Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners From Poverty-NHE Book Study

The focus of this book study is Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners From Poverty by Joyce L. VanTassel-Baska. Participants are responsible for purchasing their own books. 

Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners From Poverty covers a variety of topics pertinent to the education of students from low-income families, including the role of culture in education, curriculum for promising learners, psychosocial stressors that affect these learners, professional development for teachers of low-income students, and state policy implementation to affect these students' educations. Chapters look specifically at several types of learners from poverty, including rural and urban-area students, African American students, Caucasian students, and high nonverbal, low verbal students.

Amazon.com,. (2015). Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners From Poverty (The Critical Issues in Equity and Excellence in Gifted Education): Joyce VanTassel-Baska Ed.D.: 


Session 1: Chapters 1-4
Session 2: Chapters 5-7
Session 3: Chapters 8-10
Session 4: Chapters 11-12





Requirements for Credit


The power in a book study comes from the dialogue regarding the reading. For that reason, there are requirements related to your answering each posted question and to responding to others' posts. You may post from June 4, 2015-August 2, 2015. Any posts before or after these dates will not be counted. It's all or nothing. No partial credit will be given.  

Prior to the final due date for the blog, participants must:
  • Respond to each question posted. There are 4 "sessions" with about three questions each. 
  • At least 2 times per "session," post comments that specifically address other participants' responses. To allow us to track your comments, include the other participant's blog name and the date he/she posted at the start of your comment. You may agree or disagree with participants, but be sure to include your reasoning. "I agree" is not a meaningful response that contributes to the conversation. "I agree because ..." is more likely to contribute to the dialogue. 
All questions are currently posted. If you do the book study early, you will need to visit again in order to respond to other people's posts and to dialogue about yours. 

Session 1-Question 1

What was a new thought/idea for you from the Introduction and chapter two reading section? Remember to give the page number(s) as to where this idea was generated.

Session 1-Question 2

From chapter three, what idea would you like to explore more and why? Give reference to the page number.

Session 1-Question 3

Of the three categories that pertain to rural and gifted programs, which one do you think is the most important ? Explain why and include page numbers from chapter four.

Session 2-Question 1

What "Golden Nuggets" of wisdom did you gain from chapter five of reading? Cite page numbers and why these nuggets "spoke" to you during your reading.

Session 2-Question 2

From chapter six, what is something that you would apply to a class or sub-population? Why? Remember to give the page numbers.

Session 2-Question 3

What were your "A-ahs" during the reading of chapter seven? Give page numbers.

Session 3-Question 1

In chapter eight, there are "Key Points to Guide Practice." Which one "spoke" to you and why? Remember to site the page number.

Session 3-Question 2

As an educator, share the "golden nuggets" you gleamed from chapter nine? Why do you think this bit of information will assist you with low-income and minority gifted students?

Session 3-Question 3

Chapter ten is titled, "Teacher Development to Work Effectively With Diverse Gifted Learned". How does a teacher work effectively with diverse gifted learners? Cite your pages.

Session 4-Question 1

What is one important implication of the 1999 Policy changes for South Carolina? Site page numbers with examples.

Session 4- Question 2

What was most insightful to you during the reading of this book? Give pages numbers.

Session 4-Question 3

Would you recommend this book to your colleagues? Why or why not?