[UAGCNews] The SENG Conference Experience

Tue Apr 8 20:10:30 CDT 2008

 <http://www.sengifted.org/../index.shtml> Back to homepage

     The "Silver Anniversary" SENG Conference

          Reaching Attitudes and Altitudes

will be held July 18-20, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah

REGISTER at  <http://www.sengifted.org/> www.SENGifted.org (Early
Bird discount ends May 31st) 

For scholarship information see:
http://www.sengifted.org/conference_scholarship.shtml

The SENG Conference Experience

Most conferences about giftedness focus primarily on educational
issues. While a few presentations about the social and emotional
development and needs of gifted people and the challenges facing
the gifted population may be included, these presentations play a
minor role.

SENG conferences reverse the priorities. We believe that
recognizing, understanding, and accepting the unique social and
emotional needs of this population are the first priorities for
teachers, parents, and counselors. SENG supports strong gifted
education programs, but we believe the emotional piece is the
foundation for the development of healthy, happy, well-adjusted,
appropriately educated, and contributing gifted members of
society.

Who Should Attend

EDUCATORS 

"I very much enjoyed the conference. It is the first of its type
that I have attended. I found the presenters knowledgeable and
helpful and very willing to answer questions and offer guidance."

To teach gifted children effectively, teachers must be cognizant
of the different ways these children learn and of their differing
and unique social and emotional needs. Unfortunately, teacher
education courses rarely address gifted education, or how social
and emotional needs affect these students' ability and motivation
to learn. The SENG conference presents an unparalleled
opportunity for teachers to learn about these keys to
understanding and serving gifted children. New for 2008...Special
Educator's Strand! 

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS 
Year after year, parents tell us that the SENG conference is by
far the best conference about giftedness they have ever attended.
The sessions expose parents to the array of unique attributes
associated with giftedness, and teach techniques for dealing
effectively with children and children's teachers. Parents have
the opportunity to connect with other parents experiencing
similar challenges. And, not infrequently, a parent confides that
he or she has had an epiphany about his or her own life, reaching
an understanding of his or her own giftedness. New for 2008...
Beginner, Intermediate and "Advanced SENG Institute" levels to
choose from!

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

"The conference was a highly enriching and productive experience
for me and my family. I learned (and likely, re-learned)
parenting techniques which allow for greater communication and
understanding between me and my daughters."

Most counseling and psychology programs only touch on gifted
issues, and professionals are often not trained to recognize the
unique characteristics of gifted individuals. Specialized
knowledge about how characteristics of giftedness may appear
similar to behaviors that result from clinical conditions such as
ADHD and OCD can increase the effectiveness of counseling with
this population. Not only do SENG conferences provide a wealth of
information in the regular conference program, we also offer
concurrent Continuing Education Courses for mental health
professionals. 

"My children were skeptical at first about attending the
conference. According to my son's comments on the way to the
conference, there are no other people like him anywhere on Earth,
and it wouldn't matter if the other kids thought the activities
were cool, he would still find them boring. At the end of the
conference he said 'Those kids were actually a lot like me. Do
they have anything sooner than next year?'"

GIFTED TEENS
Too old for the Children's Program, but not quite an adult? The
SENG Teen Program is for gifted "tweens" aged 15 to 18 and
promises a unique experience specially crafted to meet special
needs and interests of teens. The emphasis is on social
interaction and fun, on making contacts and establishing
relationships with other gifted teens from across the country.
SENG's expert facilitators will be on hand to address topics of
interest raised by this group. 

GIFTED ADULTS
Giftedness does not fade after high school, though, often,
support for gifted people does. Often parents come to SENG to
learn about their gifted children and rediscover their own
giftedness. Grown-ups needs strategies and support, too, in their
family, creative, and professional lives.

GIFTED CHILDREN
The SENG Conference includes a children's program that runs
concurrently with the adults' program. Designed for kids ages 7
through 14 whose parents are attending the conference, it
provides an environment in which kids can have fun while learning
new skills such as juggling, creating cartoons, or how to write
and stage a play. Each year the program varies but always, and
most importantly, the kids have the opportunity to connect with
other gifted kids. Often, life-long friendships form, and many
children return year after year.

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