Blog Archives
Resources for Parents of Gifted and 2E Kids
Please find resources for parents of gifted and 2E (twice-exceptional) children in the links below. Many thanks to all who contributed links to resources during the chat. A transcript may be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT welcomes, Sheri Hicks, CAE, new Executive Director of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at Noon NZST/10 AM AEST/1 AM UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
National Association for Gifted Children: Parent Resources
Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented: Parents
GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum – Parent Resources
World Council for Gifted & Talented Children
SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted)
Council for Exceptional Children – The Association for the Gifted
Institute for Educational Advancement
Texas Parents of the Profoundly Gifted
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Duke Talent Identification Program
Northwestern Center for Talent Development
University of Denver: Rick Center for Gifted Children
Acceleration Institute – A Nation Empowered
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page
Cybraryman’s Gifted & Talented Page
Cybraryman’s Twice-Exceptional Children Page
48 Essential Links for Parents of Gifted Children
Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education and Talent Development: Websites for Parents
Coppell Gifted Association (TX)
Grapeville-Colleyville SAGE (TX)
Frisco Gifted Association (TX)
2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter (website)
Gifts for Learning (blog)
Gifted Challenges (blog)
Sprite’s Site (blog)
Gifted Guru (blog)
Laughing at Chaos (blog)
Gifted Parenting Support (blog)
Crushing Tall Poppies (blog)
Raising Lifelong Learners (blog)
My Little Poppies (blog)
The Fringy Bit (blog)
The High Flyer (blog)
Supporting Gifted Learners (FB)
NAGC (FB)
Dyslexia Group (FB)
Learning Ally Parent Chat (FB – Closed)
AUS: Gifted Education Research Resource & Information Center (GERRIC)
Gifted Development Center (Dr Linda Silverman)
Understood (website)
Dr. Lynne Kenney (website)
Davidson Academy (NV)
WKU: Center for Gifted Studies (KY)
A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children (Great Potential Press)
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students (Amazon)
#gtchat Blog: Online Programs for Gifted Students
FB: Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT
FB: Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented
FB – GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum
GHF Online (online classes)
Mr. Gelston’s One Room Schoolhouse (online classes)
Online G3 (online classes)
Gifted&Talented.com (online classes)
Shmoop (online classes)
Kahn Academy (online classes)
Background Noise (Amazon)
If This is a Gift, Can I Send it Back? (Amazon)
Smart but Scattered (Amazon)
Giftedness 101 (Amazon)
Parenting Gifted Children (book – NAGC)
Problem Child or Quirky Kid?: A Commonsense Guide for Parents (Amazon)
Your Rainforest Mind (Amazon)
Children with High-Functioning Autism: A Parent’s Guide (Amazon)
Kindling the Spark: Recognizing and Developing Musical Talent (Amazon)
List: Who to Follow on Twitter (Moderator)
Thanks to Leslie Graves, Past President of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, for sharing her extensive links on Livebinders for parents of gifted children.
Art/Art Interactives Livebinder
Codes and Cyphers for Kids Livebinder
Social Sciences and Humanities Livebinder
Gifted and Mental Health Issues Livebinder
Photo courtesy of Pixabay CC0 Public Domain
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
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Parents and Teachers: Finding Common Ground
This week, we were joined at #gtchat by 3 educators of gifted children; Angie French, Heather Cachat, and Jeff Shoemaker. Angie is a GT Specialist for K-4 in Houston, Texas. Heather is a Gifted Intervention Specialist for 5/6 in Ohio and a SENG Model Parent Group Facilitator. Jeff is a Gifted Intervention Specialist for grades 5-8 in Lima, Ohio and OAGC Teacher Division Chair Elect. Heather and Jeff are Co-Moderators of #ohiogtchat on Sundays.
It’s no secret that parent-teacher relationships can often be strained; but even more so with parents of gifted children. As students begin to return to school, we took a look at ways to improve the relationship in a non-confrontational setting exploring ways to help all parties to work together for their children and students.
It was pointed out by the moderator that most teachers do not have a strong knowledge-base on which to draw about needs of gifted children. However, parents often don’t realize the restrictions and responsibilities placed on teachers today by their school administrations. This lack of knowledge can lead to misunderstandings. In addition, Jeff commented about the reluctance of teachers to acknowledge that parents usually know their child best. Friction can also be the result of competing goals and different perspectives of what is best for the child.
There are strategies which teachers can use to increase positive engagement with parents. Teachers need to renew their communication toolboxes each new school year; not rely on antiquated tools. They can seek out professional development regarding gifted education not provided at the undergraduate level. Heather suggested that teachers, “Validate their concerns. Parents need to know that teachers sincerely take them seriously.” Corin Goodwin, Executive Director of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum, said, “Listening. Putting aside assumptions. Not dismissing parents – especially moms – like they’re all crazies or helicopter parents.Work on problem solving *together* as allies instead of antagonists.”
Parents can also work to forge a productive relationship with their child’s teacher. Heather told us, “Acknowledge the work teachers are doing with your child. Don’t talk yourself out of reaching out to your child’s teacher.” Jeremy Bond, a parent in CT, said, “Establish from the outset how you want to communicate and what you hope to learn about their classroom.” It can be beneficial to provide teachers with an information portfolio of the child’s behaviors (academic/social/emotional) outside of school.
The parent-teacher relationship can affect student achievement. Kids, especially gifted kids, are highly cognizant of parent-teacher relationships. Adults need to be aware of emotional repercussions that may result due to their actions and work to prevent any negative reactions. Mutual respect by all parties can enhance and propel student achievement.
Can technology bridge the parent-teacher communication gap? New technologies can only help when everyone understands how to use the tools available. Not every new piece of technology is right in every situation. Be aware of cultural concerns and the availability of whatever tech is chosen. (See ‘suggestions’ in the links below.)
Clearly, good parent-teacher relationships will have a positive effect on a child’s educational experience. All parties must be committed to continually improving this relationship. When a parent or teacher does not believe this is occurring, they should take steps to seek assistance. This may include working with school administrators, counselors, or outside advocates. The most important thing is to keep the best interests of the student in the forefront of all discussions. A transcript of this chat may be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at Noon (12.00) NZST/10.00 AEST/1.00 UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Parent-Teacher Conference Worksheet (download)
What Can Be Done To Improve Parent-Teacher Communication?
New Teachers: Working With Parents
Gifted 101 for Teachers New to Gifted Students
Parent Workshop: Productive Partnerships with your Child’s Teacher (YouTube 31:00)
Parent Workshop: Productive Partnerships with your Child’s Teacher (Handout – pdf)
Why Don’t Teachers and Parents See Eye to Eye about Gifted Children?
5 Strategies for Building Effective Parent-Teacher Partnerships … From a Parent’s Perspective
Six Tips for Communicating with Your Gifted Child’s Teacher
Back to School Blues: Why Gifted Teens Dread Returning to School
How Parents & Teachers Can Work Together For Powerful Learning OutcomesHow Parents & Teachers Can Work Together For Powerful Learning Outcomes
5 Keys to Forging Strong Parent Engagement
Districts Work to Bolster Parent Involvement
Harvard Family Research Proj: Parent–Teacher Conf Tip Sheets for Principals, Teachers & Parents (pdf)
How to Turn Parents into Partners
It’s Time to Revamp Parent-Teacher Conference: Include the Child! (pdf)
Talking Points: Talking with Teachers about Your Gifted Child (pdf)
Choosing a Parent-Teacher Communication App
Gifted Son Being Punished by Teacher
Periscope: 5 Tips for Working with Parents with Lisa Dabbs
Cybraryman’s Parents and Teachers Page
Overcoming the Barriers to Effective Teacher-Parent Partnership (audio 11:07)
Overcoming the Biggest Barriers to Effective Parent Teacher Relationships
9 Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Communication in the Digital Age
Communication Apps (availability; not recommendations):
Picture courtesy of Pixabay. CC0 Public Domain
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
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Where’s the ‘OFF’ Button? Helping Parents of Young Gifted Children
Parenting young gifted children can be a challenge! This week we looked at the intensities these kids bring into the world around them. It’s often lamented that they do not fit into society’s notion of how children should act or react. Parents describe them as ‘more’ in every aspect of their lives and it can be exhausting for everyone involved. So … where is that ‘off’ button and do you really want to push it?
One of the first telltale signs of giftedness is a child’s extremely early proclivity to ask questions; a lot of questions. And not just simple questions. Oftentimes, asynchronous development leads to highly intuitive and complex questioning of practically everything. Parents quickly realize that the age-old argument of nature vs. nurture is a false dichotomy. The best way to foster their child’s giftedness is to nurture nature and provide them with an exceptional learning environment in which those questions can be answered; no matter how often or how many. As author Christine Fonseca tells us, “we must remind ourselves that they are curious; and that’s a good thing!”
In their book BLOOM, authors Dr. Lynne Kenney and Wendy Young compare intense children to flowers in a garden. Consider the quote below from the introduction when thinking about your gifted child.
The intensity experienced by young gifted children extends beyond their insatiable curiosity and unfortunately can affect their relationships with adults as well as age-peers. The fact that they are labeled as gifted cannot be an excuse for bad behavior. One of the most important lessons we need to teach our children is how to optimize interpersonal relationships in a way that benefits all involved.
To nurture the qualities necessary to succeed in relationships, adults should explore the concepts of empathy, high expectations, emotional intensity and social justice with the child. Discuss emotional intensity in a positive light. Don’t minimize the child’s feelings; respect them.
A characteristic such as bossiness is viewed as highly unfavorable; especially when directed towards teachers or other adults. Young children who are highly intelligent may not yet understand the nuance between being bossy and qualities associated with leadership. Gifted children often have a wide breadth of knowledge leading them to be criticized as a ‘know-it-all’. It’s important to guide them to know how to temper their approach to those around them. Gifted kids need to harness their abilities and learn to appreciate others’ viewpoints.
Navigating age-peer relationships with kids who don’t understand their intensity can be a source of angst for a gifted child. To nurture the qualities necessary to succeed in relationships, adults should explore the concepts of empathy, high expectations, emotional intensity and social justice with the child. Discuss emotional intensity in a positive light. Don’t minimize the child’s feelings; respect them.
Sleep is often a major concern for parents of gifted children. Some research suggests that gifted children need less sleep; but they still need sleep and so do their parents! As with most advice on parenting, it rarely works for gifted kids. It is usually a case of trial and error to find what works best for each child. And sometimes; nothing works. If and when it begins to affect everyday life … inability to complete school assignments, being habitually late to school, displaying inappropriate emotional responses … a parent may need to consult a professional who is familiar with giftedness for help. Otherwise, the risk of misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate interventions.
Talk to your child about giftedness. Explore ways to co-exist in a world that doesn’t always appreciate being gifted. Emphasized to them that being gifted is not being better than someone else; it’s simply about being different.
It’s important to not assume that young gifted children understand the nature of giftedness. It’s more than just being smart. Talk to your child about giftedness. Explore ways to co-exist in a world that doesn’t always appreciate being gifted. Emphasized to them that being gifted is not being better than someone else; it’s simply about being different. It is experiencing life in a way that doesn’t always conform to social norms.
Does it ever get better? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Gifted kids do grow up. They will probably continue to be intense, but they have the maturity to deal with it. Yes, it does get better. There is hope for a good night’s sleep. You may eventually even miss those early years! A transcript of this chat can be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at Noon (12.00) NZST/10.00 AEST/1.00 UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Giftedness & Emotional Intensity
The “Up” Side to Being Intense
The “Up” Side to Being Intense (Part 2)
Tips for Working with Emotional Intensity
Dino Obsession: Intellectual Overexcitability In Action
Channeling Intensity Through Creative Expression
Living With Intensity (Amazon)
Gifted Children: Emotionally Immature or Emotionally Intense?
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students (Amazon)
101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids (Amazon)
If This is a Gift, Can I Send it Back? (Amazon)
BLOOM: 50 Things to Say, Think & Do with Anxious, Angry & Over-the-Top Kids
Tips to Help Your Gifted Child Fall Asleep
Sprite’s Site: Memory Elephant in Overdrive
Sprite’s Site: Perchance to Dream
Sprite’s Site: Stories of the OEs
Cybraryman’s Dealing with Children Page
Cybraryman’s Parenting Gifted Children Page
Strategies for Dealing with Overexcitabilities
Storynory (Free Audio Stories)
Living and Learning with Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities OR “I Can’t Help It – I’m Overexcitable!” (pdf)
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page: Young Gifted Children
Davidson Institute: FAQs about Extreme Intelligence in Very Young Children
Picture courtesy of Pixabay CC0 Public Domain
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
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Holiday Survival Tactics for the Gifted Family
The holidays are stressful for many people, but they can be especially difficult for the gifted family. It was explained in simplest terms during this week’s chat by Tracy Fisher, school board member and new grandmother, “Everyone is INTENSE!”
As we were reminded by Jerry Blumengarten, aka Cybraryman, it is a season celebrated by many cultures.
The disruption in their daily routine and the high expectations of others can wreak havoc in gifted families. Marianne Kuzujanakis, pediatrician and homeschooler, also pointed out, “Stress points for GT families: Routines lost. OE’s. Anxiety. 2E issues. Developmental asynchrony. Introversion. Food allergies!!” Empathy for the less fortunate and concerns for world peace often contribute to anxiety in the way gifted children feel. Corin Barsily Goodwin, Executive Director of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum, added, “I’d also note that this time of year can be incredibly stressful for gt folks who *don’t* celebrate Xmas.”
There are ways to reduce the stress that have proved successful. Pre-plan activities and remember to include ‘down time’ to reduce potentially stressful situations from occurring. Do not overextend yourself. It’s better to say “no” than to disappoint others. Schedules should be kept as normal as possible.
Dealing with relatives who don’t ‘get’ gifted can be an everyday struggle that becomes worse during the holidays. If possible, ignore behavior in the moment; but resolve the issue later in a more relaxed setting. Explanations, however, may need to be made if comments are made directly to your child.
How do differing abilities shape family dynamics; PG/2e/gifted? Parents need to understand that all gifted children do not react to stress in the same way. Many gifted kids had an affinity for one another at family gatherings; however, differences can influence behavior. Age plays a role, too; dynamics change as kids got older.
When unforeseen situations arise, a plan needs to be in place. Gifted children need to be given ‘space’ and ‘time’ to de-escalate when overwhelmed. Try to remove your child from frustrating situations if possible; understand that overexcitabilities are real. As hosts, we should also provide these ‘safe’ havens for our guests as well.
Finally, we asked the question, “How can we help our children thrive during the holidays?” Creating new family traditions can help. Answer any questions that arise openly and honestly. Share your beliefs, but value your children’s opinion as well. Exposure to holiday traditions of different cultures can help children to appreciate the season. A transcript of this week’s chat can be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Fridays at 7E/6C/5M/4P in the U.S., Midnight in the UK and Saturdays 13.00 NZDT/11.00 AEDT to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Parenting Gifted Children through the Holidays
Have a Happy [not exasperating] Holiday
Activities for Gifted Children during the Holidays
Holiday stress: What Parents of Gifted Children Need to Know
Holiday Stress & Gifted Families with Jade Rivera
Surviving the Holidays with a House Full of Gifted Folks
Hoagies’ Blog Hop: Surviving the Holidays
How to Strip Your Holidays Naked
4 Ideas to Engage Your Child during Holidays
GHF Blog Hop: Surviving & Thriving at the Holidays with a Gifted/2E Kid
Dear Parents: Here’s How to Survive & Thrive at the Holidays via @redwhiteandgrew
Sprite’s Site: Sprite’s 2010 Christmas List
Sprite’s Site: When Extended Family Don’t Get Giftedness
Sprite’s Site: I love Christmas BUT…
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
