For Parents
If you are the parent of a bright or gifted child or adolescent you may sometimes feel that no one wants to know. People tend to assume that academically gifted children will succeed regardless of what the school, or the home, does or does not do. Actually there’s a wealth of research that shows that this just is not so.
GERRIC runs regular weekend courses for parents of gifted and talented children. We also publish a range of helpful books and other resources. Furthermore, we run a range of school holiday enrichment programs for gifted and talented students from Year 3 to Year 10, as well as an enhanced study skills program for senior year students. It can make an enormous difference to gifted children who may feel socially isolated at school because their interests and abilities differ very much those of their classmates. Check out our Student Programs site and see what we have to offer.
GERRIC can make a difference for you and for your family.
Miraca U.M. Gross, PhD AM
Director: GERRIC
Parents of Gifted children face situations that are, in many ways, quite unique in nature. Quite often, the accelerated development of the abilities of a gifted child, perhaps outpacing the child's physical development, can leave parents having to cater to a child's needs outside of school while still having to ensure the best education for the child in school. Further challenges exist for gifted parents in the affective needs of gifted children where they may be strongly divergent to that of the normal population.
GERRIC seeks to provide for the parents of gifted children through:
Parent Courses
GERRIC provides parents of gifted children with relevant services, programs, events and information underpinned by the latest in gifted education research and best practice.
Sydney
Dates: 11 & 12 August 2012
Time: 9.30 am - 4 pm
Venue: The University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus
To register NOW click here
The course will be led by Professor Miraca Gross, Director of GERRIC and an internationally recognised authority on the education of gifted and talented children and adolescents. Professor Gross is joined by Michele Juratowitch and Rosalind Walsh (Sydney courses only) both of whom have postgraduate qualifications in gifted education. Michele is a former school counsellor with special expertise in the social and emotional development of gifted students. Rosalind has special expertise in early childhood giftedness and parenting young gifted children.
Course program
Session 1
Giftedness and talent – what do the words mean? What makes gifted children different, both intellectually and socially, from their age-peers? How do motivation and personality affect the development of a child’s talent? How does the school environment assist or hinder the process?
Session 2
Why are gifted children often so sensitive? Why do they tend to be more emotional in their reactions? Why do they feel so compelled to try and solve all the world’s problems?
Session 3
Two separate sessions – one focusing on cognitive (learning) characteristics of gifted children in early childhood (0-8 years); the other focusing on cognitive (learning) characteristics of older primary age children and adolescents. How can you recognise giftedness in your child? You choose which session you’ll attend; if both parents register, one can attend each session,
Session 4
How can we recognise underachievement in gifted students? What can parents and teachers do to enhance self esteem and motivation? What about the perfectionist gifted child?
Session 5 Two separate sessions.
5(a) Are ability grouped settings the best environment for gifted students? What happens to the self esteem of students when they enter an Opportunity Class or a selective high school? What are the long term academic, social and emotional effects of ability grouping of gifted children?
5 (b) Parenting strategies to nurture your child’s high ability. Helping gifted children establish a range of skills, behaviours and habits that will enable them to grow into healthy, happy, confident, achieving young adults. How to nourish your child’s psychological and emotional development and create an environment in which their high abilities will flourish.
Session 6 Two separate sessions
6(a) How does having a gifted child impact on family relationships? What effect does this have on siblings? On parents? A look at family dynamics.
6(b) Acceleration. Pushing kids ahead or taking our foot of the brake? A look at the academic and emotional outcomes, for gifted children, and adolescents, of various types of acceleration.
Session 7
Parent Advocacy: How can parents create positive partnerships with their child’s school? How can parents of gifted students approach the school without being labelled “pushy”?
Registration
Registration for the course is through one of two options.
If the single attendance option is taken one parent or adult care giver from each family will have admission to the course. The course fee for the single attendance option is $350 including GST.
If the double attendance option is taken two parents or adult care givers from the same family may attend all sessions and will receive one set of reading materials. The course fee for the double attendance option is $595 including GST.
The payment of either course fee option provides for a set of take-home materials including relevant journal articles by experts in the field of gifted education.
The course fee also covers morning tea and lunch on both days.
We regret that child care is not available on the university campus at weekends. Please arrange alternative child care.
Full details of the venue including a campus map will be sent by email two weeks prior to the start of the course.
Registrations will be limited so we suggest you register early. click here to register
Further resources are available from the Resources section of the website.
