PARENT PROGRAM
PRESENTATIONS & DISCUSSIONS

PG Retreat 2009

“Round table Discussion”: At selected lunch and dinner times, there were tables set up for planned discussions on topics of common interest for our community moderated by guest hosts. In addition, there were always tables available for ad hoc discussions. In 2009, topics of round table conversations included:

• Friday Lunch: “Honoring PG Caregivers”, “Community-based Homeschools” and the “Emotional Implications of having a PG kid”,
• Friday Dinner: “Freeform vs. structured teaching”, “Early college”, and “Surviving school”,
• Saturday Lunch: “Self-directed study of History”, “Starting Charter Schools for Gifted Students”, and “Gifted Girls”,
• Sunday Lunch: “Choosing a College”, “Creative Curriculum” and “Publishing Children’s Books”.

Manya: A Living History of Marie Curie

Susan Marie Frontczak

This one-woman drama exposes the struggles and triumphs of Madame Marie Curie – an academically impassioned, vehemently private, fervently Polish scientist, mother, and teacher. From the political oppression of her childhood, to scientific emergence and fame to the tragedy that forced her into single motherhood – as well as further world prominence, this is a life that challenges our assumptions about what one person can achieve and the responsibilities of science.

Busy Kids = Busy Parents = Busy Lives

Michele Kane and Dan Tichenor

These sessions have become a PGR tradition, started in 2008 and scheduled to continue in 2010: This interactive discussion will be facilitated by a Mom and Dad of six gifted adult children who somehow survived. Dan Tichenor will facilitate the men’s session and Michele Kane will facilitate the women’s session.

Igniting and Nurturing Creativity in Gifted Learners

Patricia Purdue

Creativity is the highest form of mental functioning. To provide opportunities for creative thinking and self-expression in highly gifted learners is an imperative for all of us as parents and teachers. This session will focus on the nature of creativity, its distinct expression in gifted children, and the materials, strategies and activities that support significant growth in creative thinking and composition. We will use a participatory approach to creativity as a way to experience the process of writing free verse poetry and biographical fiction, as well as explore readers’ theatre and other art forms as resources for all subjects that stimulate creative responses from gifted learners.

Family Temperaments: Focus on Introversion and Extraversion

Michele Kane

Description to follow.

Advocating for Highly, Exceptionally, and Profoundly Gifted Children in Schools

Bobbie Gilman

Description

The Experimental Child: A Tale of Gifted Advocacy

Ms. Bobbie Gilman

The story of one first-born, PG boy’s struggle with public education, and how similar experiences threaten many very highly gifted students. As parents, how can we anticipate and prevent problems at school before they wreck havoc in our children’s lives? A parent and 17-year veteran of the Gifted Development Center shares her wisdom on how to ensure a happy ending for all of our children.