2008 TAGT Parent Conference

The Gifted Students Institute and SMU’s Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development welcome parents to the SMU-in-Legacy campus for a day-long conference put on by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented.  The day-long conference will give parents an opportunity to meet and hear professionals in gifted education.  The sessions throughout the day will focus on helping parents of gifted children understand and find some answers to the challenges parents face both at home and in school.

Sessions will include the following topics.

Gifted and Thriving: A Deeper Understanding of the Meaning of G/T
Dr. Michael Sayler, University of North Texas
What makes a gifted person happy? In this address, Dr. Sayler will present a life-span model happiness and thriving for gifted individuals, which explores the personal and external influences and dynamics related to talent development and thriving at home, in school, career success, personal well-being, life-satisfaction, and personal happiness.

Parents’ Roles as Leaders in Raising Successful Gifted Children: Social, Emotional, and Psychological Development Today and into the Future
Dr. Michael Sayler, University of North Texas
Parenting the gifted entails having a vision for the kinds of adults we want our children to be and skills for successfully achieving that vision. The experiences of the gifted and talented in their pre-adult years at home, their friendships, and their school experiences impact both their success and their happiness as adults.  In this presentation I will explain the dynamics of the transformation of gifts into talents overlaid with personal thriving. We will look specifically at the roles of parents and of the importance of parental leadership in facilitating these transformations. 

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3—
Sherry Neaves, Grand Prairie ISD 
This session will answer all your questions about tests used to identify gifted students. What are the different tests? Who qualifies as gifted? How do you interpret the data? What’s a test ceiling and how can you tell if the test has one? Feel more confident in your ability to understand what the tests show (and don’t!).

The Teenage Brain
Gerry Charlebois, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
Why do adolescents do what they do? This presentation will provide parents with some basic physiology and insight into the ‘Teenage Brain’. Research will be shared as to how a teenager views his/her world differently than adults. Strategies will be given to assist parents in helping adolescents attain optimal learning.

Internet Safety for Parents and Students                                                                  
Vicki Allen, AT&T
The integration and utilization of technology makes for excitement in education but what happens when the dark side of technology sneaks in? This session explores issues involving student Internet safety and privacy, online ethics and digital citizenship, cyber bullying, network security issues, policy changes and more. Learn about a variety of online resources and tools both educators and parents will want to use for communicating with and protecting students online.

Living with Your Gifted Child: An Informal Discussion
Dr. Benny Hickerson, Southern Methodist University and TAGT Past-President, and Sheri Plybon, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, and TAGT Second Vice-President
Join this informal discussion/dialogue with educators who have extensive experience living with and teaching gifted youth. There will be ample time for questions from the audience.

Parent Group Leaders Forum: Sharing Ideas and Strategies for Success 
Jose Laguna, TAG Parents, Judson ISD, and TAGT Third Vice-President, Diana Cooley, TAGT Parent of the Year, Garland Area Parents Association for Gifted and Talented, and others
This brown bag session is an opportunity for current and prospective parent group leaders to network and exchange information.  Possible topics include how other parent groups communicate with their membership, specific ways they advocate for gifted kids in their communities, membership recruitment ideas, as well as administrative details such as whether or not to buy insurance, applying for non-profit status and budget frameworks.

Summer Program Opportunities and Ideas
Marilyn Swanson, Southern Methodist University and TAGT Executive Board Member, and Dr. Richard Sinclair, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science and TAGT Executive Board Member
Learn about how to locate and select appropriate and worthwhile summer programs for your gifted child, and hear details and information from several summer program directors.

Focusing on Young Adult Literature 
Carol Romary, Suzonne Evans, and Deborah Stevenson, Mansfield ISD
Join us in a look at what gifted students are reading and enjoying. All books have been selected to appeal specifically to our gifted students and their unique needs and interests.    

"I'm Bored" and Other Common Concerns 
Dr. Beth Lusby, Cornerstone Assessment and Guidance Center
"I'm Bored" is a frequent complaint of the gifted child. A practicing psychologist will discuss how parents can assist their child in overcoming boredom, when intervention may be useful, as well as clues to when this complaint may mask larger issues, such as existential and religious questions and/or depression.

Gifted 101: Understanding G/T Programs and Options
Dr. Benny Hickerson, Southern Methodist University and TAGT Past-President
Gifted children have unique learning and social-emotional characteristics that require a unique academic environment.  We'll examine some of the available G/T program models and options designed to meet these unique learning needs, including a discussion of the positive and negative aspects of each model and questions to consider.  

Did You Know Humpty Dumpty Was Gifted?
Shannon Gauntt, Linda Foster, and Marett Moore, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
The social and emotional needs of gifted students sometimes causes them to feel like they are walking on eggshells. Come crack an egg and discover strategies that address g/t issues such as: stress, perfectionism, positive thinking, and more! 

Encouraging Your Student in the Performing Arts 
Kirk deCordova, Palmer ISD, and Roberta Rast, Professional Musician and Music Instructor
This session will explore the enriching world of the performing arts as it relates to your gifted child. Tips for encouraging and supporting your child at home and school will be shared; as an added bonus, enjoy live performances by the presenters as part of the presentation.                

My Child Is Gifted, Now What? The Journey Begins 
Sheri Plybon, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, and TAGT Second Vice-President
This session will briefly discuss theory and the reality of living with a gifted child.  As parents we are responsible for their Passions, Understanding their Sensitivity, Being the Advocate, not the Adversary, Differentiating the At-Home Activities, and Character Development, all in a Global Society where everything is changing rapidly.  Not to mention being responsible for our own personal growth as adults.  Join in for discussion, dialogue, and resources.

Drugging Our Best and Brightest?
Dr. Lemoyne Dunn, The University of North Texas                                                    
The purpose of this presentation is to help create an awareness of areas of possible misdiagnosis of gifted students and to encourage more careful and thorough assessment when considering a secondary diagnosis such as a learning disability, Asperger’s Syndrome, or ADD/ADHD in gifted students.

Mythbusting: Separating Scholarship Fact from Fiction                                          
Sharon Vann, Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science
We will discuss the common misconceptions about college scholarships and financial aid and find the truth behind them. Information about scams, merit scholarships, and need-based programs will be included.

 Advocacy and Your Gifted Child: A Panel Discussion 
Jose Laguna, TAG Parents, Judson ISD, and TAGT Third Vice-President, Diana Cooley, TAGT Parent of  the Year, Garland Area Parents Association  for Gifted and Talented, and Dr. Sue Frazier, President, Sherman ISD Board of Trustees
Parents often wonder how they can advocate effectively for their child and for gifted education as a whole. This question remains whether it involves advocacy within a classroom, within a school, within a school district, or to the state as a whole. This panel of parents will share tips on some ways to promote gifted education for your child and for all gifted students, including taking a look at the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students.

The conference will take place at the SMU-in-Legacy campus in Plano with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m., The conference will open at 9 a.m. and continue with break-out sessions throughout the day. Lunch is included in the cost of the conference.