August  2016
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Dear Friends,
 
Summer has flown by, and it is already time for a new school year! For many gifted students, as well as parents and educators, back-to-school signals an exciting time: a time for more learning, friends, and fun. For others, it can be a time of anxiety and stress. 

As we wrap up summer, we offer you some support and advice from our articles library. Parents may find the articles below helpful. We will also be bringing you new SENGinars and SENG Model Parent Groups in the coming months - see our "Mark the Date" section of this newsletter for more details! 

Wishing everyone a peaceful and productive September, and a great year to those returning to school! 

In gratitude, 


Elizabeth A. Ringlee
Executive Director of SENG



You Don't Have To Go It Alone
by Linda C. Neumann

If you're raising a highly able athlete or musician, it's assumed that you'll rely on people with special expertise to help  your child develop his or her talents.

When it comes to raising a child with exceptional intellectual abilities, on the other hand, we're not so quick to call in professionals to guide us. As a result, parents of intellectually gifted kids can find themselves feeling overwhelmed. More... 
Tips for Parents of Intense Children
by Sharon Lind

L iving with emotionally intense children and partners can be turbulent, exciting, challenging, and joyful. Emotionally intense individuals are often accused of "overreacting." Their compassion and concern for others, their focus on relationships, as well as the intensity of their feelings may interfere with every- day tasks. 

Finding strategies for helping children (and adults) deal with and take advantage of these innate and enduring characteristics may seem difficult. More...
Ask SENG: Parenting Gifted Teens
by Nadia Webb

Q: I seem to be in a constant battle with my gifted teenager. Nothing I say or do seems to make a difference. What am I doing wrong?

A: Sometimes the gift we give our children is being willing to ask for help in parenting. It is the single most difficult job, and yet it is one that we feel we are supposed to "know" how to do. Having a child is like having your heart extracted from your body and allowed to walk around all by itself; every choice seems fraught and the right decisions are only clear in hindsight.   More...
The Search for Shangri-La: Finding the Appropriate Educational Environment for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children, A Parent's Guide
by Mike Postma

In the modern era of NCLB (No Child Left Behind) with its emphasis on 'bringing up the rear,' locating an appropriate setting dedicated to the holistic (not just academic) needs of the gifted, and especially, twice-exceptional child is akin to finding the Holy Grail. 

Regrettably, even with the best of intentions, most schools cannot properly accommodate the educational needs of the gifted or 2e child, much less provide for them an avenue to build the solid emotional foundation needed for meaningful growth. So, what is a family to do?   More...


"Voices" 
by Marie Kavadias

I'm an artist, a term that sometimes I am unsure about saying because I am a self-taught artist, not only a self-taught artist, but a twice exceptional artist. As a child art was my way of talking, expressing and extra credit!

You see growing up I couldn't pass most of my English, math, reading and foreign language classes. I pretty much never understood why in grade school I kept being taken out of my classes and had to go to another small room with another person and try to read stuff and pronounce stuff and write stuff. You get the picture.   More...

"Voices" seeks to share creative works reflecting the gifted experience. Art, poetry, essays, articles, and stories are accepted from gifted individuals of all ages. Submit yours to: editor@sengifted.org.


SENG Conference 2016 At A Glance
Above left, our young attendees of the Children's Program ride the bus to their classes at the College of William & Mary.  Above right, Dr. Donna Y. Ford speaks on diversity in gifted programs at her conference keynote presentation.

 










Above left and right, attendees learn about gifted services in the conference exhibit hall. Below, a view of the ballroom at Dr. Tracy Cross's keynote presentation.



NEW! Post of the Month 

Social Media not your thing?  We wouldn't want you to miss the article that generated so much traction on SENG's Facebook page this month:

What Your Kids Want You To Know  by Jane Hesslein. 


SENG is now on Tumblr! Tumblr is a valuable and vibrant online community, where many gifted teens and young adults find solace.  Check us out at sengifted.tumblr.com , and feel free to send in any questions or comments concerning giftedness. 


Breaking News!

SENG is thrilled to introduce a new appointment to our Board of Directors: Dr.  Michael Postma. 

Dr. Michael Postma is a consultant, speaker, and author dedicated to the holistic development of twice-exceptional children and other non-typical learners through his company Agility Educational Solutions. Over the last two decades, Dr. Postma has worked as both a teacher and administrator in the public school system and is the architect of the Minnetonka Navigator Program, a magnet school for highly and profoundly gifted students. He currently lives in Fort Mill, SC and is the father of four children, two of whom have Aspergers.

We look forward to welcoming you to the SENG team, Dr. Postma! 


Mark the Date

SENGinars are online presentations on giftedness, hosted by many of the top experts in the gifted field.

Dr. Linda Collins SENGINAR: Back to School: Preparing Our Children for a New Year

The beginning of a new school year is a welcomed time for many parents and students anticipating new learning, new teachers, and new friends.  Hearing the familiar sounds of the marching band practicing, and seeing clothing that reflects the rich colors of fall long before they have appeared in nature is all part of our "back to school" culture.  But many students and their parents often experience stress and anxiety at the thought of another school year.  This presentation is designed to address these concerns.

This SENGinar will be on September 1. Register NOW!

Dr. Michael Postma SENGINAR: The Search for Shangri-La

Finding the right educational fit for your gifted (or 2e) child is akin to 'cracking the code' of an educational enigma. Far too often parents struggle to find the appropriate school or programming that might be beneficial to their child academically as well as socially and emotionally. With more than two decades of experience working as a gifted educator within the school system, Dr. Michael Postma provides some important information for parents of gifted children that will help to demystify that process and empower parents to 'ask the right questions' when in the process of finding the best educational environment for their gifted child.

This SENGinar will be on September 6. Registration opens SOON! 

Susan Daniels SENGinar: Overexcitabilities and the Gifted 
Kazimierz Dabrowski identified five forms of overexcitabilies (OEs) experienced by the gifted: psychomotor, sensual, intellectual, imaginational, and emotional. Each form will be discussed along with strategies for parenting intense and sensitive gifted children. These OEs affect a child's lived experience as well as their developmental potential.  

This SENGinar will be on September 15. Registration opens SOON! 

SENG Model Parent Groups   unite diverse caregivers of complex, gifted children and provide space for each of us to learn from one another's expertise and experiences in a nurturing, non-judgmental environment. 

Los Angeles, California 
September 12-November 21, 2016
Bloom Pediatrics:  1523 Wellesley Avenue 
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Cost: $275.00 plus $25.00 fee for a copy of A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children
Facilitators: Adriane Ranson, MA, OTR/L and  Kasi Peters, MT-BC
Space is limited to 10 persons

To find a SENG Model Parent Group near you, visit us online at sengifted.org


SMPG's are structured to bring together 10 to 20 interested parents of gifted and talented children to discuss such topics as motivation, discipline, stress management, and peer relationships.  Become a SENG Model Parent Groups Facilitator; support the gifted community as a facilitator or co-facilitator.   

Scottsdale, AZ
Friday, September 30 - Saturday, October 1, 2016
9835 East Bell Road #140, 
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Facilitators: Lori Comallie-Caplan, LMSW and James T. Webb, PhD

Ottawa, KS
Saturday, October 1 - Sunday, October 2, 2016
Regnier Center, Johnson County Community College 
12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210  
 Facilitators:  Beverly Fink, Nancy Leyerzaph, Sheri Plybon  

Central Ohio 
Central Ohio Gifted Support (COGS) Facilitator Training 
More info COMING SOON


SENG conferences prioritize recognition, understanding, and acceptance of the social and emotional needs of the gifted population. At conference, SENG provides a wholly original forum to empower, support, and connect gifted individuals as well as teachers, parents, and counselors.  Join us in Chicago for an exceptional event! 

#SENG2017Chicago
Chicago Marriott Naperville
Thursday August 3, 2017 Pre-Conference
August 4-6, 2017  Conference
Details coming SOON!



In Gratitude...

SENG's 33rd Annual Conference, Gifted: Our Past and Our Future would not be possible without the help of our sponsors and partners. Please join us in thanking them for helping make this year's event in Colonial Williamsburg a tremendous success!

Platinum Sponsor




Gold Sponsors







Silver Sponsor



Children's Enrichment Program Partner





SENG's 33rd Annual Conference Select Advertisers and Exhibitors 
     
Association of Educational Therapists (AET) 
Beacon School 
Center for Talent Development 
College of William and Mary 
Forman School 
GHF (Gifted Homeschoolers Forum) 
Gifted Development Center
Greenwich Education Group
Great Potential Press 
Gulinogroup & Nathan Levy Publications
Hampshire Country School 
Instructional Support Services, Inc.
Knowledge Enrichment Enterprise 
Living Excellence Today 
Mary Baldwin College
Mr. Gelston's One Room Schoolhouse
Pacific Quest 
Rae Anne Hamilton Psychologist 
Raising Wizards 
Royal Fireworks Publishing Co., Inc. 
Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) 
The Davidson Institute for Talent Development 
The Roeper School 
With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC


About SENG

SENG is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) entity with a diverse Board of Directors. Our mission is to empower families and communities to guide gifted and talented individuals to reach their potential: intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. 

With the goal of further expanding its activities and reaching more people, SENG is constantly developing new strategies to assist and enlighten members of this unique community.  SENG accepts contributions of all sizes from individuals and organizations. Please join us in our work to increase understanding, knowledge, and services for gifted children, individuals and adults.

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