Wild And Wonderful: The West Virginia Department of Education

Since your gifted son or daughter lives in West Virginia, you will want to make use of the services for the gifted that our state offers.  I recommend going to the WVDE website, specifically http://wvde.state.wv.us/osp/gifted.html and clicking on Resources For Parents.  Once you click on this, several links will appear including the West Virginia Association for the Gifted and Talented (WVAGT), the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Parenting for High Potential magazine, and a fantastic PowerPoint presentation entitled Social and Emotional Development of Gifted and Talented Students posted there with permission from Nadia Webb, Psy. D., ABPdN.  

Wild And Wonderful II: The West Virginia Association for the Gifted and Talented

WVAGT is beneficial because it will increase your knowledge about various state and national conferences, possible opportunities, and helpful information as it pertains to your child’s social, emotional, and academic success.  It can be accessed through www.wvgifted.org where you can click on Resources.  Gifted Resource Links For Parents and Teachers will provide useful information such as: links, websites, contacts, and supportive organizations.  The contact person for the parent committee is Judy Werner. 
WVAGT

God Bless America: The National Association For Gifted Children

Along with being knowledgeable about gifted topics in West Virginia, I also highly recommend becoming involved or at least aware of giftedness on a national level through the NAGC website at www.nagc.org.   NAGC is parent-friendly and research based.   They even offer family conferences.  Accessing it will keep you abreast of the newest occurrences in the field of giftedness as well as being a source of social and emotional support for you and your child. 

It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s the Coordinator of Gifted Programs

Vickie Monacky is the Coordinator of Gifted Programs at the Office of Special Education in Charleston, WV.  She is an excellent source of information as you look to meet your gifted child’s needs.  She can be reached at vmohnack@access.K12.wv.us or by calling 304-558-2696.

Don’t Try To Pronounce It, Just Remember It: SENG

SENG or (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) is an essential component for parents dealing with the sometimes daily struggles of raising a gifted child.  They can be reached at www.sengifted.org, office@sengifted.org, or through the WVAGT site.  Their phone number is 845-797-5054.  SENG has pertinent articles and research along with annual conferences.  They also offer free webinars on topics such as parenting gifted children.  Although it is no longer free, a specific example of one past webinar is “This Isn’t the Child I Dreamed of Raising” by Barbara Probst.

Books Or Bust: Bibliotherapy

Using bibliotherapy, or the approach of using books to emotionally support gifted children, can be a powerful preventative counseling idea for gifted children and their families (Moon, 2002).  Reading and discussing books about gifted children can help gifted students explore ideas, share feelings, learn about conflict resolution, and feel better about themselves.  One excellent source of bibliotherapy information is teacher Tamara Fisher’s (2009) blog article in Education Week called "Using Bibliotherapy with Gifted Children".  She discusses how bibliotherapy can help gifted students cope with their social and emotional needs by identifying with a book character who shares similar hardships.  Her explanations regarding the benefits of bibliotherapy are helpful, and she offers a list of possible book choices to use with students on a pre-middle school (5^th/6^th) grade level.  The link is below.
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/2009/03/using_bibliotherapy_with_gifted_children.html

 

Click here for an additional informational video!!! 

                                           by (Willams, Bethell, Burrows, & Hanna, 2013)

Please Pass The Popcorn: It’s Cinematherapy

Watching movies involving gifted children, along with reading books, enables movie watchers to identify with main characters creating understanding, self-acceptance, and healthy determination in gifted students (Moon, 2002).  See Hoagies' Gifted Education Page for an extensive listing of movies featuring gifted kids at www.hoagiesgifted.org/movies.htm.

Some movie choices for the elementary and middle school age range:         

             

•         Angus  PG-13 
•         Black  NR (intense)
•        Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs  PG
•        Cold Comfort Farm  PG
•        Contact  PG
•        Dead Poets Society  PG (contains suicide)
•        Empire of the Sun  PG-13
•        Explorers  PG
•        Finding Forrester  PG-13 (some violence & language) 
•        Finding Neverland  PG
•        Fly Away Home  PG
•        Gifted Hands  NR
•        Hard Problems: The Road to the World's Toughest Math Contest  PG
•        Harriet The Spy  PG
•        any Harry Potter movies  PG
•        Holes  PG
•        Hoot  PG
•        How to Train Your Dragon  PG
•        Infinity  PG
•        The Iron Giant  PG
•        Little Man Tate  PG
•        Matilda  PG
•        Meet the Robinsons  PG
•        The Mighty  PG
•        Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium  G
•        October Sky  PG (about a West Virginia boy)
•        Real Genius  PG
•        Searching for Bobby Fisher  PG
•        Sky High  PG
•        Spellbound  G
•        Stand and Deliver PG
•       Vitus  PG
•       Whalerider  PG-13
•       Willow  PG

Not the Kind You Eat: Hoagies

Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page or www.Hoagiesgifted.org has several sources, all on-line, for easy parent access.  These sources include: books, TV episodes such as 60 Minutes, journals, newspaper articles and magazine articles.   They also have a PowerPoint presentation for parents entitled The Gifted Parent Online: Totally Free Internet Tools for Parent Support and Advocacy.

Yeah, We’re Smart: The Davidson Institute

The Davidson Institute recently launched the Davidson Gifted Database at www.davidsongifted.org/db containing a plethora of search capabilities for parents, students, and teachers to use in locating information on giftedness.  More information regarding gifted children can also be accessed through Davidson Young Scholars at www.davidsonyoungscholars.org, which includes detailed information about dealing with profoundly/exceptionally gifted children ages 5-18. 

My Kingdom For A Camp

As the parent of a gifted child, you will undoubtedly want to challenge your child’s academic abilities while also fostering their social and emotional skills.  You can do this by having them involved in educational opportunities amongst like ability peers.  The next several postings were obtained from a web search of camps offered in West Virginia and Virginia, and they provide information/advertisements regarding some of the possible camp options.  I hope this saves you precious time and helps you begin.  Please note that the final listing of Virginia Tech’s Imagination camp has the closest proximity to Mercer County and is geared for rising 7th and 8th graders.  Several of these camps are for high school age students but as a parent of an elementary or middle school gifted student, you will want to know of future opportunities.

West Virginia Aerospace and Engineering Scholars

The STEM Innovation Center at Fairmont State University in partnership with the West Virginia Aerospace and Engineering Scholars is offering a 5-day camp from August 1 through 5^th, 2014.  This “in-residence” camp is being offered at no cost to the students who will stay on the FSU campus and participate in a very hands-on curriculum whose goal is to launch a high altitude balloon with a scientific payload package by the end of the camp week.  Students will learn about the Earth’s atmosphere, physics, sensors, microcontrollers, programming and communications through a design process.
Contact(s):  Gene Turchin  (304-367-4630) or Michelle Poland (304-367-4246)
Email:  rturchin@fairmontstate.edu  or mpoland2@fairmontstate.edu
Web site: http://www.fairmontstate.edu/collegeofscitech/outreach

Marshall University Exploring Engineering: Academy of Excellence

While living on Marshall University’s campus in Huntington, WV, high school students (primarily rising juniors) participate in hands-on activities to introduce them to the varied applications of engineering. Activities include GPS, surveying, water quality testing, building trebuchets, Lego robots and CO2 race cars, and talking to practicing engineers from a variety of fields.
Contact: Dr. William Pierson, Director, Marshall University, Huntington, WV (304-696-6007)
Email: pierson@marshall.edu
Web site: http://www.marshall.edu/eeae

West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Montgomery, WV Camp STEM

Will your child be a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in high school this fall?  Is he/she interested in science, technology, engineering, or math?  Do they like a challenge that includes “hands-on” experiments and problem solving?  The WVU Institute of Technology invites high school students to attend a week long exploration of possibilities for a future career in science, technology, engineering and math.  During the week, Camp STEM brings students to the Montgomery campus for college-level instruction as well as a taste of college life.
Contact(s): Dr. Kimberlyn Gray or Lori Shaffer, P.E.
Email: Kimberlyn.Gray@mail.wvu.edu  or Lori.Shaffer@mail.wvu.edu
Web site: http://campstem.wvutech.edu

Summer Technology and Computer Camps

Does your child love programming, gaming, or robotics?  Take his/her hobbies further and help gain a competitive edge! Create iPhone apps, programs with C++ and Java, video games, websites, movies, 3D models, robots, photos, and more.  Accredited Continuing Education Units are available.  Over 130,000 students ages 7-17 have enrolled in fun and challenging, weeklong, day and overnight programs held at 60 prestigious universities in 27 states including the College of William & Mary.  Small classes (max 8:1) are guaranteed, and taught by adult-only instructors for personalized curriculum with a small group to optimize learning and social experiences. Additional multi-week summer camp teen programs for ages 13-18 at select universities include: iD Gaming Academy, iD Programming Academy, and iD Visual Arts Academy (filmmaking and photography).
Contact: 1-888-709-TECH (8324)
Email: info@internalDrive.com
Website: http://www.internaldrive.com/locations/va-summer-camps-virginia-computer-camps/college-of-william-mary-williamsburg-area/

Sweet Briar College Engineering Design Course

A residential weeklong college course (one college credit) for female rising high school juniors and seniors started on July 20, 2014.   The course was built around several hands-on, team based engineering design projects.  Use the contact information below to find out the dates for future courses. They teach students all the necessary skills to pull off engaging projects- no experience necessary!  Students work with expert engineering faculty members and Sweet Briar engineering majors.  The planned projects in this course:  design and build a robotic musical instrument, design, build, and test your own water filtration system, program a robotic door that verifies your identity and opens only for you, and build an automatically-refilling water bowl for a dog.  Students learn about brainstorming and creativity in engineering design, circuits basics, building prototypes using machine shop tools and 3D computer modeling using Autodesk Inventor, as well as Arduino programming basics. A tour of an engineering company and the opportunity to interact with successful women engineers from area companies, as well as SBC engineering graduates is part of the week.  There will also be time at the pool and a picnic at the lake and students will stay in college dorms with student mentors.
Contact: Dr. Hank Yochum, Director of Engineering, 434-381-6357
Email: hyochum@sbc.edu
Web site: http://sbc.edu/engineering/explore-engineering-high-school-women

University of Virginia - ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC)

The goal of The University of Virginia’s Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp is to instill an interest in engineering among middle school students, defined as rising sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Participants will enjoy two weeks full of interactive activities and classes with UVA professors and graduate students from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences which will introduce them to various disciplines, including aerospace, electrical, materials, and mechanical engineering.  See below for contact information.
Contact: UVA Center for Diversity in Engineering, 434.924.0618
Website: http://www.seas.virginia.edu/admin/diversity/pre_college/bhssc.php

University of Virginia - Introduction To Engineering (ITE)

The primary goal of the Center for the Diversity in Engineering’s Introduction to Engineering (ITE) program is to introduce rising high school juniors and seniors to the theory and practice of engineering through lectures, labs, and exercises in engineering design, applied math, and basic science. Participants will also be introduced to various engineering disciplines through lectures and demonstrations.
Contact: UVA Center for Diversity in Engineering, 434.924.0618
Website: http://www.seas.virginia.edu/admin/diversity/pre_college/ite.php

University of Virginia - LEAD: Computer Science Institute (CSI)

LEAD CSI is a three-week program designed to provide rising 10^th and 11^th grade students with a broad exposure to various topics in computer science. The goal of the program is to create a future generation of students in the field of computing. Participants experience daily life on a college campus and learn how computer science plays a role in our everyday lives through introduction to a variety of computer science topics and applications, classroom interactive lectures, workshops, guest speakers, and projects.
Contact: LEAD Program Office 215-753-2490
Website: http://www.seas.virginia.edu/admin/diversity/pre_college/lead.php

Virginia Tech - OcEaNA

Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture (OcEaNA) camp is a hands-on engineering camp where participants build their own underwater robot and learn about the oceans and ocean exploration.  This Virginia Tech camp is held in Hampton, VA.
Contact: Dr. Leigh McCue, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech, Hampton, VA 23666
Email: oceana@vt.edu
Web site: http://www.hampton.eng.vt.edu/outreach.html

Virginia Tech - Computers and Technology at Virginia Tech (C-Tech2)

C-Tech² is a two-week residential camp that focuses on engineering majors and exposing participants to technology. The program targets high school women who are rising juniors and seniors. During the program participants explore engineering, math, and science applications in a way that is fun and exciting. Participants spend the majority of their time involved in hands-on activities designed to increase interest in, and knowledge of, applications of engineering to real world situations. C-Tech² also provides participants with the opportunity to learn about college life – from residence halls to classrooms and everything in-between.
Contact: Susan Arnold Christian, Director, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-3973
Email: ctech2@vt.edu
Web site: http://www.eng.vt.edu/ctech2

Virginia Tech - Imagination

Imagination, a one-week science and math camp for rising seventh and eighth graders in the New River Valley and Roanoke area, introduces participants to the exciting and fun world of technology, engineering, and science not by watching, but by doing!
Contact: Dr. Bevlee Watford, Director, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540-231-3244)
Email: imagination@vt.edu
Web site: http://www.eng.vt.edu/imagination/

Give Me More: Bluefield College

Bluefield College is a local, reasonably priced, fantastic opportunity for your gifted child ages five and up.  It will enable your child to do the following: hone his/her creative gifts, socialize with peer groups, work in true intellectual ability groups, talk with like-minded children, and receive direct guidance and instruction.  All this can be accomplished through their fall, spring, and summer classes and camps.  The multipotentiality of gifted students can truly be fostered with offerings like voice, harp, piano, trumpet, pottery, painting, creative writing, math & science, and a full production Children’s Youth Theater.  Rimm (2002) tells us that the “best way to support gifted and talented students, particularly adolescents, is to help assemble a gifted cohort group.  That will encourage high achievement and reinforce the full use of students’ talents” (p. 17).  See the link below.

http://www.bluefield.edu/campus-resources/fine-arts-community-school/class-schedule/

 

We Need Help: Is Counseling The Answer?

If you feel that your gifted child is having problems with excessive perfectionism, underachievement, isolation, depression, and so on, please speak to a school counselor and/or consider seeking private family and individual counseling and therapy.  Group and individual career counseling is also essential to gifted children starting in the middle school years (Greene, 2002).  Schools should provide school psychologists and counselors who are trained to understand the often unique issues associated with giftedness.  Some such issues are social isolation and asynchrony or the disparity between intellectual ability and physical ability (Rimm, 2002; Silverman, 2002).  Moon (2002) states that the main areas where gifted children need differentiated counseling are stress management, peer relationships, social adjustment, and emotional adjustment.  Reis and Moon (2002) state that Van Tassel-Baska (1998) recommends three types of counseling.  They are academic planning, psychosocial counseling, and career and life planning.  If these areas cannot be addressed through your child’s school, please consider private, professional counseling to adequately support your child. Even though most gifted youth seem well-adjusted, preventative counseling for stress stemming from giftedness is still suggested to promote healthy emotional and social adjustment (Moon, 2002).  Local options include but are not limited to the following:

Dr. Teresa Paine 304-324-0999

Nasreen R Dar 304-425-9471

Twyla M. Hersman 304-451-0144

Reach Family Resource Center 304-431-4929

Sunrise Counseling Service 304-425-3430

Pathways Psychological Center 304-327-5744

Sylvia A. Wright 304-425-3430


If finances are an issue consider the following:

1. Southern Highland Community Mental Health Center where fees are based on income.  The crisis numbers are 888-615-0122 or 304-425-0122.  The regular phone number is 304-425-9541 with the email info@shcmhc.com.

2. Providing your gifted child with a caring mentor.  Stormont, Stebbins, and Holliday (2001) state that mentoring has been found to support gifted children and to build their interests in certain areas.  One way to expose your child to a mentoring relationship is through the Wade Center.  The Wade Center is a free after-school and summer school/camp facility offered Monday through Thursday for area youth.  Wade's website is www.wadecenter.com and their phone number is 304-323-3777.  

   

Congratulations on being the parent or guardian of a gifted child!  It is my sincere hope that this blog is a helpful resource as you continue on your journey providing your beloved, gifted child with all the support, resources, and guidance he/she richly deserves.
Thank you!
Kathi G. Stogner

References

References

Fisher, Tamara. (2009, March 15). Using bibliotherapy with gifted children [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/2009/03/using_bibliotherapy_with_gifted_children.html

Greene, M. J. (2002). Career counseling for gifted and talented students. In M. Neihart, S. M. Reis, N. M. Robinson, & S. M. Moon (Eds.), The social and emotional development of gifted children:What do we know? (pp. 223-235). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.

Moon, S. M. (2002). Counseling needs and strategies. In M. Neihart, S. M. Reis, N. M. Robinson, & S. M. Moon (Eds.), The social and emotional development of gifted children: What do we know? (pp. 213-222). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.

Moore. [Miss Moore]. (2009, September 21). I am gifted [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omx_iLtMjZA

Reis, S. M., & Moon, S. M. (2002).  Models and strategies for counseling, guidance, and social and emotional support of gifted and talented students. In M. Neihart, S. M. Reis, N. M. Robinson, & S. M. Moon (Eds.), The social and emotional development of gifted children: What do we know? (pp. 251-266). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.

Rimm, S. R. (2002). Peer pressures and social acceptance of gifted students. In M. Neihart, S. M. Reis, N. M. Robinson, & S. M. Moon (Eds.), The social and emotional development of gifted children: What do we know? (pp. 13-18). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.

Silverman, L. K. (2002). Asynchronous development. In M. Neihart, S. M. Reis, N. M.

      Robinson, & S. M. Moon (Eds.), The social and emotional development of gifted children: What do we know? (pp. 31-37). Waco, TX: Prufrock Press.

Stormont, M., Stebbins, M. S., & Holliday, G. (2001) Characteristics and educational support needs of underrepresented gifted adolescents. Psychology in the Schools, 38, 413-421. doi:10.1002/pits.1030

Williams, T., Bethell, A., Burrows, M., & Hanna, J. (2013, December 4). Bibliotherapy [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifzFxwB6eY0