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A Message From Our President
And just like that, summer is over. Now that school has started in (almost) every corner of our state, NWGCA is also getting back to the business of furthering our mission: outreach and support for families of gifted children in WA. Our big project this fall is updating our lists of therapists, counselors, psychologists, neuropsychologists, and other professionals who work with gifted children. As we refresh our lists, we are also asking all professionals to fill out a short questionnaire about their specialties and expertise so that families will have more information as they go about choosing a professional to work with. NWGCA is also supporting an exciting new project - creating a community of practice of therapists who can learn from each other. More information on this for both parents and professionals is below. There are also some great education events coming up. We can tell you are just as excited as we are to hear from the founder of Art of Problem Solving: our fall event with Richard Ruszcyk is already filling up! It's a big room, though, so we hope that we won't run out of space for all who are interested. Seth Perler, 2e executive function guru, is also visiting Issaquah to do middle school executive function workshops, which will be another hot ticket - and 3 choices of dates! The famous Dr. Susan Daniels will be in Olympia giving a talk at Nova School. And so many more... Thank you to the community of practitioners and advocates around the state who made so many of these events happen! Happy September! Austina De Bonte, President NWGCA More Therapists for Gifted Children & Families Parents , do you know a professional who works with gifted children, adolescents and families? ... with gifted adults/parents? NWGCA is in the process of refreshing our list of therapists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, and other professionals, and is looking for people who you would recommend to other families. We are focusing on therapists right now, but would love recommendations of all kinds. Professionals , do you work with gifted clients and would like to be considered? My name is Scott Leiter, and I am a therapist in the Seattle area. I was recently at a party with three other NWGCA listed therapists. All of us are in the later part of our careers. At one point our conversation focused on how to help NWGCA identify the next generation of therapists to include on the list. We talked about our respective passion working with gifted and 2e clients and their families. All of us shared that our practices are full most of the time and we need more therapists, who work with gifted clients, to refer to. We started brainstorming how to pass on what we know from our collective experience and how to build ongoing community, This is an exciting & open moment! Therapists , please contact us, if you work with clients who are gifted or you think you might want to add this specialization to your practice. We are looking for therapists who are: experienced, mid-career or just starting out. We would like you to be part of the current conversation about what is needed. Parents , we hope to provide a wider range of resources. Please feel free to send us your ideas, as well as names of professionals we should be referring to others. Want to get connected? Have ideas for us? Please forward names of professionals and contact information to [email protected] NWGCA Fall Event Problem Solving: Key to a 21st Century Education and a Rewarding Career Presented by Richard Rusczyk, Founder of Art of Problem Solving (aops.com) Tuesday, October 16 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM Brightwater Community Center, Woodinville, WA Register Today ($20, bring a friend for only $5 more) Wednesday, October 17 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Bainbridge Island School District Board Room 9530 NE High School Road, Bainbridge Island, WA Free event The rote memorization of facts is an insufficient means of educating the youth of today. Instead, problem-solving skills enable students to use the information they've learned in infinitely useful ways. Jobs that involve repetitive procedures are becoming increasingly automated. There is a growing need for those who can solve non-routine problems. The memorizer can only solve problems he has encountered already, but the problem solver can solve problems she's never seen before, and above all, she can create. Art of Problem Solving Founder, Richard Rusczyk, will talk about the importance of a problem-solving based math curriculum in today's educational climate. P arents and educators will find Richard's message to be wise and insightful, as well as full of practical tips for how to access math curriculums that build students' problem solving muscles, from elementary through high school. Richard Rusczyk has authored 7 textbooks and was past Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search. He was a participant in National MATHCOUNTS, a three-time participant in the Math Olympiad Summer Program, and a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner (1989). He received the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Paul Erdös Award in 2014. He graduated from Princeton University in 1993. At AoPS, Richard gets to pursue his life's passion, educating motivated students. Upcoming Learning Opportunities Caring for and Embracing Your Sensitive Soul (Duvall) Presented by Katharine Wismer 3 Class Series September 15, 22, 29 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Studio Beju, Duvall Sensitive Souls are intuitive, conscientious, intelligent and spiritual seekers. We think deeply and feel emotions intensely. Because we have a sensitive nervous system we get overwhelmed easily. To nurture our Sensitive Soul we need lots of self-care including setting clear boundaries with ourselves and others. Gift yourself with time spent with other Sensitive Souls in a facilitated conversation on strategies for thriving as a Sensitive Soul. Class 1) Self-care, Class 2) Boundaries, Class 3) Integration More Information Gifted and Unique: Navigating the Adolescent Years (Bothell) Presented by Jaya Ramesh and Kathy Sarin Monday, September 24 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Bothell Library ( 18215 98th Avenue NE, Bothell, WA) Trouble in adolescence is normal, and gifted teens can struggle too. Co-occurring learning and social-emotional problems are so common, there is a term for it - twice exceptional (2E). Are you noticing your teen is having: - Outbursts about homework? - Problems with impulsivity? - Difficulty controlling their emotions? - Trouble with friendships or bullying? - Organizational problems? Peace is possible in your gifted home! When your student hits a roadblock, what can you do? Join trusted professionals Kathy Sarin and Jaya Ramesh for a lively and engaging talk about assessing and nurturing your gifted child through these crucial years. This presentation is free and open to all who love a gifted child. More information Seth Perler: Hands-on workshop to support every student's unique learning needs (Issaquah) For STUDENTS & PARENTS of grades 6-12 to attend together. Free for PTSA Members in the Issaquah School District, $10 donation requested of non-members. Parent Wiser is hosting this workshop at multiple dates and schools! Choose the date/location that is best for your family! September 25, 26, or 27. Seth Perler - nationally recognized Education Coach for 2e students - teaches students how to navigate school successfully by personalizing study habits for any individual learning style. Seth will walk you through proper setup of systems so you're on top of school work, so bring your stuff!
THE BRAIN: How Executive Function differs for each brain. ROUTINES: Why/how homework routines enable success. ADVOCACY: How students feel empowered, effective. RESISTANCE: Seek help on planning, organizing, chores. EMOTIONAL REGULATION: How to deal with overwhelming emotions (anger, sadness, etc) in a healthy way. You will leave with a printout of all the systems and a cheat sheet on how to use them to your advantage! Register to reserve a seat. Walk-Ins seated only if space available. Gifted 101 (Lake Stevens) Presented by Susan Jackson Tuesday, October 2 7:00 PM Mount Pilchuck Elementary 12806 20th Street NE Lake Stevens, WA This talk will include Who are the Gifted? What Academic, Social, and Emotional Issues should families and educators be aware of? How do Families and Educators advocate for Gifted children? Some of the topics Susan will discuss are demystifying giftedness, asynchronicity, levels of giftedness, twice exceptionality, perfectionism, overexcitabilities, and social needs. Bright & Quirky 2E Parent Group (Issaquah) The Bright & Quirky 2e Parent Group starts October 11th and runs for 8 weeks. Meets Thursday mornings, 9-10:30am. The group is limited to 12 members and is facilitated by Debbie Steinberg Kuntz, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, SENG Model Parent Group facilitator, and organizer of the Bright & Quirky Child Online Summit. Fee: $75/session for 8 sessions. Scholarships are available. Location: Issaquah, WA. To register, please email [email protected] Visual Thinking, Creativity, and Problem Solving (Olympia) When: Thursday, October 11, 2018. 7:00 p.m. Where: NOVA Middle School, Olympia, WA 98501 www.novaschool.org What: Visual thinking, imagery, and imagination have long been recognized as key aspects of creative thinking and creative giftedness - in both the arts and sciences. Visual thinking is essential to imagination, design, problem solving, and invention. In this session, we explore strategies, activities, and projects that serve to integrate visual thinking, imagination, and creativity across the curriculum for students in grades K-8. Who: Dr. Susan Daniels is a professor, an author, a consultant, and an educational director of a psychoeducational center that specializes in the needs of gifted, creative, and twice-exceptional children. She has been a professional development specialist for over twenty years, regularly providing workshops and training on creativity, the social and emotional needs of gifted children, and visual learning and teaching. Susan is co-author of Raising Creative Kids and co-editor and co-author of Living with Intensity. Her latest book, Visual Teaching and Learning: An Essential Guide for Educators K-8 was released in August, 2018, and it is a comprehensive guide to visual learning strategies and activities for the 21st century classroom. Susan is co-founder and director of Camp Summit for the Gifted where she teaches creative arts with an emphasis on mixed media and self-expression. She enjoys working with mixed media and simple line drawings in her own visual journals. Susan lives in Berkeley, California. WAETAG (Bellevue) Oct 12-13, 2018 Bellevue Hilton, Bellevue WA This year's theme is Innovation & Equity. Keynote speakers include Lisa Van Gemert, the Gifted Guru, and Dr. Kristina Henry Collins, President-Elect of SENGifted. NWGCA board members will be speaking as well. Register Here Putting together the Puzzle of a Gifted Family (Seattle) Assessing Gifted Intensities, Addressing Ongoing Conflicts, Applying Creative Strategies Date: November 3, 2018 Timing: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM 9:30 am - 3:30 pm Phinney Ridge Center 6532 Phinney Avenue North Room 31 Seattle, WA 98103 Facilitators: Anne van Roden and Gloria Sandford - both experienced parents of gifted children and licensed mental health professionals. Purpose : Come join us for an interactive and inspiring workshop where you will learn key tools to help your gifted family thrive. This full-day workshop will apply SENG concepts at a deeper level focusing on the whole family. Specific tools include: 1) measuring certain gifted traits in family members, 2) examining how different patterns can cause ongoing conflicts and misunderstandings and 3) identifying some strategies to help address those challenges. Participants will leave with uniquely crafted strategies to help their family live together in a more cohesive and harmonious manner. Register Here NAGC Annual Convention (Minneapolis, MN) The annual National Association for Gifted Children Convention is in Minneapolis this year from November 14-18. Several WA state professionals will be presenting this year, including NWGCA President Austina De Bonte. If you'd like to go, rates go up after September 14, so now's the time to register. www.nagc.org Convention rates are better if you are an NAGC member - get a parent membership here (if you list NWGCA18 as the referrer, we'll get a small percentage back from NAGC) SENG Parent Discussion Groups SENG Model Parent Groups (SMPGs) bring individuals and families together to discuss the challenges associated with raising a gifted child. The facilitators of these groups, though knowledgeable about parenting and gifted education, do not attempt to give advice. Instead their facilitation provides a non-judgmental and nurturing atmosphere for individuals and families to exchange ideas. Hosted by certified facilitators, discussion topics include issues like motivation, discipline, stress management, peer relationships and more. The groups meet weekly for 8-10 weeks. For more information or to get connected with a group, follow the links below. Many will have new groups forming in the fall: - General SMPG Information - Bellevue SMGP - Everett/Snohomish/Lake Stevens/Marysville SMPGs - Seattle SMPG - Spokane SMPG Comments are closed.
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