Parents of Gifted Offspring - POGO
The Gifted Youth Program recognizes that academically gifted young people face a unique set of challenges because of their gifts. These challenges can range from perfectionism, concerns about political or global issues, high expectations for themselves, the stresses of challenging academic work, or feelings of being marginalized because they don’t share the interests or abilities of most of their peers. POGO (Parents of Gifted Offspring) was established more than a decade ago by a group of concerned parents to provide opportunities to meet and discuss these and related issues. Led by experts in the field of gifted education and child and adolescent psychology, POGO seminars take place while students are in classes on the Montclair State University campus and generally last an hour. All parents of gifted students – not just those whose children are enrolled in the program – are invited to participate. Admission to all POGO seminars is free and open to the public.
Spring 2013 POGO Series
The Gifted & Talented Fall Parent Orientation Program
Presenter: Rebeccah Newman, Interim Associate Director, Gifted & Talented Program
Saturday, March 2, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
Sunday, March 3, 2013, 11:30-12:30, University Hall 1010
A parent orientation (students are welcome to attend if not in class). Parents will have the opportunity to hear about the fall program, meet the weekend coordinator and counselors and learn about the parent weekend. A question and answer period will follow.
Positive Parenting: Exploring Strategies to Modify and Maintain a Child’s Behaviors
Presenter(s): Dr. Silvia C. Pastor, Psychological Assessment & Research for Kids (PARK) Director
Cynthia Raia, School Psychology Intern and PARK Clinical Assistant
Saturday, March 8, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
Sunday, March 9, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
This workshop will provide parents with useful strategies they can immediately put in place to improve a child’s behaviors in different environments. It will further enable parents to understand where a behavior is coming from, why it is happening at a particular time in a particular place, the logic behind it, and function (or functions) it serves the child. Parents will also be provided with an overview of positive behavior supports and interventions. During the session, parents will gain experience exploring why children engage in certain behaviors and will learn strategies they can easily implement at home. In addition, strategies will be provided to families that foster working collaboratively with school staff and the educational system to ensure the very best outcome for their children.
Practical Ideas for Improving Writing and Critical Thinking
Presenter: Nathan Levy, President, New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC)
Sunday, March 17, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
Join author and international gifted consultant Nathan Levy for his dynamic presentation. Mr. Levy’s workshops and materials are hits at gifted conferences worldwide. This workshop will help parents assist their children in developing fluency of writing and thinking. They will develop options for problem-solving and critical thinking. Participants will gain time-saving strategies and creative ideas. A variety of writing and critical thinking activities that have been used successfully with gifted children will be shared in this engaging, interactive presentation.
Powerful Strategies for Parents to Enhance the Learning of Gifted and Highly Capable
Presenter: Nathan Levy, President, New Jersey Association for Gifted Children (NJAGC)
Saturday, March 23, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
Sunday, March 24, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
Join author and international gifted consultant Nathan Levy for his dynamic presentation. Mr. Levy’s workshops and materials are hits at gifted conferences worldwide. This workshop explores numerous, proven ways to reach gifted learners in challenging ways. The objective is to have participants leave with a variety of new strategies and specific ideas to help pupils become better creative and critical thinkers. A variety of successful teaching and parenting techniques will be shared. Bring your thinking caps and your funny bones.
Parent Weekend
Saturday, April 6, 2013 and Sunday, April 7, 2013
Only open to parents of currently enrolled students.
Breakfast for the Brain
Presenter: Scott Hobson
Sunday, April 14, 2013, 10:15-11:15, Dickson Hall (Brantl Lecture Hall)
Join former principal, author, speaker, and educational consultant, Scott Hobson for this informative and entertaining workshop. Learn how to get your daily serving of critical thinking. Don’t just give your child more things to do. Give them better (more meaningful) things to do. Experience how to ignite their imagination and creative thinking. Participants will learn engaging activities that they can use at home or in schools to motivate children for higher level thinking.
Challenging Behaviors in Gifted Children
Presenter: Carole O’Brien
Sunday, April 21, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
All children have some sort of challenging behaviors. What is unique in a gifted child is that the characteristics of giftedness can lead to social and emotional problems. These children are prone to stimulus overload, breaking the rules, perfectionism and may not be physically developed to accomplish a task they are intellectually capable of envisioning. In order to help your gifted child, it’s important for parents to understand how giftedness can influence behavior.
“P” is for Perfect! Helping children cope with perfectionism and anxiety
Presenter: Alison Brown
Sunday, April 28, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
A very common trait in many bright children is that of perfectionism. This trait is seen in both the “paralyzed perfectionists” – those children too afraid to try something for fear of failing, or not being absolutely perfect; but also seen in the “exhausted perfectionists” – those children who try so hard and labor over things repeatedly to make them just right. Whilst it is great to set high standards, perfectionism can lead to anxiety, frustration and low self-esteem. Bright children often apply these high expectations to other areas of their life as well, taking the weight of the world upon their shoulders, and feeling unable to do anything about it. These high expectations and feelings of anxiety often result in the sad situation where we have very capable and competent young students feeling angry, frustrated and inadequate. This seminar looks at issues relating to perfectionism and anxiety in bright children and ways in which we can help them understand and manage the issues with which they struggle.
Parenting Gifted Children: Going Beyond Baby Einstein
Presenters: Dr. Silvia C. Pastor, Psychological Assessment & Research for Kids (PARK) Director
Brittany Silverman, School Psychology and PARK Intern
Nicholas Vitaro, School Psychology and PARK Intern
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
Sunday, May 5, 2013, 10:15-11:15, University Hall 1010
This workshop will guide parents with a comprehensive understanding of what giftedness is enabling them to take charge of their child’s development. Often it is difficult to distinguish between a child’s innate abilities and their progressive talents. The presentation will empower parents with training techniques to increase coping skills, develop rational functioning, and strengthen life skills needed to ensure a healthy and rewarding journey. Moreover, parents will have a unique opportunity to address their own parenting struggles. This interactive workshop will require full participation.
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