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

---

Join GHF to enjoy these interviews and more

Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced  DIY Education course. 

For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.

---

Kasi Peters presents Early Years Homeschooling: Insider Tips from a Been There, Done That Parent

Jaime Smith presents Helping Your Child Pursue Their Dreams

Kasi Peters:

Early Years Homeschooling: Insider Tips from a Been There Done That Parent

Whether you are a seasoned homeschooler or just starting out on your homeschooling journey, this session will support you with ideas and strategies around creating a supportive, fun, healthy and sustainable homeschooling environment.

There’s a lot I wish I had known when I started out homeschooling in 2012 and I’m excited to share some insights with you that may reduce your own growing pains. From actual homeschooling advice and practical tips to suggestions for making parenting and educational mindset shifts, I’m hoping to reduce some of the stress that comes from unexpectedly homeschooling! So, whether you’ve been homeschooling for several years and need some fresh inspiration, or are just starting out on your journey, this session will be chock full of ideas, strategies and tried and true methods for creating a successful, healthy and happy homeschooling environment. Focused on the younger years, through elementary school, and lead by a seasoned homeschooler, you’ll be presented with researched based information on supporting the social, emotional and academic needs of gifted or twice-exceptional children.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: * Improving sense of competency around homeschooling * Strategies for creating a positive homeschooling environment * Ideas for discovering your child’s strengths and interests

BIO: Kasi Peters, MT-BC, is a passionate advocate for gifted and twice-exceptional children and their families. She has served on the boards of many gifted organizations including SENG, Profoundly Gifted Retreat, and Gifted Homeschoolers Forum. Kasi holds a certificate in Gifted and Talented Education and is a graduate student at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity. Kasi is co-founder of Westside of Los Angeles Gifted, and Square Pegs supporting gifted families through parent groups and individual consulting around alternative educational opportunities. She has been homeschooling her two gifted children since 2012. Kasi is also a board-certified music therapist primarily working with children who have special needs.

---

Jaime Smith

Homeschooling to College: Helping Your Child Pursue Their Dreams

From transcripts and test scores, to extracurriculars and essays, the college application process can be overwhelming for homeschoolers. In this session, we will break down the process into manageable parts to help you homeschool to college with confidence. You’ll discover the advantages of homeschooling high school, basic requirements for college admissions, strategies for successful applications, and how to prepare your gifted/2e homeschooler for the college transition. Whether you’re just starting your homeschooling journey or you’re a seasoned homeschooling family, this webinar will provide you with valuable insights and strategies to help your student succeed in college and beyond.

For homeschooling families, navigating the college application process can be daunting. You may feel like you are at a disadvantage compared to traditionally-schooled students. However, in this session, you will discover the unique advantages that homeschooling can offer for gifted and 2e teens preparing for the transition to college. This session will explain the basic requirements for college admissions, such as standardized tests, application essays, and recommendations. You will also gain insights into successful application strategies for homeschoolers, including highlighting unique strengths and achievements as a homeschooler and documenting your student’s learning in a way that universities will understand. Lastly, we will touch upon the academic and life skills students will need to master before heading off to a 4-year university. Whether you are just starting your homeschooling journey or are a seasoned homeschooling family, this webinar will provide valuable insights and strategies to help your child succeed in college and beyond. With the proper preparation and support, homeschooling can be a powerful tool for achieving academic success and helping your child pursue their dreams. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  *Parents will: – Understand the unique advantages that homeschooling can offer for college applicants – Identify the basic requirements for college admissions and understand how to meet them as a homeschooler – Develop a plan to prepare your student for a successful college transition

BIO: Jaime Smith has been an educator since 1997, when she began teaching 5th and 6th grade Language Arts at The Harker School in San Jose after earning a B.A. in Linguistics from U.C. Berkeley. Since then, Jaime has earned an M.A. TESOL and an M.S. Education with an emphasis in eLearning. She has taught for institutions such as San Jose State University, Cal State East Bay, San Mateo Adult School, and the Art Institute Online, and has trained teachers both locally and internationally. She is also the founder and CEO of OnlineG3.com, a WASC-accredited online Supplementary Education Program. A lifelong learner, Jaime decided to continue her education by earning a college counseling certificate at U.C. San Diego. In 2022, she earned the Certified Educational Planner designation from AICEP as well. She believes there is a viable path to higher education for every learner from every background. She has helped students pursue traditional freshman and transfer admissions, research community college options, and consider alternative paths via GED or CHSPE tests. To further her understanding of nontraditional students and underserved populations, she is recently completed a Post-Master’s Certificate in Transfer Leadership and Practice.

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 9:20am PT / 12:20pm ET (US and Canada)

Topic: Day 1 Practical Applications for the Homeschool

---

Join GHF to enjoy these interviews and more

Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced  DIY Education course. 

For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.

---

GHF presents a conversation with Jen Merrill, Authentic and Impromptu
 

Who better to represent our conference’s theme on our first day than the inimitable Jen Merrill? In addition to being GHF Journey’s Creative Editor, Jen is widely loved for her blog, Laughing at Chaos, and her book If This is a Gift, Can I Send It Back?, and those of you who regularly tune in to our offerings know that she is as genuine and open with her experiences and advice as they come. She will also be the first to tell you that she is a super hero… because every parent of a gifted and/or 2e kid is, including you! A recent empty-nester, she has lived through it all to tell the tale, and while she would never deign to sugar-coat the rough bits, she will empower, inspire and renew your sense of resolve.
 
Jen Merrill is a writer, musician, teacher, ed-tech marketing advisor, and gifted-family advocate. The mom of two boys, she homeschooled her twice-exceptional teen through high school while happily sending his younger brother off to his high school every morning. Those days now in the past, she is settling into the somewhat quieter life of an empty-nester. Her book, If This is a Gift, Can I Send It Back?, struck a nerve with families; her second book, on the needs of gifted parents and self-care, will be finished shortly before the heat death of the universe. In addition to writing on her longtime blog, Laughing at Chaos, Jen has presented at SENG and WCGTC.

Jen brings both her acquired wisdom and her experience as a teacher and mentor to her work in the service of parents, teaching them techniques and mentoring them into their own versions of success. Her goal is to support parents of gifted and twice-exceptional kids, because they are the ones doing the heavy lifting and are too often ignored, patronized, and discredited. It is her hope that her sons never have to deal with these issues when they raise their own likely gifted children.

*Jen is featured in GHF Press’ Perspectives on Giftedness

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 10:50am PT / 1:50pm ET (US and Canada)

Topic: Day 1 Explorations for the Homeschool

---

Join GHF to enjoy these interviews and more

Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced  DIY Education course. 

For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.

---

Lisa Jobe, Esq and Cassandra Whetstone lead a panel on How to Nurture Gifted / 2e Learners’ Unique Interests to Fuel the Love of Learning

Gifted learners often have unique interests that fuel their love of learning. Providing the freedom to explore self-led learning and to deep-dive down rabbit holes in pursuit of their interests inspires further curiosity and engagement. The joy in these discoveries then often develops into larger passions. As parents, how can we nurture our learners’ interests and help them discover their passions? What resources are available when their passions take them beyond our own knowledge? In what ways can we integrate our learners’ passions into their educational journeys? 

Presenters Lisa Jobe and Cassandra Whetstone are educators and gifted homeschool specialists who are passionate about personalized learning and in sharing the lasting benefits for gifted and 2e learners when they are engaged and interested in their learning. In this presentation, Lisa and Cassandra will help families explore self-led learning and personalized learning pathways; will share success stories of gifted young adults whose passion-led learning has led to where they are today; and will introduce Grete Schuler, a profoundly gifted and highly creative teen who used homeschool as a method to complete high school while living under unusual circumstances. She is excited to share her unique and passion-led learning journey! They will also share resources and examples of how they curate personalized learning pathways for gifted learners based on their unique interests and passions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Discover ways in which gifted/2e learners’ unique interests can be developed and nurtured; Learn how these learners’ interests can be integrated into their learning journeys; Hear success stories of gifted young adults whose passion-led learning has led to where they are today.

LISA JOBE: Lisa Jobe is an educational consultant specializing in providing homeschool support for profoundly gifted learners and their families. Lisa pivoted from her corporate law career to homeschool her profoundly gifted sons and has now devoted 15 years to educating and serving as an advocate in the gifted community. She is passionate about supporting underserved gifted families, and volunteers in many capacities, including on the GHF Board of Directors. She is also a doctoral student at Bridges Grad School, continuing her formal studies in gifted education and cognitive diversity. 

CASSANDRA WHETSTONE: Cassandra Whetstone has been a credentialed educator for almost 30 years. She’s worked with students and families in classrooms, homeschools, and hybrids, and homeschooled her own two gifted and 2e children from elementary school to college. Cassandra specializes in supporting 2e learners and their families as they navigate their unique homeschool pathways.

Lisa and Cassandra are co-founders of Sequoia Gifted and Creative LLC, which serves gifted families across the nation with individualized learning support, including homeschooling, early college, and mentoring resources. They specialize in curating personalized learning pathways around learners’ unique interests. Please discover more about how they support gifted families at www.SequoiaGifted.com, reach out at SequoiaGifted@gmail.com, and join them on social media @SequoiaGifted.

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 11:50am PT / 2:50pm ET (US and Canada)

Topic: Day 1 Professional Groups on Homeschooling

---

Join GHF to enjoy these interviews and more

Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced  DIY Education course. 

For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.

---

President Lisa Sticca-Conrod, Immediate Past President Barry Gelston, Secretary Katherine Turner, Treasurer Ricardo Mejia, Directors Carol Malueg, Kasi Peters, Lin Lim, Erin Fears Floyd, Lisa Jobe & Marna Wohlfeld

Come meet our board, including several new directors, and new president, Lisa, who will make introductions, give an overview of the day’s line-up and get us energized for a nourishing day of community, connection and learning! 

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 8:15am PT / 11:15 am ET (US and Canada)

Topic: Day 1 Kickoff Celebrating Strengths for the Homeschool

---

Join GHF to enjoy these interviews and more

Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced  DIY Education course. 

For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.

---