Barry Gelston, Ed.D

Navigating the Roadblocks for Gifted and 2e Learners

In this session, Barry Gelston leads families through an engaging discussion about the cultural barriers that hinder the success of families raising gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) learners. Join us as we explore a paradigm shift from traditional educational models to the unique approach embraced by GHF (Gifted Homeschoolers Forum) in understanding and fostering your family's growth.

Topics We Will Cover:

1. **Understanding the Harms of the Deficit and Medical Models

• Learn about the negative impacts of viewing children through the lens of their shortcomings.

• Discover the limitations and potential drawbacks of medicalizing learning differences.

2. Appreciating Your Power as Gifted Home Educators

• Recognize and harness your unique strengths and abilities in educating your gifted children.

3. Exploring the Strengths of Your Children

• Identify and cultivate the individual strengths and talents of your children to help them thrive.

4. Open Conversation

• Engage in an open dialogue with other families to share experiences, challenges, and successes.

Join the Conversation We invite you to participate actively in our discussion. Your insights and experiences are valuable in creating a supportive and empowering environment for all families navigating the journey of homeschooling gifted and 2e children. Let's work together to overcome the roadblocks and embrace the strengths of our unique learners!

Barry Gelston is a Doctoral candidate at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, and a private math teacher working with gifted & 2e homeschool students who struggle with learning math in traditional settings. Barry is the former president of GHF who led the effort to restart the organization and secure its relevance and sustainability for the future. He has a strong interest in the social and emotional needs of gifted students and focuses on helping them form a positive gifted learning identity. Gelston is a member of the leadership team for the National Association of Gifted Children 2e special interest group, and a former member of the executive committee for Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG). Today, his focus is on progressing the Spiral Model of Development with the theory’s founder, Dr Karen Arnstein. Together, they are changing the paradigm of how educators, professionals, and families understand and support people with multiple exceptionalities and learning differences.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrygelston/