LitWridoNaNoWriMo 2004 - The Support Thread

[Colleen Thomas]

I need a little research help if anyone has knowledge on the following matter:

Looking for basic information on "gifted" children and the school they might attend. Age requirements for attending the school? Until what age do the children attend before they venture off to college? I mostly need financial aid info for a very poor family with a very gifted child?

Any help would be tremendous. Thanks.

Depends a lot on where you are. In Mississippi the "gifted" program starts in seventh grade. If you hang with it through Jr. high you can begin taking ap 9advacned placement) prep courses through highschool.

At my school the Ap courses would give you 3 credit hours in English, History and College Algebra.

thre is a separate school for the very gifted, the school of Math & science, but I transfered to private education after my 7th grade year.

Hope that helps.

-Colly

 

[Dingus Guy]

Depends a lot on where you are. In Mississippi the "gifted" program starts in seventh grade. If you hang with it through Jr. high you can begin taking ap 9advacned placement) prep courses through highschool.

At my school the Ap courses would give you 3 credit hours in English, History and College Algebra.

thre is a separate school for the very gifted, the school of Math & science, but I transfered to private education after my 7th grade year.

Hope that helps.

-Colly

Thank you Colleen, it definitely is a start. I found some stuff doing online research. I was looking for schools that took gifted children before 10 yrs old. The college courses will help. Thanks again.

 

[Dingus Guy]

When things get tough and you hit a roadblock, the old saying works, and that is, "Keep it simple stupid!"

Here is the only sample I will probably give to this board for a while. Too much work to do. Here she is:

Chapter 1
His doctors called it, “The Gift”, and at age 4, Evan Fosley’s parents knew he had it. The boy just absorbed everything around him like a sponge. He was able to communicate in two different languages by 5, and at age 7, he was being tutored at a junior high school level. The most outstanding thing about their boy’s mental growth was that neither Mable nor Nelson Fosley ever graduated high school. They knew in their heart Evan was a gift from above.

“The boy is smarter than the both of us put together,” Mable stated to her husband.

“Hush now woman,” Nelson spat back in his harshest whispered tone. “You don’t want the boy to be thinking that his parents are some kind of stupid white trash. I ain’t that dumb anyways.”

Mable tilted her head trying to figure out the man she had been with for the better part of 12 years. He sat rocking in his wooden chair, blowing puffs of smoke from his cornpipe. The planks of their porch creaked with every movement like the rusty hinge of an old door. He stared out into the empty dirt road and the overgrown grass and weeds that lined both sides. She tried to catch his eye, but he didn’t give her the satisfaction.

“Listen up, you old fool,” Mable announced, “all I am saying is that the boy needs far more than we can afford to give him. We can barely pay Mrs. Alexander her due in what she has taught the child.”

“I know, I know,” Nelson admitted, “what do you want me to do?”

“We got to get him some help, and according to Dr. Yoldine, we need to find him a school for children with the gift.”

“Mable, that is something we can’t afford.”

“You know I can get a job and the doctor says we can get financial aid.”

“Then we have to hire a babysitter,” Nelson retorted.

“We got to do something for the boy Nelson. It ain’t right to keep him down like this.”

“You know we are going to lose him if we let him go to some fancy school?”

“Nelson Humphrey Fosley,” Mable scolded, rising from her bench and waving her finger in his general direction, “is that what it is all about? Losing the boy? You rather see him rolling a tractor around some construction site than give him a future where he is successful? You rather see him tending some field than become all he can be? All because you don’t want to let him educate himself in a private school. We ain’t ever going to lose him. He is our boy. He is our child and nothing ain’t ever gonna change that.”

“Hush now woman,” Nelson replied without slowing his rocking or his pipe blowing. He tried to keep a straight face, but he could feel the heated glare that the woman he loved was giving him now. He added, “We’ll make it work somehow.”

“You turkey,” Mable said. She bent over and gave him a loving squeeze and a long thank you kiss.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Anyone know what town in Scotland distills the best scotch?

 

[minsue]

Thank you Colleen, it definitely is a start. I found some stuff doing online research. I was looking for schools that took gifted children before 10 yrs old. The college courses will help. Thanks again.

Our school district had gifted programs starting at age 6, but it was classes within the regular school that met once or twice a week. I'd guess you're looking more at private schools than public.

 

[Dingus Guy]

Our school district had gifted programs starting at age 6, but it was classes within the regular school that met once or twice a week. I'd guess you're looking more at private schools than public.

Thank you. Private school, yes, but it is interesting that a public school would have that. I knew of advance classes, but none for gifted kids that I knew of. Kind of shows that I was not one of the gifted ones.

Good to hear from you again Sue.

 

[cloudy]

Thank you. Private school, yes, but it is interesting that a public school would have that. I knew of advance classes, but none for gifted kids that I knew of. Kind of shows that I was not one of the gifted ones.

Good to hear from you again Sue.

We had gifted classes starting at around 3rd grade. I went through school in California, and as far as I know they've been pretty much ahead of things as far as programs like that.

The way it worked when I was in school (a long time ago), was that about halfway through the day, I went to another classroom, along with the other "gifted" students, and we did subjects and projects way ahead of what the regular class was doing.

That lasted through 6th grade, and then in junior high and high school, there were "honors" classes - in fact, by 10th grade we were already doing college level work, with a professor that came in from UCSB specifically to teach our classes.

My niece actually runs the gifted program for her school district out there now (in California), although they call it something else now. If you have specific questions, I'd be glad to ask her.

 

[Dingus Guy]

We had gifted classes starting at around 3rd grade. I went through school in California, and as far as I know they've been pretty much ahead of things as far as programs like that.

The way it worked when I was in school (a long time ago), was that about halfway through the day, I went to another classroom, along with the other "gifted" students, and we did subjects and projects way ahead of what the regular class was doing.

That lasted through 6th grade, and then in junior high and high school, there were "honors" classes - in fact, by 10th grade we were already doing college level work, with a professor that came in from UCSB specifically to teach our classes.

My niece actually runs the gifted program for her school district out there now (in California), although they call it something else now. If you have specific questions, I'd be glad to ask her.

Thank you Cloudy for your input. Just wondering, are these advance classes or are they actually "gifted" classes? I was in an advanced math class from 8th grade all the way through 12th. I want to make sure there is a difference from what you are telling me. I have found in my websearch that there are separate schools for the genius kids. Wasn't it "Search For Bobby Fisher" where they showed this side of life? Hmmm...can't remember. Well, thank you for your help.

 

[cloudy]

Thank you Cloudy for your input. Just wondering, are these advance classes or are they actually "gifted" classes? I was in an advanced math class from 8th grade all the way through 12th. I want to make sure there is a difference from what you are telling me. I have found in my websearch that there are separate schools for the genius kids. Wasn't it "Search For Bobby Fisher" where they showed this side of life? Hmmm...can't remember. Well, thank you for your help.

No, they were actually "gifted" classes.....

 

[fifty5]

Anyone know what town in Scotland distills the best scotch?

Hi Colly, "best" is a matter of taste. Mine runs to Glen Morangie (the accent is on 'mor' not on 'ange'), but if you look at a map (eg http://www.ukvillages.co.uk/ukvillages.nsf/villages/Scotland/Glen+Morangie-Moray) you'll find at least 3 single malts on it: Dufftown and Aberlour as well as my own preference.

Again, some prefer lowland malts, others the highland ones, still others ....

Malt whisky is a topic in its own right, with passionate preferences going all ways.

I think that you can pick almost any one - and some whisky geeks will agree, while others differ. Google for "single malt" and take your pick (but don't go for Glenfiddich - that's a commercialised brand that appeals to the ignorant - IMNSHO).

Hope that helps,

Eff

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hi Colly, "best" is a matter of taste. Mine runs to Glen Morangie (the accent is on 'mor' not on 'ange'), but if you look at a map (eg http://www.ukvillages.co.uk/ukvillages.nsf/villages/Scotland/Glen+Morangie-Moray) you'll find at least 3 single malts on it: Dufftown and Aberlour as well as my own preference.

Again, some prefer lowland malts, others the highland ones, still others ....

Malt whisky is a topic in its own right, with passionate preferences going all ways.

I think that you can pick almost any one - and some whisky geeks will agree, while others differ. Google for "single malt" and take your pick (but don't go for Glenfiddich - that's a commercialised brand that appeals to the ignorant - IMNSHO).

Hope that helps,

Eff

thanks fifty

I don't need a particular brand, my story is set in the far future, but I needed a place name where good sctoch is distilled

 

[fifty5]

thanks fifty

I don't need a particular brand, my story is set in the far future, but I needed a place name where good sctoch is distilled

Single malt "brands" are (mostly) named for the place where the distillery is located. For 90%+ 'brand' and location are the same thing.

As I said before, google for '"single malt", then pick whatever fits with your tale.

Third thought... pick any part of Scotland you like, then assert that the scotch is illicit. Chances are you won't be wrong - and it'd be way over proof (another definition of "good")

Fourth thought...

There's a joke they tell about Irish whiskey: that 5 Irishmen (from the places they make whiskey) are drinking together. The first 4 buy rounds of their own hooch. The fifth doesn't. When asked why, he answers, "I don't drink before eating!"

Probably that doesn't help, but if it does, you're welcome.

Eff

 

[sweetnpetite]

Our school district had gifted programs starting at age 6, but it was classes within the regular school that met once or twice a week. I'd guess you're looking more at private schools than public.

An elementary student neighbor of mine is in the gifted and tallented program at her school. Definatly public. I don't know much about it, but I know that my public school also had a gifted and tallented program. I don't think that they are that uncomon. (I suppose I could be wrong though)

 

[sweetnpetite]

I had a half a page of notes that I've misplaced!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to get about 2000 words out before i fall asleep, I'm only up to 732 for the night.

 

[English Lady]

Well I've don't a little writing this morning and I'm up to 6150 words so I'm happy. I reckon if I can get up to 8 thousand tonight i'll be happy...as i don't think i'll jave much time to write tommorrow...thursday is a busy day for me this week..and then its my daughters big birthday weekend.

I am really happy with how its going, some bits seem a bit clunky but that happens in whatever you write i reckon. How is everyone else feeling about it all? I'm definitely impressed with how much I've done *L*

 

[Colleen Thomas]

25,060

Half way there

NN all

 

[English Lady]

woo hoo for Colly...you loveable freak o'nature you! *grins*

 

[Colleen Thomas]

woo hoo for Colly...you loveable freak o'nature you! *grins*

*HUGS*

Insomnia, the Nanoists best friend

 

[English Lady]

Damn those 7 hours of sleep I got last night!!!! *grins*

 

[sweetnpetite]

848 words tongight

4,188 total so far. I'm going to have to put in a few extra pages tomorrow and stay away from Lit!!!!!!!!

 

[English Lady]

you're not doing badly at all there sweet! just keep on writing love and you'll get there

 

[Alex De Kok]

Re: Re: Great Work, Lou

Oh balls. You're gonna have to remind me, hon. I remember it being something about an image, and also recall it being a very good title, but I can't for the life of me remember it exactly. I deleted the PM, to make sure I had room for others.

To save pressure on your PMs - 'Shattered Image'.

Ciao for now,

Alex

 

[Liar]

25,060

Dayum.

And I thought my 7667 words was a lot for two days.

#L

 

[Dingus Guy]

Dayum.

And I thought my 7667 words was a lot for two days.

#L

Yeah but she seemed to have hit a wall. Only 5,000 words the 2nd day. Tis a shame, and I thought she was going to make it.

I am only 3,500 words, but on pace to finish which is what I am looking for.

 

[English Lady]

6476 here, though not much writing has been achieved today. I am hoping to concentrate on it some more this evening