Teacher's Gifted Program in Sync With New Texas Law

LAWTON, Mich., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision®, a popular teacher-created program for gifted and talented (GT) students now used in 22 states, gives Texas educators an affordable turnkey solution to comply with a new state law mandating GT standards for each school district. The program's creator, Melanie Bondy, will appear as a presenter and exhibitor at the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented Professional Development Conference, November 10-12, in Fort Worth.

The Texas state house bill (HB3646; Sec. 39.236 – GT Standards) that became law earlier this year calls for the adoption of standards to evaluate school district programs for GT students in accordance with 1) the Texas Performance Standards or 2) another approved program that "meets the requirements of the state plan for the education of GT students under Section 29.123."

"Basically, it is interpreted that each GT student will participate in an independent study," says Julie Sanders, Coordinator of Advanced Academics for the Alief Intermediate School District. "I feel that Envision meets the requirements of the state plan," she adds.

Ms. Bondy, the elementary teacher who created Envision for her students, has now self-published it in response to a demand for high-quality gifted education materials. Envision is offered solely by Mind Vine Press, Ms. Bondy's company, and the program is already being used by nearly two dozen Texas school districts. "Envision was created to challenge and stimulate," she says.

"Each yearlong multidisciplinary program progresses through four real-world independent projects that are as challenging as they are fun. With its high-level thinking and power to attract and hold student interest, Envision results in great student achievement. Teachers love the comprehensive nature of Envision and its great ease of use."

Each Envision program includes:

• A detailed teacher instruction manual
• A student instruction guide for each Envision project
• Ready-to-use forms, charts, letters and assessments
• A CD of color, customizable forms
• Five color posters
• One color bulletin board banner
• A set of color Student Resource Cards

Since the publication of the first Envision program in 2007, Ms. Bondy has authored and published two others. Her programs are now officially available for grades three, four and five, but are being widely used by students in grades two through eight.

In addition to her appearance in Fort Worth at the TAGT conference in November, Ms. Bondy has spoken at the National Association for Gifted Children Convention and at numerous other GT conferences from Texas to New Jersey and Iowa to Georgia. She also regularly consults with teachers and school administrators about the education of gifted and talented students.

Melanie Bondy is the president of Mind Vine Press, the publisher of Envision. She lives with her husband Scott and son Brendan in southwest Michigan. For more information, please visit www.mindvinepress.com.

SOURCE Mind Vine Press