GAP YEAR GUIDEBOOK. Got a gifted or 2e kid thinking about taking a year off before college? The Davidson Institute has just published a 20-page guidebook called "Considering Your Options: A Guidebook for Investigating Gap Year Opportunities." Find a copy here.
LETTER REVERSAL. A new study shows that most people automatically interpret words written backward in the first instant of perception. Researchers say that letter reversal in young children "is the direct result of the mirror rotation property of the visual system." Most people learn to inhibit the reversal; some with dyslexia and dysgraphia cannot. Read more.
AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH. In honor of Autism Awareness Month (April), the Los Angeles Times reports on the best and worst places to live for people with autism. Find the good and the not-so-good.
MINNETONKA GIFTED PROGRAM. Read about a Minnesota program to encourage highly gifted students aged 8-11.
EDUCATOR RESOURCE? Skype just launched "Skype in the Classroom," a dedicated teacher network allowing teachers to:
- Collaborate on projects with other teachers, classes or subject matter experts
- Connect with other teachers based on ages taught, location, or subjects of interest
- Discover new inspiration [their words, not ours] through resources such as videos, links, and tips.
We haven't used this resource, but it seems like it could be a way for teachers of the gifted or twice-exceptional to communicate and collaborate. Find out more.
AND FINALLY, THIS. A University of Rhode Island researcher who specializes in medicinal plant research has found more than 20 compounds in maple syrup from Canada that have been linked to human health According to the University press release, several of the anti-oxidant compounds newly identified in maple syrup are also reported to have anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties. And who funded the research? It looks as if at least part of the funding came from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. Read the press release.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!