Welcome

Camp Covers 08
Brochures for the 2008 sessions of SCATS and VAMPY are now available online.  Copies of brochures will be mailed to schools, gifted coordinators, and former campers in the next few weeks.  Questions about SCATS and VAMPY may be directed to The Center at 270.745.6323.
Welcome to the online home for The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University. Since 1981, The Center has provided educational services and resources for gifted students, their parents, and educators. Under the direction of Dr. Julia Roberts, one of the nation’s leaders in gifted education, The Center has grown to become one of the foremost centers of gifted education and service. In fact, people from all 120 Kentucky counties, 49 states, and 21 foreign countries have participated in our programming.

As The Center enters its twenty-sixth year, we renew our commitment to encouraging excellence by providing educational opportunities and resources to three populations: young people who are gifted and talented, their educators, and their parents.

Find information and opportunities pertaining to each of these populations in the website. Please note The Challenge as well; this award-winning magazine, produced twice yearly, provides an excellent overview of who we are, what we do, and what we believe in.

News
03/12/08 - The Kentucky Teaching and Learning Conference

ComputerDr. Julia Roberts and Ms. Tracy Inman presented a ticketed session Differentiation through the Development and Assessment of Products. A copy of their presentation including sample DAP Tools are available by clicking here. 

You may also download a copy of the presentation for Strategies for Differentiating Instruction: Best Practices for the Classroom by clicking here.


02/22/08 - VAMPY 2008 Brochure Now Available

VAMPY LogoThe brochure for our 25th installment of the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY) is now available for download.  Printed copies will be sent to previous campers in the next several days.   To download an application, click here.  To view a video on SCATS and VAMPY, click here.


02/07/08 - SCATS 2008 Brochure Now Available

SCATS 2008The brochure for our 26th installment of the Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) is now available for download.  Printed copies will be sent to previous campers in the next several days.   To download an application, click here.  To view a video on SCATS and VAMPY, click here.


10/26/07 - Gifted Funding Set as Priority for KY Board of Education

In September, the Kentucky Board of Education set raising the budget for gifted education to $17.1 million as a top priority. The budget for gifted education had been stuck at $7 million since the late 1980s.

Please talk with your legislators about the importance of including $17.1 million in the 2008-2009 education budget. Legislators respond most favorably to the folks who vote for them, their constituents. Schedule an opportunity for a personal visit before your representative and senator start the legislative session in January.

You can go to www.wku.edu/kage to download the White Paper on Gifted Education. Increased funding will be dedicated to services for children who are gifted and talented, professional development on gifted education, and enhanced identification.


Events
06/04/08
Junior Great Books:

June 4-5, 2008
By combining age-appropriate literature with the shared inquiry method of discussion, Junior Great Books brings literature to life and helps students discover a joy of reading they will carry with them into adulthood. Join us for the two-day workshop. Please register through Great Books Foundation.  Click here for more details.


05/30/08
Kentucky Awards Ceremony for Duke TIP:

Join us as we honor seventh-grade students from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky who received recognition for statewide excellence on national college admissions exams.


03/28/08
Spring Break in London:

March 28 - April 6, 2008

This travel/study tour is an opportunity for eighth grade and high school honors students as well as interested adults to spend time learning about the history, culture, pageantry, and people of England. Sites in and outside of London will be visited and discussed.