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How will Georgia’s new teacher evaluations affect your gifted child?
The state is changing the way it evaluates teachers’ effectiveness, and the changes hold promise for gifted and high-achieving students.
The Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) is currently in pilot studies and is expected to be rolled out statewide for the 2014-15 school year. The system places new emphasis on academic growth for all children, and utilizes tools that can help you advocate for your child.
I’ve been researching TKES since fall, and I will present what I’ve learned in three upcoming lectures:
- Tuesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. at Westlake High School in southwest Atlanta
- Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. at Independence High School in Alpharetta
- Saturday, March 30 at 9:15 a.m. at Saturday School at Georgia State University
The March 19 and March 21 lectures will be hosted by Fulton County Supporters of the Gifted. These sessions are free and open to the public. FCSG requests that if you plan to attend, you register at their web site.
The March 30 session is open only to parents with students enrolled in the GSU Saturday School program.
Guided discussions about gifted kids’ emotional needs
Local experts on the emotional needs of gifted children are forming a discussion group that will meet Sunday afternoons in Dunwoody, beginning Jan. 27.
Discussion leaders are Kathy Courchene and Muriel Knope, both trained facilitators through the SENG (Serving the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) program.
The cost to join the group is $120 per household. One or two adults who provide care to a gifted child or children can attend from each household. Discussions will be based on topics addressed in “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children,” by James Webb, Ph.D; Ed Amend, Psy.D.; Arlene DeVries, M.S.E.; and Janet Gore, M.Ed. Examples of discussion topics are communication, perfectionism, managing intensity, teaching self-management, and relationships with family and friends.
For more information or to register, please contact Muriel at murknope-at-gmail-dot-com (address deconstructed here to protect her from spam). Registration and payment are due by Jan. 22, 2013.
A guidebook for homeschooling gifted children, from the Davidson Institute
It seems I’m hearing from more and more parents who are taking their gifted kids’ education into their own hands, leaving the schoolhouse behind and teaching their children at home.
For those parents, I wanted to share a new guide to teaching at home: “Considering Homeschooling: A Guidebook for Investigating an Alternative Path to Education.” This guide was recently published by the Davidson Institute, an organization based in Nevada that serves profoundly gifted children and their families.
The guidebook offers information on costs, curriculum, applying to colleges, and networking with other families.
SENG parent discussion group forming in Dunwoody
Local experts on the emotional needs of gifted children are forming a discussion group that will meet on six Sunday afternoons in September and October in Dunwoody.
Discussion leaders are Kathy Courchene and Muriel Knope, both trained facilitators through the SENG (Serving the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) program.
The cost to join the group is $120 per household. One or two adults who provide care to a gifted child or children can attend from each household. Discussions will be based on topics addressed in “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children,” by James Webb, Ph.D; Ed Amend, Psy.D.; Arlene DeVries, M.S.E.; and Janet Gore, M.Ed. Examples of discussion topics are communication, perfectionism, managing intensity, teaching self-management, and relationships with family and friends.
For more information or to register, please contact Muriel at murknope-at-gmail-dot-com (address deconstructed here to protect her from spam). Registration and payment are due by Sept. 15, 2012.
New session of parent group focused on gifted kids’ emotional needs
Maybe your friends don’t understand your gifted child’s perfectionism, intensity or social struggles. But Muriel Knope and Kathy Courchene do.
Knope and Courchene are trained facilitators with SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted). Their regular parent groups offer support for parents and other caregivers raising gifted children. Their class uses the book “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children” as a starting point for discussion.
The next session will meet on Sunday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. in Dunwoody, from Jan. 22 through Feb. 26. Registration deadline is Jan. 12. There is a fee.
For more information, contact Muriel Knope.
Coffee and conversation in Sandy Springs / Dunwoody
Local gifted advocates Kathy Courchene and Muriel Knope are organizing another informal conversation for parents of gifted children, next Sunday, Nov. 20, from 2-4 p.m. at Atlanta Bread Company at Perimeter Pointe shopping center, 1155 Mount Vernon Highway in Sandy Springs.
Kathy and Muriel are facilitators trained by SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted). SENG aims to raise awareness of the challenges gifted children face, and to help parents, teachers and caregivers better support gifted children.
If you have questions about SENG or the upcoming meeting, contact Muriel Knope at murknope – at – gmail – dot – com (e-mail address deconstructed to curb spam; rebuild it to contact her).
Gwinnett Alliance for Gifted Education (GAGE) to hold fall consortium
Gwinnett Alliance for Gifted Education, one of the most active gifted advocacy groups in metro Atlanta, will hold its Fall Consortium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at Mason Elementary School in Duluth.
The meeting will begin with a keynote address by Janet Aeker Smith, who has 30 years of experience in education, including creating gifted education policy in Australia. Attendees can then choose from a variety of breakout sessions covering topics such as math, reading, STEM projects, humor and attitude, critical thinking and differentiation.
Registration opens at 8 a.m.; the keynote speech will begin at 8:30 a.m. The event is scheduled to end at 12:30 p.m.
Admission is free for GAGE members; non-members may join GAGE at the door for $25. Gwinnett County teachers and administrators can become members for $20.
For more information, contact Laura Magner of Gwinnett County Schools.
Informal meeting in Gwinnett for parents of gifted children
It’s not easy being the parent of a gifted child, and sometimes it’s lonely, when no one around us understands — or even wants to hear about — our struggles with what other parents may think is an easy task.
If you’d like to sit down with other parents of gifted kids, you’ll have that chance this Sunday, from 2-4 p.m. at Atlanta Bread Company, 1708 Scenic Hwy. in Snellville.
The meeting is being organized by Kathy Courchene and Muriel Knope, two local facilitators trained by SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted). SENG aims to raise awareness of the challenges gifted children face, and to help parents, teachers and caregivers better support gifted children.
If you have questions about SENG or the upcoming meeting, contact Muriel Knope at knope – at – mindspring – dot – com (e-mail address deconstructed to curb spam; rebuild it to contact her).
Valdosta State University presents Gifted Summit
The Center for Gifted Studies at Valdosta State University invites the public to its Gifted Summit, to be held on the university campus on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011.
Dr. Thomas Hébert, Ph.D., will present morning and afternoon keynote speeches. Dr. Hébert is professor of educational psychology at the University of Georgia, where he teaches graduate courses in gifted and creative education. He also is author of the newly released book, Understanding the Social and Emotional Lives of Gifted Students.
The morning keynote will focus on the social and emotional needs of gifted students; the afternoon remarks will address how to create classroom environments that support gifted students’ social and emotional development. The program’s agenda also includes afternoon breakout sessions to discuss particular concerns and interests.
The program is free, but requires preregistration by e-mailing the Center for Gifted Studies or by calling (229) 249-2777.
Fall session of parent group focused on gifted kids’ emotional needs
Two local women trained in helping parents and caregivers support their gifted children are forming a new discussion group for fall.
Muriel Knope and Kathy Courchene are trained facilitators with SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted). Their regular parent groups discuss such hot topics as perfectionism, social relationships and managing intensity.
The upcoming session will meet on Monday nights from 7-9 p.m. in Dunwoody, from Sept. 19 through Oct. 24. There is a fee.
To register or for more information, contact Muriel Knope.
