Parent University brings parents of gifted students together

In February, parents of newly identified gifted students were notified that their child would be eligible to receive specialized instruction as required by the Georgia Board of Education. Atlanta Public Schools’ department of Gifted and Talented Education is on a mission to make sure parents understand what ‘gifted education’ means and how it could benefit their child. The department will host the 2014-2015 Parent University, “Embracing your Gifted Learner,” on Thursday, March 19, 2015. Sessions will provide parents an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the unique academic, social and emotional needs of gifted learners. The event begins at 6 p.m. at MLK Middle School, 1550 Hosea Williams Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30317. Parent University is one of several ways the department brings parents together. In January, the department hosted Gifted Parent Café & Book Discussions. Parents who came together discovered their children had much in common. This is no coincidence says Bianca Jones, a gifted elementary support teacher, “They were really just happy to be validated and to learn that their child is motivated by something different.” Parents were led in a discussion about the book, “A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children,” by James T. Webb. For many parents, one lesson learned from the Café event, was how to reframe the language of perfectionism with a gifted child. Perfectionism is one trait with which many gifted students struggle.  “Many may have the need to have everything right and many times they get down on themselves when they don’t. That leads to the use of negative self-talk,” said Ms. Jones.  She suggests parents reframe those negative comments into positive expressions. APS screens students for eligibility during the fall semester. For more information about Gifted Education in APS, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us/gifted.