May 2025

The last few weeks of the school year are here and filled with learning, awards ceremonies, field days, and other end-of-year procedures. It is hard to find the time to research summer enrichment opportunities. Find some possible opportunities for your child below!

In this issue:

• G/T annual evaluation - ends May 2nd
• Summer opportunities
• Start of school year questions to ask

If this is your first time receiving the Gifted/Talented newsletter for Parents, please subscribe at the bottom to continue receiving it!

For more information about Gifted and Talented, please visit the Lubbock ISD GT website.

Want to understand a little more about GT services in Lubbock ISD? Is your student currently served or being referred? Check out the video below!

It is important to let kids be kids - even gifted ones - but even during the summer when schedules are less strict, they will still crave some mental stimulation. My own child tends to spend quite a bit more time on technology that is allowed during the school year so having an enrichment plan is very important to us. We started what we call "Break Bingo": add a variety of activities to the bingo card, and earn something for getting bingo or blackout. We only use a board for a week then we change it up. Check out some examples and a blank template to fill in your own by clicking on the "Break Bingo" image!

Whether on or off screens, check out the opportunities below!

An (*) denotes a facility requiring an entry fee. Sometimes, facilities may have an activity outside of the main building that does not require the entry fee. Many of these listed here also have camp opportunities.

• First Friday Art Trail
• City of Lubbock Libraries (Mahon, Patterson, Groves, Godeke)
• National Ranching Heritage Center
• TTU Museum
• TTU International Culture Center (ICC)
• Buddy Holly Center*
• Lubbock Arboretum / Garden & Arts
• Silent Wings Museum*
• American Windmill Museum* - Model trains regularly shown!
• Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA)
• Lubbock Lake Historic Landmark
• Fibermax Center for Discovery* (formerly Bayer Museum of Agriculture)
• Safety City* ($2 per child, adults not riding are free)
• Milestones Developmental Play Park*
• Play Street Museum (early childhood)*

There are so many places in Lubbock that offer summer opportunities, and so many interests of our children. For a growing list of venues with camps or activities, click here.

Below are some opportunities that may meet your child's academic, creative, artistic, or leadership need:

• Art Camp for Kids, American Windmill Museum
• Art and Music Classes, Buddy Holly Center
• City of Lubbock Garden & Arts Center
• Volunteer for Keep Lubbock Beautiful
• Summer Reading Program, City of Lubbock Libraries
• City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation
• Code Ninjas
• LHUCA
• Moonlight Musicals, Register for camps
• TTU Museum
• Living History Saturdays all summer (volunteer!), Ranch Life Summer Series for Kids, National Ranching Heritage Center
• Silent Wings
• Volunteer with South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (12 years and up)

There have been some phenomenal resources come out for students, especially after COVID. See some of my favorites for advanced/gifted learners below:

• code.org
• Khan Academy and Khan Academy Kids (app)
• PBS Kids (web and app)
• Wonderopolis
• The Kid Should See This
• NYTimes Puzzles
• EdTED Student
• Nasa for Kids
  
• Mensa for Kids
• Renzulli Learning (requires a subscription but has a 60-day free trial)
• Google Arts and Culture
• Virtual Museum Tours
• Animal Cams

Does your child feel like they are the only person interested in something? As a math nerd, I would love to see the statistics on the unlikely event that no one else in the entire world is interested in the same thing as someone else. Since there probably is someone that is also interested in the same topic, look for a group in Lubbock! If you can't find one here, create one or expand the search on a global network!

Groups in Lubbock:

Lubbock Astronomy Club - astronomy

South Plains Audubon Society - bird conservation, habitat preservation

Lubbock Model Railroad Association - model trains and land/cityscapes

Looking for some help or guidance with your GT child? Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented host parent webinars and post recordings afterward in both English and Spanish. Check out the list of past webinars by visiting their website: txgifted.org/webinar

In July 2020, I joined the Advanced Academics team as the G/T Instructional Specialist for Lubbock ISD. I am so excited to work with our teachers and students, and make positive changes in the area of Gifted and Talented in our district!

Email: sarah.gibson@lubbockisd.org
Website: https://www.lubbockisd.org/o/lisd/page/gifted-and-talented-information
Phone: (806)219-0333
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lubbockgt