Portland Parents

With Dr. Karen Rogers, author of Re-Forming Gifted Education: How Parents and Teachers Can Match the Program to the Child ( See cover to the right ).

Dr. Karen Rogers will present the keynote address at the annual conference of the Oregon Association for Talented and Gifted on Saturday, September 27th from 9:00 to 4:30 at Wilson High School, 1151 SW Vermont St., Portland OR.

The conference theme is “What Works for Talented and Gifted Students?” The conference will include break-out sessions for parents and educators on this topic.

In conjunction with the conference, there will be a Community Organization Fair of non-profit organizations providing services of interest to talented and gifted students and families..

Dr. Karen Rogers is Professor of Gifted Studies in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and a board member of the National Association for Gifted Children. She has also published a Menu of Options for Grouping the Gifted (2006) and The Educational Planner for Families and Schools (2004) as well as many articles. She co-edited Talent in Context: Historical and Social Perspectives (1998). She
has served as Director of Research at the University of New South Wales in Australia, where she was named Honorary Professorial Fellow and has been a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University. She has been awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Colorado Educators of the Gifted and the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and
Instructional Systems from the University of Minnesota and holds Master’s degrees in Special Education of the Gifted and in Psychological Foundations of the Gifted.

Conference information is available on the OATAG website Early Admission starts at $25.00 for members, $35.00 for non-members

OATAG is a non-profit, non-discriminatory, statewide organization of parents and educators interested in promoting growth opportunities for talented and gifted children in Oregon. OATAG is the state affiliate of the National Association of Gifted Children. OATAG advocates for the needs of talented and gifted children; serves as a resource for families, educators, and communities;
and provides direction for excellence in education.

I’ve found a great source for free-to-inexpensive events ( and other tips ) for us here in Portland, Oregon: Around the Sun. They’ve managed to take one thing I really wanted to be able to do here on Portland Parents and make it phenomenal.

In particular, I like the listings for the Movies in the Park, the Kidical Mass Bike Ride ( Critical Mass, Kidical Mass ) and the Adult Soap Box Derby. You should check out their listings for more information: make sure to read the comments for extra tips.

The ReDirect Guide announces the 3rd annual Green Sprouts Organic Baby and Family Festival Saturday, September 13th at Peninsula Park (700 N Rosa Parks Blvd) from 10AM -5PM. Green Sprouts is a community-inspired event that celebrates natural and healthy options for expecting parents and young families. The one-day festival will promote eco-friendly products, community-connecting ideas, and natural options for birthing and raising children.

A three-dollar suggested donation at the door will benefit the Josiah Hill III Clinic. For more information, seminar schedules and a full list of activities please visit their site!

Where will your next PakNak go?

The summer has been good for PakNak. They’ve decided to release “more loops,” the landing place for the velcro backing on a Paknak. They have new Paks made from recycled plastic, and they’ll soon be adding new games to their site in the flavor of neopets ( http://neopets.com ).

You should check out this Portland-based, Moms-owned business. And besides, PakNaks are cute!

The kick-off celebration of Schoolhouse Supplies and KGW NewsChannel 8’s First Annual KGW School Supply Drive starts a month-long drive to collect new school supplies for free distribution to teachers and classrooms in Portland as well as outlying school districts in Oregon and SW Washington. A family-friendly, neighborhood event, the festivities include free pizza, ice cream and entertainment, including professional Hula Hooper, Erika Fey.

KGW NewsChannel 8, OnPoint Community Credit Union and Fred Meyer invite community members to bring school supply donations to Jamison Square Park on August 1st, to kick off the month-long supply drive. Schoolhouse Supplies jamison_signoperates the award-winning Free Store for Teachers, providing basic school supplies to Portland-area teachers and classrooms.