The Monroe-Woodbury Parent Advocating Gifted Education (PAGE) Group is hosting a free, regional presentation called “Beyond Academics: The Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted” on Monday, April 1 at 7 pm at Central Valley Elementary School.
What is a gifted child?
The guest speaker is Carolyn Kottmeyer, a nationally recognized gifted education resources expert who is the founder and director of “The Hoagies Gifted Education Page,” a Web site used by educators, administrators, counselors and parents who wish to learn more about gifted education.
The Hoagies Gifted Education Page, www.hoagiesgifted.org, is considered by experts to be “the all things gifted Web site,” full of resources, articles, books and links to help and support teachers, parents and gifted children.
She also developed a special Web site for students: www.hoagieskids.org.
The “hoagies” name pays homage to the nickname used by her husband during his high school days when his band was involved with fundraising hoagie (hero or submarine sandwich) sales.
“This evening will appeal to anyone who has a child with a greater capacity for learning,” said Alyse Driscoll, PAGE president. “There will be something for everyone, whether you are a parent or educator. We encourage parents and educators from the surrounding area to join us.”
Nurture your child's gift
Kottmeyer will talk about how a gifted child is different than other children in his/her social development, emotional maturity, relationship with peers and in their introverted and extraverted nature.
Kottmeyer says the gifted child's asynchronous development is not just academic and their needs are not so different because they need to be accepted for who and what they are. She will discuss how this can be accomplished at home and in school.
Is my child gifted?
Kottmeyer, a trained software engineer, serves on the Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) Board of Directors. She is a regular columnist for Gifted Education Communicator and has written for gifted newsletters and journals worldwide, including: Our Gifted Children, Highly Children, SENG’s newsletter and a variety of state and local gifted newsletters.
She has also been a guest speaker for conferences hosted by the National Association of Gifted Children and Beyond IQ, Hollingsworth Association for High Gifted Children as well as a variety of state groups.
Kottmeyer has also been honored for her work by the Gifted Development Center and the National Association of Gifted Children. She is the recipient of the SENG Service Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service to SENG.
Reservations are suggested and can be emailed to: MWPAGEparents@gmail.com. To learn more, call 917-952-1688.
Directions: Central Valley Elementary School is located on Route 32 in Central Valley, across from the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets (Exit 16 on the New York State Thruway, and Exit 131 on NY Rt. 17W, US Rt. 6 exit at Central Valley)