Dr. Matt Zakreski presents, IMPROV-ing Social Skills: Using Improv Games to Develop SEL Skills in Gifted Students
IMPROV-ing Social Skills: Using Improv Games to Develop SEL Skills in Gifted Students
Improvisational acting (or Improv) games are an effective way to teach and shape social skills for the gifted population. These games rely on quick thinking, verbal skill, creativity, and enthusiasm. Having broad and varied interests also serve to make the games better. Research has indicated that Improv games are effective in teaching prosocial behavior, emotional resiliency, cognitive flexibility, failure tolerance, and sustained social engagement. While all children can benefit from learning these skills, these are areas of development significantly present in the gifted population. Improv games can be done anywhere, cost nothing, and are fun! The content of the games are supplied by the participants, which not only keeps the topics fresh and modern but also allow gifted individuals to engage with others about their areas of interest. Improv groups can be teacher-facilitated or student-lead and can be tailored to meet the needs of all students. This methodology represents a student-centric, real-time way to engage the gifted population in the development of social skills that fits their unique skills and interests.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1. Participants will understand how and why Improv is an effective teaching tool for developing social and emotional skills. 2. Participants will get to participate in the exercises that demonstrate building these skills. 3. Participants will workshop ways to manage behavior and overcome student resistance.
BIO: Matthew “Dr. Matt” Zakreski, PsyD is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist 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 over 200 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/
Please join us for this event!
You are invited to a Zoom Session for The GHF Gifted Home Education Conference – Come as You Are: Authenticity and Acceptance. (Link leads to the event in the GHF Forum – Member Content)
Friday June 2, 2023 8:20am PT / 11:20am ET (US and Canada)
Topic: Day 1 Celebrating Strengths for the Homeschool
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