Parent Webinar Series 

Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 6:00 pm CT

AI: Friend or Foe?

AI is no longer just science fiction - it's our reality. Join us as we uncover the fascinating world of AI and its impact on gifted children. We'll explore the incredible potential of AI to enhance creativity, problem-solving, and learning. But we'll also shine a light on the darker side, including privacy concerns, ethical dilemmas, and the potential for misuse. By the end of this presentation, you'll have a clear picture of AI's potential and the steps you can take to prepare your child for the future.

Meet Dr. Farrell

Dr. Shirley Farrell is an esteemed educator with over 30 years of experience in gifted education. She holds a BS in Horticulture, an MS in Elementary Education with Gifted Certification, and a PhD in Instructional Technology/Instructional Leadership. Currently, she is the Program Coordinator for Gifted Education at Troy University, where she leads the Master's degree and certification programs for gifted education online.

Dr. Farrell has served in various capacities throughout her career, including roles as a gifted specialist, gifted coordinator, state department specialist, and university professor. She is also deeply involved in the Alabama Association for Gifted Children (AAGC), where she served as President and has been a board member for over 25 years. Dr. Farrell is known for her passion for integrating technology into education and has presented nationally and internationally on the topic. Her work has had a profound impact on both gifted education and environmental education​.

Recording added soon.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 6:00 pm CT

Trying to Fill the Black Hole: How to Parent Gifted Children

"Oh you’re so lucky, you have a gifted child!” If only it was that simple. There are many wonderful things about raising a gifted/2e child, and there are many difficult (if not impossible) things as well. This session will focus on strategies in communication, emotional regulation, executive functioning support, and psychoeducation that will empower all members of the family to communicate more effectively and from a place of knowledge, which should lead to enhanced workability and empathy. Additionally, this session will offer several theoretical role-play activities where parents can see their own roles in the challenges that naturally arise when parenting a neurodivergent.

Meet Dr. Matt Zakreski 

Matthew “Dr. Matt” Zakreski, PsyD is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist and professional speaker who utilizes an eclectic approach to meet the specific needs of his neurodivergent clients. He is proud to serve the Gifted community as a consultant, a professor, an author, and a researcher. He has spoken hundreds of times all over the world about supporting neurodivergent kids. Dr. Zakreski is a member of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC), and Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education (PAGE). Dr. Zakreski graduated from Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP) in 2016. He is the co-founder of The Neurodiversity Collective: https://www.theneurodiversitycollective.com/ 

Recording Link: https://vimeo.com/1021938639?share=copy

Password: ParentConference2024

Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 6:00 pm CT

Giftedness and the Importance of Social & Emotional Learning

Giftedness is beyond an I.Q. score! Our gifted learners have great potential, but often have factors that get in the way of their success. Join us as we look into the gifted child’s brain! We will see how it functions and how it never completely fits into a box. We will discuss sensitivities, asynchronous development, perfectionism, and more. You will leave with a better understanding of your child as well as a few strategies to support them socially, emotionally, and academically. .

Adam Laningham is the author of several books and has over 20 years of experiencein the field of education. Adam was recognized as the Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year, he has taught at several schools in multiple grade levels, created and facilitated numerous gifted programs, and served as a  district manager coordinating programs for over 6,000 gifted students. 

Adam is the founder and owner of Bright Child Books, The Gifted Collective, and Gifted Microschool. He is also an international speaker, consultant, the current President of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted, a member of AAGT’s Advisory Council, a founding member of Callisto (supporting gifted foster youth), and an advisor for CogAT Riverside Insights.

Webinar Recording is here: https://vimeo.com/1012427146?share=copy

PASSWORD: SEPT2024PARENT  

Parent Webinar Series 

April 9, 2024, 6:00 pm CT

Media, media, everywhere: How to help your child navigate the media they are consuming and creating

Children are inundated with media every day. We'll examine how parents can help teach their children media literacy, which is examining the different types of media consumed, understanding the messages conveyed, and understanding why the media was created. PBS LearningMedia offers several resources to help parents understand the world of media literacy and how to look at media critically. Parents will leave with a better understanding of how to help their children navigate what they are seeing and what they are creating.

Meet Tracey Carter

After teaching for 17 years, Tracey Carter began working in the educationdepartment at Alabama Public Television. She is an education specialist at APT and works primarily with those involved in K-12 education. While in the classroom, Tracey was a middle school Gifted Specialist and Language Arts teacher. She is also the mom of two boys who are identified as gifted. One is a freshman in high school and the other is a freshman in college. She lives in Shelby County with her husband, two boys, and two dogs.

Also, stay tuned for a special guest, Tammie Stewart, from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. She will speak on scholarships for gifted students.

Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/935475589?share=copy

Password: AAGCParentWeb42024 

Parent Webinar Series 

January 9, 2024, 6:00 pm CT

Family Passion Projects: An Opportunity to Learn, Grown, and Serve Together

Are you looking for ways to engage your gifted child and cultivate their passion for learning?  Do you want to find meaningful ways to bond as a family while making a positive impact in your community?  “Family Passion Projects” is a workshop that will show you how to use the 6 P’s of Genius Hour framework to work on passion projects together.

During this workshop, you’ll learn how to implement the Genius Hour framework at home, including how to identify your child’s passions and interests, plan and pitch project ideas, develop the project, and present the work.  You’ll also discover how this approach can help your child practice life-ready skills and experience productive struggle in a supportive and collaborative environment. We’ll explore how passion projects can benefit the community and how to make a postive impact through your family’s work.  You’ll leave with practical ideas for how to create meaningful learning experiences at home, strengthen your family bond, and encourage your gifted child to pursue their interest and make a difference in the world.  

This workshop will give you ideas, tools and strategies that you need to learn how to inspire your gifted child to reach their full potential through passional-driven learning and service to others.

Meet Andi McNair

Andi McNair-Andi was a classroom teacher for 16 years before pursuing her passion to change education by sharing practical ways to engage and empower this generation of learners. She is currently a digital innovation specialist at ESC Region 12 in Waco, Texas. Andi is passionate about using meaningful  technology in the classroom and finding innovative ways to engage today’s learners. She believes that the students that we are educating today are unique and we must be creative in our teaching strategies. Andi was named one of the Top People in Education to Watch in 2016 by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. Andi has published Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry, A Meaningful Mess: A Teacher's Guide to Student-Driven Classrooms, Authentic Learning, Student Empowerment, and Keeping It All Together Without Losing Your Mind, and Ready-to-Use Resources for Genius Hour in the Classroom: Taking Passion Projects to the Next Level. She absolutely loves sharing her passion for innovative education with other educators who want more for their students.

Zoom Recording here - https://vimeo.com/903917561?share=copy  

Password: AAGCPar24AMCNair 

AAGC Conference Parent Night Webinar

October 12, 2023, 6:00 pm CT via Zoom

Gifted & Struggling: Emotional Support for Gifted & 2e Learners

Supporting our gifted learners emotionally is vital to their well-being and success. Gifted children are more than just high test scores or advanced academics, their unique sensitivities and asynchronous brain development put them under a great deal of pressure. Brain research is continuing to show us the exceptionality of gifted brain development as well as the effects of trauma. It is especially important to understand this for our gifted and 2e population as many of these children are already struggling socially, emotionally, and academically. This presentation will help participants better understand these learners as well as provide practical strategies to support them.

Meet Adam Laningham

Adam C Laningham, author of Gifted Children & How Trauma Impacts Them, and the Gifted & Struggling Series, has over 20 years of experience in the field of education. Adam was recognized as the Arizona Gifted Teacher of the Year, he has taught at several schools in multiple grade levels, created and facilitated numerous gifted programs, and served as a district manager coordinating programs for over 6000 gifted students.Adam has served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association for Gifted & Talented, is currently the President Elect of SENG - Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted, he is a founding member of Callisto (supporting gifted foster youth), and an advisor for CogAT Riverside Insights. As founder and owner of Bright Child AZ, & The Gifted Collective, Adam is an international speaker, consultant, and gifted advocate.

Recording Link: https://vimeo.com/876009491?share=copy

Password: 2023ConfPArentNiight  

Parent Webinar

September 12, 2023, 6:00 pm CT

Understanding What Giftedness Is, What It Isn't, and How We Can Serve Them Well

Gifted children have unique needs that often require special attention and support. As a parent, it can be challenging to understand what giftedness is, what it isn't, and how to best partner with schools to serve them well.

In this workshop, we'll explore the characteristics of gifted children, the myths and misconceptions surrounding giftedness, and practical strategies for nurturing their growth and development. We'll also delve into the concept of productive struggle and why it's essential for gifted learners to experience it.

By understanding the concept of productive struggle, parents can help their gifted children to develop a growth mindset and become more resilient in the face of challenges. We'll discuss how to foster a healthy relationship with failure and how to help your child develop the skills they need to navigate difficulties and setbacks.

Finally, we'll talk about how to effectively communicate with schools to advocate for your child's needs and collaborate in their education. You'll leave with a better understanding of how to support your child's strengths and challenges, and how to work together with schools to create an environment that fosters their intellectual and emotional growth.

Andi was a classroom teacher for 16 years before pursuing her passion tochange education by sharing practical ways to engage and empower this generation of learners. She is currently a digital innovation specialist at ESC Region 12 in Waco, Texas. Andi is passionate about using meaningful technology in the classroom and finding innovative ways to engage today’s learners. She believes that the students that we are educating today are unique and we must be creative in our teaching strategies. Andi was named one of the Top People in Education to Watch in 2016 by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. Andi has published Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry, A Meaningful Mess: A Teacher's Guide to Student-Driven Classrooms, Authentic Learning, Student Empowerment, and Keeping It All Together Without Losing Your Mind, and Ready-to-Use Resources for Genius Hour in the Classroom: Taking Passion Projects to the Next Level. She absolutely loves sharing her passion for innovative education with other educators that want more for their students.

Parent Webinar

Link:  https://vimeo.com/865618871?share=copy 

Password: AAGC-Parent923

Interpreter

Link:  https://vimeo.com/865618998?share=copy

Password: AAGC-Parent923

Parent Webinar Series

April 11, 2023, 6:00 pm CT

Discover the Best Summer Camps for Gifted Students: 

A Guide for Parents

Parents of gifted students, we've got some amazing summer camp options for you! Join us as you hear about these fantastic opportunities! Let your child explore their academic interests at Indian Springs School, or dive into the wonders of naturalscience at the Cook Museum. For the aspiring engineers, University of Alabama-Huntsville has a wide range of camps to choose.  For the marine biologists in the making, check out the Dauphin Island Sea Lab! Plus, don't forget to keep their creativity flowing with the Chicken Coop Art Club's online subscription. The possibilities are endless - make this a summer to remember! 

Recording link:

https://vimeo.com/817701794?share=copy

Password: Parent4-2023

Camp Links

Indian Springs:  https://www.indiansprings.org/academics/summer-programs

UAH College of Engineering:  https://www.uah.edu/eng/summer-camps

Cook Museum:  https://www.cookmuseum.org/calendar/phantastic-phenomena-multi-day-camp-5-days/

https://www.cookmuseum.org/public-programs/public-camps/

Dauphin Island Sea Lab:  https://www.disl.edu/dhp/summer-camps/

Chicken Coop Club:  https://www.chickencoopclub.com/

Additional Camps mentioned at the end of the presentation

Camp McDowell Youth Folk School:  https://campmcdowell.org/upcoming-events/youth-folk-camp

Drone Academy:  https://southernresearch.org/stem-drone-academy/

Instead of the flyer, here is the web page link to 

Summer Magic Camp: https://alabamaacademyofmagic.square.site/

Just Start Entrepreneurship Camp

https://www.troy.edu/community-outreach/idea-bank/entrepreneurship-summer-camp.html

PD Webinar Series and Parent Webinar

February 21, 2023, 6:00 pm CT

Mental Health and Well-being: Dispelling Myths About Gifted Learners

Young exceptional students exhibit a startling depth and sensitivity in their emotions. Contrary to popular opinion, some aspects of a gifted child's giftedness may affect or magnify their experience with mental health issues. In addition to debunking common myths about the capacity of gifted students to manage their complex emotional nuances and sensitivity, this session will go through techniques that may encourage healthy growth and mental well-being.

Dr. Sherrionda H. Crawford is a Professor of School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the Division of Counseling, Rehabilitation & Interpreter Training at Troy University. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in Georgia and Alabama, and a Certified School Counselor in the state of Alabama. Before becoming a professor at Troy University, she provided valuable counseling services to children and adults in clinical and school counseling settings. Dr. Crawford actively volunteers for the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as a scholarship reviewer and mentor. Her research interests include trends in school counseling to include interpersonal violence and suicide prevention across the lifespan and skill acquisition for counselors-in-training.

Dr. Kanessa Miller Doss is an Associate Professor of Psychology and COE Director of Operations- Montgomery Campus at Troy University. She is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). Dr. Doss is also a certified School Counselor and School Psychologist in the state of Alabama. She has nine years of experience as a public-school educator. Dr. Doss is also a certified QPR Gatekeeper in Suicide Prevention Training instructor. She is a member and board member of several professional organizations. Her research interests are social-emotional functioning with an emphasis on school/college campus violence, bullying, school psychology advocacy, youth suicide, and accessibility issues.

Recorded Webinar Link: https://vimeo.com/805670339

Password: AAGC2023-2

Resources

PowerPoint presentation with links-

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14xXwaa8Y0kKU7lFb64xsyoB8qqVWkrNY/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106762369720643055202&rtpof=true&sd=true

The Heart of MATTER: Understanding the Adolescent Brain

to Connect to the Heart - PART 2

Ever feel like your child isn't speaking the same language as you? Adolescence is the second greatest time of new construction in the brain. The changes that occur create uncertainty, anxiety, heightened curiosity, and a quest for independence within your child and frustration, confusion and disconnect within parents. This session will help you depersonalize adolescent responses and build strong connections to their hearts because that is what MATTERS most. The latest research will be shared and practical steps to build or rebuild your relationship with your adolescent child.

Sherri Spears M. Ed Secondary ELA, Gifted Specialist K-12

Sherri Spears lives in Chelsea, AL with her husband, Daryl, and her four children Steven(16), Annika(15), Vivi(10), and Emery(7). She is a lover of nature, animals, poetry, art, neuroscience, humor, satire, TED Talks, roller coasters, milkshakes, horror movies/stories, and a good meme. Sherri has spent 21 years as an educator teaching middle and high school students. In 2013 she accepted the Gifted Education Lead Teacher position for Shelby County Schools which has allowed her to pursue research and professional learning in educational neuroscience, adolescent brain development, trauma-informed teaching, ADHD, executive function disorder, Dyslexia, and gifted education. Her hope is that by equipping adults with a scientific understanding of the nature and needs of adolescents, classrooms and families will be transformed and positive support systems will be created in the lives of the adolescents who need trustworthy, safe, non-anxious adults to guide and support them.

Recording can be found here

https://alabamagifted.org/GEM-2023

https://padlet.com/sspears4/vdfypyh0hs9chs27

Parents Needed! Engaging in Education and Advocacy for Gifted Students

Gifted students have learning needs that require special educational considerations. While most schools recognize the special learning needs of their highly capable students, it is important for parents to engage in and advocate for educational opportunities and experiences that will maximize their child’s unique strengths. Please join us for an informative webinar sponsored by the Alabama Association for Gifted Children on Thursday, October 13 at 6:00 P.M. This session, titled Parents Needed! Engaging in Education and Advocacy for Gifted Students, is presented by Dr. Patti Wood, AAGC Board Member and consultant in academic and creative education for gifted learners. Dr. Wood will offer insights into what makes gifted children who they are, what parents can do to better understand their gifted child, and how to advocate for their child’s educational needs. 

Recording can be found here.

Slide show can be found here.

Resources can be found here.

To do list for all parents/grandparents.

Dr. Patti Wood, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Director of Gifted Education at Samford University, will present - "Understanding Your Gifted Child: Raising Happy and Successful Lifelong Learners"

This informative webinar will offer insights into what makes gifted children who they are and what parents can do to understand their gifted child’s educational and social needs. 

This is the first in a series of webinars for parents of gifted children. Recording of this webinar can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vydMWLMMp-8&feature=youtu.be

Future webinars will be available free of charge with your paid annual AAGC membership dues of $25. You can join AAGC by clicking https://alabamagifted.org/Join-us/