. The section is a comprehensive primer on all things gifted, including links to everything from scholarly articles to funny anecdotes about the everyday lives of gifted children. Carolyn K. puts a lot听of time into curating the page and it shows. A must-read for anyone looking for information on giftedness.

While not a gifted-specific resource, NPR covers gifted issues in the context of the broader education system. I find this useful to discern the attitude toward giftedness outside of our community and to see how gifted issues correlate with those being experienced by the system as a whole. The coverage often has a focus on the needs of economically disadvantaged gifted students and those who come from non-English speaking homes.

Lastly, I need to give credit to 优蜜视频鈥檚 鈥淲hat is Gifted?鈥� webpage. The page is an overview on the common characteristics of gifted youth, including an explanation on underachievement in the gifted. Most helpful to me was the glossary of terms often used when referring to giftedness and gifted education.

There are more resources available than I can possibly name in a blog post, so I encourage you to do some further digging beyond this list.

What is your favorite resource for those new to giftedness?

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Nicole LaChance听graduated from Michigan State University听with听a B.A. in Journalism before moving West in pursuit of milder winters.听Prior to joining the 优蜜视频 team, she spent time working in marketing for an architecture firm and completed two years of national service in the AmeriCorps program. Over the past few years she has worked with听nonprofits to听communicate their message and impact to the world around them, work she is excited to continue at 优蜜视频. When not at the office, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling wherever she can and making bad puns.

优蜜视频 recently hosted a Gifted Child Parent Support Group Meeting that featured a homeschooling parent panel where local parents shared their experiences and perspectives 鈥� both positive and negative 鈥� on homeschooling their gifted student. As part of the discussion, panelists and attendees shared gifted homeschooling resources and recommendations (below) which have stood the test of time and experience with their highly able learner. Many of these resources are local to the Los Angeles and Pasadena, California area, but many are offered nationwide as well.

For All Gifted Learners:

Schools for Gifted Learners:

(project-based learning; not specifically gifted)

Colleges & Universities:

Evening and Weekend Lectures at Local Colleges and Universities (see individual school websites for calendar list of events)

P.E. Options for Homeschoolers:

Local Parks and Recreation Departments (see your local city鈥檚 department website for offerings)

Curriculum, Charter Schools & Online Resources for Homeschoolers:

(优蜜视频 is a vendor)

Homeschool L.A.

Local Public Library (homeschoolers can get a special library card for educators)

(优蜜视频 is a vendor)

Meetup Groups and Additional Social Opportunities:

听

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Are there any resources you have found helpful in homeschooling your gifted child? Please share in the comment section below.

听

In this day and age of technology, more and more web-based resources are becoming available at our fingertips. Apple鈥檚 iTunes App Store, for example, has hundreds of applications specifically geared towards children鈥檚 learning and enrichment. Likewise, more e-learning websites are cropping up all over the Internet, offering a seemingly endless amount of educational lessons and tutorials in the form of short videos. Such educational resources are great for homeschoolers, teachers looking for ways to differentiate in their classrooms, and the life-long learner in all of us. While some parents may frown upon the use of web-based videos as a learning tool for their kids, I believe that these can be great resources for supplementing one鈥檚 education when used in moderation.

Some of the benefits of e-learning include:

• The freedom to discover and explore. With all of the information available online, your child has the opportunity to discover new subjects and delve deeper into topics that interest him or her.
• The freedom to learn at his or her own pace. Your child also has the freedom to decide on the pace of learning based on his or her ability in any one subject. In regards to videos specifically, your child has the freedom to control (literally) the speed of the lesson by pausing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding through content if he or she desires to review or skip specific segments of a lesson.
• The freedom to learn practically anywhere at any time. Since these are web-based resources, your child can learn anywhere you have access to the Internet and a computer or mobile device and at times that are most convenient to your family鈥檚 schedule.

With all of these benefits of e-learning in mind, I did a little research of my own to pinpoint which websites out there are the most gifted kid-friendly. Each of these websites is devoted to providing accessible, user-friendly educational tools; and best of all, these resources are free to the public! So here are my picks. Enjoy!

3.

NeoK12 is a website that offers educational videos and lessons, including games and quizzes, specifically geared to Kindergarten through 12th grade students. According to its mission, NeoK12 promotes learning through educational videos because they 鈥渂elieve that kids learn best when they 鈥榮ee鈥� how things work, when, where and why they happen.鈥� Through its comprehensive collection of videos, kids can learn about areas of study such as geography, social studies, physical science, English, math, and the human body. The site even hosts segments of the Discovery Channel show How It鈥檚 Made.

My picks:

• 鈥� Learn about the properties of the four fundamental states of matter: solid, gas, liquid, and plasma!
• 鈥� Check out this lesson on how our organs, vessels, and muscles work together in our bodies鈥� circulatory systems.
• And for fun,

2.

Khan Academy seeks to 鈥渉elp you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace鈥� via video tutorials and lessons. It currently hosts a library of over 4,200 videos on topics ranging from chemistry, physics, trigonometry, and even humanities.

Students can create their own profiles to track their activities and earn achievement patches and badges, while parents can track their child鈥檚 progress over time. There is also a community aspect to this website, where students can ask questions about a concept they didn鈥檛 understand and have them answered by other Khan Academy students.

My picks:

• 鈥� Get an introduction to one of the coolest numbers in math! It also informed the .
• 鈥� Learn about the nuts and bolts of our DNA in this video about cells, chromosomes, and genes.

To learn more about the origins of Khan Academy, view creator, Salman Khan鈥檚 TEDTalk, .

1.

An offshoot of TEDTalks, TED-Ed delivers 鈥淟essons worth sharing鈥� through brief videos on topics ranging from the arts and literature to mathematics and psychology. Each lesson also includes multiple choice and open-ended questions for your child to engage with the content, as well as a 鈥淒ig Deeper鈥� section, which provides additional information and resources for your child to further explore the topic.

My picks:

• 鈥� Learn about how the invention of the train shaped the invention of standardized time zones.
• 鈥� Check out this fascinating video on bacteria and its chemical language!

(Please note that 优蜜视频 is not in any way affiliated with Apple, Inc., NeoK12, Khan Academy, or TED. We just wanted to share some of the great resources we鈥檝e found with you!)

What鈥檚 your child鈥檚 favorite online resource? Please share in the comment section below.

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