NCAGT has a really good post about the myths that come along with giftedness. 

https://www.nagc.org/myths-about-gifted-students

It's a great read that we highly recommend. But, one of the most basic myths that is the foundation of most of the other myths involves identifying gifted kids. Most people would look into a classroom, see the child in the front row, hand in the air after every question like Hermione Granger, getting straight As, never getting in trouble and think: that right there! I've found the gifted learner in this room! Job complete!

The problem with people misunderstanding giftedness itself and which students are likely gifted results in putting kids into the wrong educational situations for their particular needs. And isn't that what we'd all like to avoid? The bright student who is thriving in her regular classroom may be thrust into accelerated or gifted classrooms that could be stressful to her. Meanwhile, the two actually gifted learners in her classroom who were not identified continue to struggle in the regular classroom. Gifted girls often get overlooked. Gifted boys (especially students of color) get misidentified as troublemakers rather than gifted! 

All gifted advocacy should have a partial focus on education (especially for anyone tasked with identifying gifted students). Otherwise, all of the programs and differentiated learning will be developed and utilized with the wrong audience of students.

What are your experiences with identification or misidentification? Do you feel it is leading to the current backlash against gifted programs themselves? Indeed, if a resource is misapplied and given to those who do not need it, we might expect to see the resource taken away. In what ways can we ensure the students who need the differentiated learning are those who receive it?

Are you interested in starting a chess club at your school?
The goal of the Indermaur Chess Foundation is to provide you the resources and support so that you feel comfortable doing exactly that! Soccer leagues across NC help thousands of parents coach recreational soccer teams even if they have no previous experience teaching soccer. Through this Game Changer Program, ICF will provide you similar help so you can start and successfully run a chess club at your school.
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North Carolina public or charter schools starting new chess programs are eligible to apply. Accepted schools will receive:

• a Chess-Steps Learning Chess instructor manual
• a Chess-Steps Learning Chess student workbook (and discounts on additional workbooks)
• help setting up ChessKid accounts for their club
• online support for their chess program coordinator
• help arranging online or over-the-board matches with other schools in this Program

Visit the Indermaur Chess Foundation website or Facebook group for the application form and for more information. Both links are below:
​https://indermaurchessfoundation.org/2019/10/06/game-changer-program-to-help-nc-schools-start-new-chess-clubs/

https://www.facebook.com/IndermaurChessFoundation/