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BRIDGES ACADEMY PROFILE. Those interested in the concept and reality of a school for twice-exceptional kids may enjoy an article in the Studio City (California) Patch about Bridges Academy. We've profiled Bridges in 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter, but readers can find the history and current information about Bridges in the Patch.com article. THE LANG SCHOOL in New York City is hosting an open house on April 6th to let prospective families learn about their program for twice-exceptional children. Find out more, and read Lang School founder Micaela Bracamonte's excellent article called "Twice-exceptional Students: What Are They and What Do They Need?" at the 2e Newsletter website. FOOD COLORINGS FOLLOWUP. Following Monday's announcement of the upcoming FDA reassessment of the effect of food colorings on children, other media outlets have weighed in, one being The New York Times; read what the Times has to say. (Note: the Times has changed its access policy; supposedly you still have free access to articles referred to in blogs like this one. Let us know if not.) 2e GOV -- That's Dannel Malloy, governor of Connecticut. He spoke recently at a school for children with language-based problems like those he grew up with. Read more about his challenges and achievements. TV SERIES ON AUTISM. Robert McNeill will host a PBS NEWSHOUR series on autism. McNeill is the grandfather of a 6YO boy with autism. The series begins on April 18. Find out more. DOCTORS FOR TEENS. There are only about 650 physicians in the U.S. certified in adolescent medicine, but if you're thinking of one for your gifted or 2e teen, read an article in the Wall Street Journal on the topic. AND FINALLY, THIS. If the issue of vaccines and autism is still on your mind, read a scary excerpt from a new book on the topic; the book is called The Panic Virus.
THE AAP, KIDS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. Recognizing the increasing importance of all types of media in their young patients’ lives, pediatricians often hear from parents who are concerned about their children’s engagement with social media. To help address the many effects—both positive and negative—that social media use has on youth and families, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a new clinical report, “The Impact of Social Media Use on Children, Adolescents and Families” in the April issue of Pediatrics (published online today, March 28). The report offers background on the latest research in this area, and recommendations on how pediatricians, parents, and kids can successfully navigate this mode of communication. Find the report.
FOOD DYES AND AD/HD. Whether artificial food dyes may trigger hyperactive behavior in kids with a predisposition may get a look from the US Food and Drug Administration. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has petitioned to have certain food colorings banned from foods. Is hyperactivity a problem in that gifted kid you raise or teach? Find out more about the issue.
TREAT KIDS AS IF THEY'RE SMART is the premise of a North Carolina program for at-risk students. At the beginning of the study, no third-graders in the program had been identified as gifted. But when 5,000 K-12 students were taught and treated as if they were gifted (by specially trained teachers), it turned out that by third grade 15 to 20 percent were evaluated as gifted. Seems to us that this study is not only a validation for training teachers in gifted education techniques, but also (perhaps) for playing on strengths. Read more.
VISUALIZING HOW WE READ is the title of a new article at the Dana Foundation site. The article describes what imaging tools can tell about the way the brain works as it processes letters and language sounds. The article notes differences among dyslexics in terms of brain structure and the probability of reading improvement, and calls for more research on "how neuroscience can inform education." Find the article.
SURVEY OF MOMS OF GIFTED KIDS. A researcher (and member of the 2e community) is conducting a survey investigating the thoughts and feelings of mothers of gifted and twice-exceptional children (dads excluded). You may find out more and take the survey at SurveyMonkey. AD/HD AND ATOMOXETINE. If you have a gifted kid with AD/HD, the choice of drug (or not to drug) is always a central part of dealing with the situation. According to Modern Medicine, the drug atomoxetine (Strattera) "is generally well tolerated and reduces core ADHD symptoms, but it fails to translate to overall clinical and functional improvement." Read more. INGENIOSUS. This gifted resource site contains a blog, resource listings, and archives of #gtchat, a weekly Twitter gathering on a particular topic. The site also mentions resources for twice-exceptional kids, such as 2e Newsletter and our (this) blog. Find the site. NOT MUCH NEWS -- that's it for today and this week. Have a good weekend!