Speaking Topics
As part of our organization’s mission, board members of the Northwest Gifted Child Association provide workshops and presentations on a variety of topics related to gifted kids. Listed below are descriptions of some of the presentations that board members have given in the past. If you'd like to host a presentation in your community, complete the Speaker Request Form. Don’t see what you’re looking for or have another idea – let us know! The NWGCA board will work with you to identify a topic and speaker that will fit your needs.
How to be a Powerful Advocate for Your Gifted Student
Join this forum on being a powerful advocate for gifted for your child with the teacher, principle, your school, your district. Sharpen your advocacy skills. Share what you know. Learn from others. Collect resources.
Parenting Your Gifted Worrier
Highly capable/gifted children and teens often experience intense worry and stress. This workshop is an exploration of why gifted kids experience anxiety, how to recognize anxiety in children and teens, anxiety’s effect on the entire family, and tools and resources to help decrease anxiety.
Social & Emotional Needs of the Gifted/Highly Capable
This workshop explores the theory and science behind the unique characteristics of gifted individuals. Join the facilitated discussion to help you better understand yourself and your gifted children. Discussion also addresses parent strategies that help gifted children develop emotional intelligence and social skills.
What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Smart Kids
Many people are surprised to learn that their bright 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.
**Austina is no longer doing free NWGCA community talks, in order to focus more on professional development for educators. Many other NWGCA board members are glad to visit your community to do a free parent presentation. Please see the board bios below to find a speaker that will fit your needs, or fill out the Speaker Request Form.**
How to be a Powerful Advocate for Your Gifted Student
Join this forum on being a powerful advocate for gifted for your child with the teacher, principle, your school, your district. Sharpen your advocacy skills. Share what you know. Learn from others. Collect resources.
Parenting Your Gifted Worrier
Highly capable/gifted children and teens often experience intense worry and stress. This workshop is an exploration of why gifted kids experience anxiety, how to recognize anxiety in children and teens, anxiety’s effect on the entire family, and tools and resources to help decrease anxiety.
Social & Emotional Needs of the Gifted/Highly Capable
This workshop explores the theory and science behind the unique characteristics of gifted individuals. Join the facilitated discussion to help you better understand yourself and your gifted children. Discussion also addresses parent strategies that help gifted children develop emotional intelligence and social skills.
What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Smart Kids
Many people are surprised to learn that their bright 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.
**Austina is no longer doing free NWGCA community talks, in order to focus more on professional development for educators. Many other NWGCA board members are glad to visit your community to do a free parent presentation. Please see the board bios below to find a speaker that will fit your needs, or fill out the Speaker Request Form.**