Academic Acceleration: A Practical Guide to Decisions and Implementation

Education acceleration can take many forms: single subject, multiple subject, single grade, multiple grade and early entrance into kindergarten or college. Though much research exists confirming that acceleration is one of the most effective accommodations for many gifted students, well-meaning schools and parents often hesitate to utilize this option because of the myths surrounding it and the fear of harming the student. While never a decision to be taken lightly, acceleration is not only beneficial, in some cases it may be lifesaving.

This SENGinar is for parents, or educators considering acceleration.  Topics covered will include common fears and myths surrounding acceleration, different ways to identify candidate students, profiles of what an acceleration candidate may look like (they might not be the perfect straight A student), and practical techniques for creating and implementing an effective transition plan which includes how to:

• Scaffold the student during the transition
• Provide support to the school team (educators, counselors, school psychologists, etc.)
• Create a partnership with the affected family
• Work with parents and student on how to handle social stigma
• Address common community questions (pushback, favoritism, fears of social/emotional damage).
  

About the Presenter

Sharon Duncan is the co-founder of Gifted Identity, a firm which provides services and support to parents and educators to help them understand and meet the social, emotional and educational needs of gifted children. Sharon also consults on school options, including homeschooling, acts as an advocate for parents as needed at their child’s school, and conducts staff training.  She is a member of SENG, The California Association for the Gifted, The National Association for the Gifted, the Profoundly Gifted Retreat and American MENSA.  She is a SENG certified gifted parent group facilitator.  Prior to her work with Gifted Identity, Sharon spent 26 years working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has served on the Board of Trustees at a private k-8 school, as President of the School Site Council for a public elementary school, and currently serves as an Advisor for a private school for highly gifted children.  Sharon is a regular presenter at state and national conferences on various topics concerning gifted children.  She and a business partner are completing a research study on identity formation in the parents of gifted children.  Sharon is also the co-founder of Gifted Research and Outreach (GRO), a non-profit corporation whose mission it is to promote accurate understanding of giftedness through research and outreach.   

Fee: $30.00 for SENG Members;  

$40.00 for Non-Members