This past July, 12-year-old educator and founder (and now !), Luke Gialanella, presented ‘s fourth student-lead workshop. Votes and Voices: The Electoral College invited students ages 9-14 to participate in an informative and fun introduction to the U.S. presidential election process, including a hands-on electoral simulation and vocabulary challenge, culminating in a baseball cap raffle prize.

Previously, published young author and veteran Academy student lead three poetry workshops, including Shakespeare鈥檚 Tragedies and Sonnets. Her mission, to help young reluctant writers learn to love writing through poetry, inspired her to offer similar poetry workshops at the Pasadena Public Library and to create her website, .

Luke and Cassidy’s success is a testament not only to their passion and talent, but also to their dedication and hard work. And it goes without saying that it takes plenty of planning and prep! Students who are compelled to volunteer their time and energy to offer a workshop must prepare in much the same way as Academy instructors do. Determining content, researching materials, developing age-appropriate activities, and reworking curriculum in collaboration with the Program Coordinator are expectations of all prospective workshop leaders. In addition to budgeting time for collaboration and planning, students are responsible for composing their own workshop description and bio for approval by the marketing team. Sound like fun? It is!

As Academy looks forward to our next student-run workshop this November 2, Votes and Voices: Mid-Term Elections and Why They Matter, we reflect on the ways that this opportunity, created for and by students, resonates with 优蜜视频’s mission of serving the intellectual, creative and personal growth of our nation’s gifted and high-potential youth. Whether leading their own workshop or engaging as an active participant, students at Academy are creating a unique space for themselves where they can:

• Engage in educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas and recognition of personal potential;
• Connect with like-minded peers to support a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation;
• Foster intellectual curiosity, the acquisition of knowledge, confidence, creativity, responsibility, and moral decisiveness.

Interested in attending future student-led Academy workshops? to receive details and registration information as soon as it鈥檚 released!

Hi, I鈥檓 Cassidy Kao. I鈥檓 a twelve-year-old author and the founder and CEO of (more on this later). Additionally, I recently led my third poetry workshop at !

优蜜视频 Academy helped me start teaching others and supported me by hosting my poetry workshops, for which I鈥檓 very honored and grateful. The most recent workshop that I led at Academy was 鈥淪hakespeare鈥檚 Tragedies and Sonnets,鈥� based on my most recent book, .

In this latest workshop, I taught students about William Shakespeare then moved onto the characteristics of his tragedies and Macbeth, the star tale of the workshop. Students acted out a scene from the play. Since it was a small class, I played one of the characters and we invited parents to join in so they could provide sound effects! Afterward, I introduced them to the sonnet, and the complicated way that Shakespeare wrote his. Because of the complexity of sonnets, we wrote the first part of a sonnet together so students could take it home and continue writing. To wrap it up, there was a short insult contest where they used words that Shakespeare once used for fun to construct their own Shakespearean insults! It was a really fun class and I hope they left knowing more than they had before.

Conducting workshops like this one is what I do for iPoetTree. iPoetTree is an organization I recently created with the objective to help young, reluctant writers to love writing through poetry. This all started when I was eight. To celebrate National Poetry Month, I wrote a poem a day throughout the month and grew my own Poet Tree on the wall of my hallway. I later published my first book with all of the poems I wrote and instructions on how to write different types of poems. Then, I wrote another book, and another, and another! Most of the books that I wrote included some sort of poetry since poetry was the very thing that started the whole journey. I taught free workshops in my community based on the theme of my books and the poetry that was included in the books. I enjoyed this so much that I decided to create iPoetTree and the website to go along with it.

You can find my website at , where your children will learn how to write different types of poems by watching videos I created. After they聽watch the videos, they can write their own poems and share them with other young writers on the website. I created a curriculum of five levels, with about three to four different types of poems in each, and grouped them by level of difficulty. At the end of each school year, I will select a collection of poems and publish them in a book to help the authors of the selected poems become published.

Please go to my website and help your children sign up and start learning poetry! I really enjoy teaching and, some day, I hope to train others to teach workshops of their own so that I can reach out farther than my community and teach more kids the joy of writing.

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1. We moved into our new home!

Thanks to a generous gift by a longstanding 优蜜视频 supporter and friend, we are excited to be in our new home!

2. was awarded the inaugural NAGC Global Awareness Network Annemarie Roeper Award.

优蜜视频 is the first organization to receive the Annemarie Roeper Award presented at the 2013 National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) National Convention by the NAGC Global Awareness Network. The award, in its inaugural year, is presented to one individual and one program 鈥渨hose efforts further develop global awareness for and by gifted children and those who are concerned with them. Annemarie Roeper, co-founder of the Global Awareness Network, held profound insights into the multifaceted inner world of gifted children and deeply understood the need to foster global awareness to reflect the unique perspectives of gifted children and to respond to their inherent concerns about the world they live in.鈥� We were honored to receive this award and to be in the amazing company of the first individual recipient, Dr. Linda Silverman.

3. 优蜜视频 community members gathered to discuss 优蜜视频鈥檚 strategic plan.

In September, 30 优蜜视频 staff members, board members, parents, and alumni gathered to discuss the direction of 优蜜视频. It was a fun and productive weekend, and we look forward to the next steps in this process as we plan for 优蜜视频鈥檚 continued growth. We greatly appreciate all of those who took time out of their busy schedules to help us with this crucial part of the strategic planning process. Keep an eye out for more information as we continue this process in the coming year.

4. and alumni celebrated a wide variety of successes.

Laura Ball, a CDB alumna from the class of 2006, received the prestigious Thiel Fellowship. Several CDB Scholars were named to the U.S. Math Olympic Team, and several will be on teams representing the U.S. in history, math, and science at an international level. 2013 Scholar Vinjai gave a . 2011 CDB Scholar Anirudh was selected as the winner of the United States Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP). 2010 CDB Scholar Kiran was selected as a Montage Memory Maker for his creation of web-based nonprofit Waste No Food. Fifteen new young students were also named .

5. 优蜜视频 honored two valued members of the 优蜜视频 community, Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong, at the .

In October, we hosted more than 90 guests at the home of 优蜜视频 supporters Kate Duey and Bob Malchione for the Moonlight & Stars Benefit Dinner. The evening brought together program alumni, Mentors, parents, board members, and supporters for a lovely evening celebrating 15 years of 优蜜视频 and honoring Dr. Henri Ford and Mr. Stan Kong for their service to 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program and the Los Angeles community. The event raised more than $11,000 to support 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs for gifted youth. Thank you to all who attended and all who supported this event!

6. We launched Genius Day, a new initiative for our continuously developing Academy program.

These days of deep learning give students the opportunity to work with an expert in the field as they uncover the contributions of a person we consider a genius. The first Genius Day focused on Charles Darwin, while students in the .

We also offered聽15 new Academy classes over the course of 2013 and gained many wonderful new Academy instructors. New classes included: Academic & Personal Strengths Coaching, Chemistry Lab, Egyptian Mythology, the Female Hero in Myth & Literature, , Primary Advanced Language Arts, Primary Advanced Math, Rube Goldberg History & Creation, and many more!

7. The gifted community found new resources and support in 优蜜视频 social media.

Thousands of visitors viewed the 优蜜视频 blog over the past year, with many resources for parents of gifted kids proving helpful and popular. 鈥溾�� was our most popular blog post, as it struck a chord with many who identify with the beloved children鈥檚 book character. On , 优蜜视频 also reached a milestone of 1,000 fans.

8. 优蜜视频 hosted seven free .听

优蜜视频 hosts monthly talks to explore ways to meet gifted children鈥檚 particular needs and learn more about this amazing group of young people. These meetings are intended primarily for parents of gifted children to provide support and community in the midst of the joys and challenges of raising a gifted child. In 2013, speakers included 优蜜视频 Senior Fellow Dr. Patricia Gatto-Walden, parent Sharon Duncan, gifted expert Dr. Joanna Haase, 优蜜视频 President Elizabeth Jones, past program participants, and college counsellor Kate Duey.

9. Students, parents, and supporters gathered for .

In July, 115 students, parents, and supporters of gifted education gathered at USC for 优蜜视频鈥檚 Summer Spotlight 2013, an event designed to showcase gifted students and the programs we offer to meet their needs.

10. saw a second successful year in Colorado.

Twenty-four campers from across the country joined us for . This was the second year of Yunasa West, a second location for our pioneering Yunasa summer camps, and it proved to be yet another memorable and magical year!

11. Three new staff members joined our team.

• Lauren Albrecht, Development Coordinator
• Louise Hindle, Academy Coordinator
• Min-Ling Li, Program Coordinator working with Apprenticeship

12. Forty-two high school students from across the country came to Los Angeles to work with eminent Mentors through our .

These students worked in fields such as biomathematics, ethnomusicology, architecture, physics, pediatric medical research, industrial design, and more. Apprentices gained hands-on experience in their area of study. Sneha, a Media Relations and Social Media Apprentice at USC, .

13. And, most importantly of all, 优蜜视频 programs supported more than 200 bright young minds!

As you can see, 2013 was a great year for 优蜜视频, and we could not have done any of this without your support.

Philanthropic support for 优蜜视频 was extremely strong in 2013. We continue to receive tremendous support from families who have benefited from 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs as well as from friends of the work we do. Thank you to all who contributed this year and to the numerous volunteers who assisted in our programming, marketing, and fundraising efforts. Thanks to you, we are able to deliver our unique and highly customized programs to even more bright and eager learners across the country.

Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to an amazing 2014!

Interested in 2014 programs? Applications and information for all 2014 优蜜视频 programs are now available .

优蜜视频鈥檚 Academy program provides young gifted students with challenging enrichment classes that focus on exploration and the application of knowledge. This fall’s Academy session offers a variety of courses, including the new class Looking for Shakespeare, taught by Independent Shakespeare Company actor Andre Martin.

Ellie and Charlotte are 11-year-old Academy students who attended , an event held by 优蜜视频 in collaboration with the . This is a post Ellie and Charlotte wrote about their experience at this event.

A friend of ours involved with 优蜜视频 invited Charlotte and me, Academy veterans, to a taster for one of 优蜜视频鈥檚 new fall classes, Looking for Shakespeare. That friend was Louise Hindle, . The taster was an invite to attend the play As You Like It performed by the Independent Shakespeare Company (or ISC) at Griffith Park last Thursday evening. In addition, as students of Academy, we were able to take a private tour of the backstage area with ISC actor and teacher of the new class, Andre Martin. This was a special treat. After we took the tour, we did a few fun activities with Andre to give us an even better idea of what the class might be like. Andre was very enthusiastic about teaching us, and we all loved learning from him.

The backstage tour was one of the most enjoyable parts of the evening, especially since Charlotte and I share a love of performing Shakespearean scenes. Before the play began, Andre led us all onto the stage and then took us behind the scenes and downstairs to the backstage area, where we could see the actors getting ready, putting on make-up and preparing their costumes. Andre explained some of the plot and introduced the characters from the play. We were lucky enough to meet some of the actors, including the man who played both the evil and benevolent Duke in the production as well as the actor who played Orlando, one of the lovers.

Following Andre, we left the stage and gathered on the grass for Andre to lead us in an acting game. 鈥淚magine how a kind Duke would walk,鈥� Andre told us. Charlotte, the other students and I walked in circles around Andre, imagining ourselves as a charitable person in authority. 鈥淕ood,鈥� Andre said. 鈥淣ow how do you think a lover would walk?鈥� A few of us wandered aimlessly, donning a dreamlike expression, and he laughed. I was beginning to wish my schedule would permit me to take this class鈥�

Leading us back to our seats, Andre encouraged us to pay careful attention during the play and kindly offered to answer questions or confer with him during intermission. As Charlotte and I took our seats and waited for the play to begin, we started to chat about our activities with Andre. We both agreed that Andre鈥檚 class would be an amazing and informative class to take. We also conversed about some of the things we had already learned with Andre. He had explained to us the plot of the play and quizzed us on the characters. We also got to hear his insights and opinions on certain parts of the play, such as the famous 鈥淪even Ages of Man鈥� speech and the fascinating character, Touchstone. We both took pleasure in hearing and learning about all of these things. Andre was very fun and energetic while he taught and was excited when we expressed our love for and experience with Shakespeare.

Once the play started, we were immediately pulled into its plot. The skilled actors captured our attention with their life-like portrayal of emotions and character traits. Soon, we noticed the different styles of the costumes used to represent the differing groups in the play. The courtiers dressed in elegant, fancy dresses and suits, while the forest exiles were dressed in more practical clothing for their setting. Also, the characters traveling into the forest wore clothes they thought would be suitable but were not and so they had to change identity.

Both Charlotte and I appreciated the depth of the production. When it was over, we thanked Louise and Andre for inviting us to the inspiring performance. Any kid taking Andre鈥檚 class in the Fall will surely enjoy it, we thought. As for this special taster event: now that night was one we would never forget.

Interested in Academy classes for gifted Kindergarten 鈥� 8th graders? The fall session starts September 21. Sign up today!

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Matt is a summer intern at 优蜜视频. He had the privilege of meeting some of the Summer Academy students and taking them to the park for lunch each day. This is his reflection on his time with these kids.

I had never met a gifted child before interning at 优蜜视频 this summer.听 My job would be to help around the office and take the Academy kids to lunch.听 聽What is a gifted child, though?聽 What do they look like?聽 I somehow had an image of miniature college professors in khakis, casual sweaters, and dirty new balance running shoes (this is what most of my professors at The Johns Hopkins University wear). 聽Perhaps one or two of them would even have a stylish goatee that they would twirl in their finger as they discussed the motive hunting surrounding the motiveless malignity of Iago from William Shakespeare鈥檚 Othello.听 鈥淚ndeed the play suggests some over-determined motivations from Iago鈥攁 lover jealous of Othello鈥檚 involvement with Desdemona, an ambitious military officer, or perhaps a subtly racist Venetian?鈥�

I would nod my head, 聽making a mental note to read up that night on my Othello notes from last semester.

Contrary to my crazy imagining, the kids were not like this at all.听 On the surface they just look like, well, kids!聽 They wore shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes, much like any ten-year-old would.听 They gobbled down turkey sandwiches, Doritos, and snack packs.听 When they were done eating, they enjoyed playing soccer or cards, joking around the whole time, without a care in the world.

And, of course, they were smart.听 I learned that ladybugs primarily eat aphids, which is why they are good to have in gardens.听 I learned that there are species of fungi, which I won鈥檛 even attempt to try to spell the names of, species that can grow to the size of a basketball over night!聽 This all came as I dealt cards to the five youngsters, who would remind me that for a game of six players each got eight cards with four left over.

This is what I鈥檝e learned about gifted kids: they are smart like I expected them to be, but they also like, need, and want everything a normal kid likes, needs, and wants.听 When I take them to the park for lunch, the world of the smart meets the world of kid.听 They have great conversations with each other cover topics from Sponge Bob to the properties of neurons.听 They stretch their muscles, kick soccer balls, chase squirrels and beetles, and lie out in the grass.听 They are masters of play, just like any other kid.听 This element of the gifted child isn鈥檛 exclusive to lunch in the park either.听 They bring this same exciting energy into the classroom; every time I take a peek to check in on their learning, they each have the same big smile that accompanies their youthful eagerness to live life to its fullest.

I am grateful that I have been able to be a part of these special children鈥檚 lives.听 Even though my interaction with them primarily involves taking them to lunch, I think that part of the day is a curiously special part of their development, a time that perpetuates their youth and energy.听 Most often it鈥檚 the down time that has driven them toward their promising futures in the first place.听 This is why I鈥檝e so enjoyed lunch in the park with the Academy kids and helping 优蜜视频 in any way that I can. 聽Also, chasing squirrels in the park never gets old!

As you learn about gifted children, what have you found most surprising? Please share in the comment section below.

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