Recent News

Gifted Education, Advocacy and Resources

Recent News

GEAR Sponsors Summer Writing Workshop 2011

Students in Grades 2-6 participated in a writing workshop with award-winning Cincinnati author, Mary Kay Carson. Ms. Carson taught the students how to improve their non-fiction writing skills while constructing a book of their own.

Wild & Stormy Weather by members of GEAR's Reading/ Adventure Club members, The Sycamore Society (grades 3-5+); Weird Animals! by the Books Worms (grades K-2)

September 2011

Coffee and Conversation with Mr. Mac

55+ GEAR parents attended this special event to sip coffee and listen as Mr. John McInerney discussed his role as K-2 Gifted/ Enrichment Intervention Specialist for Sycamore Community Schools. "Mr. Mac", as he is better known by his young students, related his role in the classrooms, pull-out programs, and as an educator resource for teachers and parents. A video of Mr. Mac's presentation is available through his website. The link to Mr. Mac's website is on our Helpful Links page. Click on the Just for Parents button on Mr. Mac's site. If Mr. Mac's site is unavailable on your first attempt, please click refresh or F5.

Dr. Evan Yeung discusses tree identification with a group from The Sycamore Society

October 2011

GEAR Reading/Adventure Club for Grades K-2

The Book Worms Visit Heritage Village

Twenty-seven Book Worms visited Heritage Village at Sharon Woods to discuss features from their reading selection, Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall. The group learned about daily life in 1850's Ohio by visiting a historic home and general store where they were able to "shop" for pioneer household items. The students also constructed round brooms from broom corn.

Sally Roberts of Ohio Association of Gifted Children entertains and informs the audience at GEAR's Fall Meeting, "The State of Gifted Education."

December 2011

GEAR Reading/Adventure Club for Grades 3-6

The Sycamore Society Climbs the Walls!

Twenty-one members of The Sycamore Society met for their December meeting to discuss the reading selection, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, and to experience rock wall climbing and snacks at Climb Time at Blue Ash. Apparently reading about mountains makes you want to climb one!

A Friendship T-shirt created by Anelise with help from her friend, Megan

February 2012

GEAR Reading/ Adventure Club for Grades 3-6

The Sycamore Society: Tea for Twenty-Two

Members of The Sycamore Society gathered at Gazebo Tea Garden in Blue Ash, Ohio to discuss their reading selection, The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg, and learn about tea etiquette and Victorian folklore. The group also enjoyed Afternoon Tea. Tea sandwiches, scones and toppings, mini-desserts, and flavored teas were on the menu.

February 2012

GEAR's Reading/Adventure Club for Grades K-2

Book Worms Celebrate Benjamin Franklin's Birthday

Eighteen Book Worms gathered in mid-February to celebrate Ben Franklin's 306th birthday. The group read and played trivia games related to the Robert Lawson's historical fiction, Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos, and a biography by Frank Murphy, Benjamin Franklin and the Magic Squares. The group played games with Ben's maxims, created their own inventions from Legos, and then enjoyed Ben's birthday cake and ice cream. The only thing missing was Ben!

August 2011

GEAR Reading/ Adventure Clubs Meet for
Let's Talk to the Animals!

Sycamore GEAR's grades K-2 reading/ adventure group, Book Worms, held a joint meeting with the grades 3-5+ reading/ adventure club, The Sycamore Society, to discuss their book selection, The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle, and to do some talking of their own with animals. Attendees had the opportunity to meet, discuss, and handle numerous species, including snakes, a cockatoo, a gecko, a rabbit, a ferret, a goat, a frog, a turtle and tortoises, dogs, a bearded dragon lizard, and a tarantula.

Book Worms and The Sycamore Society members observe a desert tortoise at "Let's Talk to the Animals!"

Mr. John McInerney answers a GEAR parent's question during Coffee and Conversation with Mr. Mac

October 2011

GEAR Reading/ Adventure Club for Grades 3-6
The Sycamore Society Hikes Back to Nature

Twelve members of The Sycamore Society, accompanied by family and friends and led by Drs. Evan Yeung and Joe Bruner, investigated the trails of Cincinnati Nature Center after discussing their reading selection, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. The group practiced their observational skills, learned various methods of tree identification, and appreciated nature on a beautiful autumn day in the company of friends.

The Book Worms discuss their reading selection before entering a historic home to learn about making various forms of cloth.

October 2011

GEAR Fall Meeting
The State of
Gifted Education

More than 60 parents, friends, and community members attended GEAR's Fall Meeting, "The State of Gifted Education", featuring Sally Roberts from Ohio Association of Gifted Children, Laurie Frank from Sycamore Community Schools, and Nicole Dietrich and Cathy Reed from Hamilton County Educational Service Center. Attendees gathered information on the current status of gifted education on the national, regional, and local levels, as well as some of the newest theories on learning development of the gifted.

A member of The Sycamore Society scales new heights after joining GEAR's Reading/ Adventure club.

December 2011

GEAR Reading/ Adventure Club for Grades K-2

Book Worms Read and Create Friendship Shirts

Thirteen members of Book Worms gathered for their December meeting to discuss their reading selection, The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, and to design and decorate their own t-shirts and book bags in the spirit of friendship. Their book discussion, led by Megan Radakovich, delved into the theme of the story, the role of the observer in bullying behavior. Another important lesson for the evening: fabric paint dries very, very slowly!

The Sycamore Society's View on Saturday; Photo by Felicity Tao

February 2012

GEAR High School Forum

A panel of exceptional Sycamore High School Juniors and Seniors shared ideas and recommendations with a packed house of junior high students and their parents. Discussion topics ranged from class selection and extra-curricular activities in high school to time management and college admission requirements. The student audience left the evening with valuable information to ponder, and the adult audience departed in awe of what is involved in a high school education today.