September 2017

Upcoming Events
What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Smart Kids
Many people are surprised to learn that their child's unique "quirks" are actually well-studied social & emotional behavior patterns that appear across large populations of highly intelligent children. Whether it's refusing to wear shirts with buttons or tags, overreacting to the slightest criticism, gravitating towards adults and older children, forgetting to turn in their homework, trouble with handwriting, anxiety about trying something new, or preferring a book to a party, these and many other perplexing behaviors are common in this population. Learn what's normal, what to expect as they grow, and why genuine challenge is vitally important for kids' social and emotional development, as well as developing their academic talents, from the preschool and elementary years all the way to high school and beyond. Presented by Austina De Bonte, President of NWGCA.
September 21 @ 6:30 PM in Mount Vernon
La Venture Middle School, 1200 N. Laventure Road, Mount Vernon
October 3 @ 6:30 PM in Leavenworth
Icicle Creek Middle School, 10195 Titus Rd, Leavenworth
October 5 @ 6:30 PM in Shoreline
Shoreline Auditorium at the Shoreline Conference Center 18560-1st Ave NE, Shoreline
November 1 @ 6:30 PM in Redmond
Scarr Resource Center, 16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond
If you are in the area, please join us for this FREE presentation, and spread the word! 

Twice-Exceptional SENG Parent Support Group
Time:  Thursdays from 4:15-5:15 pm
Dates:  9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7  There will not be meeting on 10/26 or 11/23
Location:  1818 Westlake Ave. North, Suite 312, Seattle, WA  98109
Cost:  $600 for the 10 week group
This will be a small, therapeutic support group for parents of twice-exceptional children to share, understand, accept and learn new parenting strategies to implement.  This group will run con-currently with a Wally's Play Group (social skills group) specifically for twice-exceptional children in 3rd or 4th grade, which will be happening in our suite at the same time as the parenting group.  Contact Karrin Grutz: http://www.wallysplaygroups.com for more information about that group.  Parents of children not in 3rd or 4th grade are welcome to join the parenting group.
Register by contacting Anne van Roden at [email protected] if you are interested in joining this group.
More information here
Social Media
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Opportunities for Your Student

College Scholarships from Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Curious about just how far this scholarship can take your students? Click below to watch Cooke Scholars describe the internships, study abroad, and other opportunities available through our $40,000 per year College Scholarship Program. The application process opened on September 14, 2017. 
More Information Here
 
Science Competitions for High School Students
This article details the hands-on laboratory and research experiences available across the country. By interning for a variety of academic, government and nonprofit organizations engaged in scientific research, students gain valuable experience.  
Read the complete article here
  
Upcoming Conferences

October 13-14, 2017
Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted (WAETAG) Annual Conference - Grow the Gifts You Have
Tacoma, WA
More Info Here

November 9-12, 2017
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) 64th Annual Convention
Charlotte, NC
More Info Here 

Articles
50 Tips, Tricks and Ideas for Teaching Gifted Students
Gifted kids can be a joy to teach when you know how to identify what engages them. These 50 tips and tricks come from experience and research. They're good to have in your bag of tricks whether you're a newbie or an old hand at teaching these high-level thinkers. This article provides ideas to engage the high-level thinkers in the classroom. 
Read the complete article here

Resources
Figure It Out: Why you learn what you learn
by Aparna Varadharajan
Do I have to learn this? But why ? Am I ever going to use this? What is school trying to teach me? How do I learn? And why learn at all?
Learning is something you do all your life. Yet, it does not have to be a chore.  If you pay attention, you can learn more effectively-by thinking in different ways and connecting the dots, you can create a beautiful picture of your world. Subjects in school are just lines in the sand, overlapping to create different fields. In our daily lives, there are many unexpected patterns which we tend to overlook. When you take the time to look at these patterns, you can see unlimited possibilities.
More Information Here