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This was a relatively slow week for news and resources related to giftedness, LDs, and their intersection. However, we found a few interesting tidbits.

SUMMER READING. First, the Summer issue of the Duke Gifted Letter is out. The feature story is called "Excellence versus Equity: Political Forces in the Education of Gifted Students." The story delves into a topic we pointed to in an earlier posting, and contains an interesting table of events in education history such as the closing of one-room schools, labeling each as "equity" or "excellence." Other stories in this issue cover national and state guidelines for teaching gifted children; and high school reform's
effect on gifted students.

RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS. The Davidson Institute for Talent Development has an "Educators Guild Post" that covers a variety of topics, including twice-exceptionality. Find the archive page here.

RESOURCE FOR KIDS. This resource is a website called FreshBrain that describes itself as "a social networking site...for students age 13 to 18 who want to unleash all their best ideas with the assistance of the latest technology tools. The Web site gives teens the opportunity to work with friends, other students and advisors to build technology-based activities that are interesting and meaningful to them in a productive and safe environment." Currently, the "What's Inside" page lists activities in the areas of eco/green, software development, graphic design, music, gaming, video/movies, and the web. The site sounds like something bright teens can benefit from, but we've not used or investigated the site to any degree; perhaps blog readers who have experience with the site can share feedback by posting on this blog.

BRAIN CANDY? If, as part of raising, educating, or counseling high-ability kids with learning issues, you find yourself a "brain buff," you might be interested in these blogs on the brain collected by Scientific American Mind: www.scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily; www.mindhacks.com; www.spring.org.uk; www.scienceblogs.com/cortex; www.channeln.blogspot.com; and Mind Matters at the magazine's own website. (While you're at the website, check out the free (as opposed to "pay for") article on mirror neurons and what they mean for autism, among other things.