GIFTED in FRANCE
March 25, 2008
“The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do,
never does what he can do.”
--John Stuart Mill

I'm very pleased to report that Mr. Daniel Le Roch, Vice-Président of AFEP has agreed to join
Mme Florence Créneguy for this Thursday's (March 27) discussion on Grade Skipping/Acceleration/Frustration and Boredom in School. Mr. Le Roch will try to address us in English and Mme Créneguy, in addition to her own presentation, will be there to help with the translation.

There were enough people interested in keeping the meeting set for this Thursday March 27, 19h30-22h00. We are grateful to Mme Sophie Côte for recommending Mr. Le Roch to us. The current president of AFEP is Mme Vlinka Antelme, and we hope that she can join us in the future. (AFEP leaders: http://www.afep.asso.fr/accueil.html# on the left column, click on
'presentation' then click on 'organigramme')

If you have not RSVPd and would like to do so, please send in your email soon.
RSVP is essential: giftedinfrance@gmail.com

We need all the help we can get in connecting with our French counterparts who have a deeper understanding of the politics and laws involved in helping gifted children in France, and how to better work with the schools on this issue.

If you want to see AFEP's upcoming meetings and activities please visit:
http://www.afep.asso.fr/accueil.html You will note that they have two events
planned for this Friday and Saturday: March 28 in Rambouillet; and March 29 in Lille.

Reading material: http://www.nationdeceived.org/-- A Nation Deceived: How Schools
Hold Back America's Brightest Students;
http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=383 --Position Statement: ACCELERATION;
http://www.newhorizons.org/spneeds/gifted/forschmiedt_2.htm --The Acceleration
Question: Should Gifted Children Skip Grades?

LEARNING DIFFERENCES IN GIFTED CHILDREN:
Thursday March 20: 7:30-10:00pm
RSVP giftedinfrance@gmail.com
"Subject: Learning Differences in Gifted Children"

You are invited to come join a parent-to-parent discussion on common myths, misdiagnosis and an overview of learning differences in gifted children. .

Thanks, in advance, to those parents who have agreed to prepare a short presentation of their personal stories.

AGENDA:

1. INTRODUCTION:
Group's new name (Gifted in France, GiF); upcoming events; goals...

2. DVD PRESENTATION: :15-minute documentary (still in the making) Misdiagnosis of Gifted Children: (Just arrived today!)
"Misdiagnosis of gifted children is a widespread problem, but still largely unknown to health professionals, counseling professionals, educators and parents. To save our children from inappropriate treatment, and to prevent their social and intellectual hindrance, we must educate people about the potential for misinterpreting characteristics of giftedness as symptoms of pathology." https://ss40.shared.server-system.net/~sengifted.org/documentary.shtml
http://www.sengifted.org/articles_counseling/Webb_MisdiagnosisAndDualDiagnosisOfGiftedChildren.shtml

3. INTRODUCTION OF TONIGHT'S TOPIC AND HANDOUT:

4. PRESENTATION OF PERSONAL STORIES BY PARENTS:

1. Overview of Learning Differences; Twice Exceptional Children, and Terminologies.
2. How a child's giftedness can mask or overlap with ADD. What to look for in a professional when you're starting out, what to avoid.
3. What is Dyspraxia? Searching for help.
4. Convergence Insufficiency: What is it, and why is it so difficult to detect when it should/could be so easy. What you should know.

4. Floor open to other parents who would like to contribute their experience.
5. Q and A.
6. Where do we go from here? What are our goals until the end of June and for the rentree 2008?


Recommended Books: http://www.amazon.com/Misdiagnosis-Diagnoses-Gifted-Children-Adults/dp/0910707642
(there'll be more recommendations from other parents.)

LEARNING DIFFERENCES IN GIFTED CHILDREN:
Thursday March 20: 7:30-10:00pm
(RSVP by giftedinfrance@gmail.com by Sunday March 16, Subject: Learning Differences in Gifted Children)
You are invited to come join a parent-to-parent discussion about the common myths we have about gifted children, and about some common and not so common learning disorders we find in some gifted children. "When a child has inexplicable or apparently careless errors or skill deficit, she should be carefully evaluated for sensory integration deficits, learning disabilities, or other neurological problems. Similarly, parents and professionals should look at the child's reaction to the environment. Some children, for example, experience sensory overload that prevents them from mastering a task... a diagnosis can also help a gifted child better understand her strengths and weaknesses, thus enhancing self-understanding and self-esteem. With twice-exceptional children, the giftedness component should always be incorporated when explaining the diagnosis and in educational planning," quote from Chp 12, "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children." by Webb, Gore, Amend and DeVries. "Gifted children who suffer from a disorder-- whether vision or hearing impairment, physical handicap, learning disability,or behavior disorder-- often find that their intellectual needs and other gifted characteristics are overlooked."


GRADE SKIPPING/ACCELERATION/FRUSTRATION AND BOREDOM IN SCHOOL. GUEST SPEAKER EVENT.
Thursday March 27: 7:30-10:00pm,
(RSVP giftedinfrance@gmail.com by March 23. Subject-- Grade Skipping/Acceleration)

Guest Speakers are: Sophie Côte, Former President and founder of AFEP (Association Française pour les Enfants Précoces) will be joined by Florence Créneguy. For years, Mme Côte has fought for the needs of gifted children in France. She was also the Directrice of College du Cédre in Le Vesinet, where she started one of the first gifted programs in France. She has also written books on the topic. http://www.afep.asso.fr/accueil.html http://www.decitre.fr/livres/Petit-surdoue-deviendra-grand.aspx/9782226137869 Mme Créneguy is a teacher in the gifted program at Ecole Gerson's college section (r. de la Pompe, 16th). She also gives talks on behalf of AFEP to schools around the country at least a couple of times a year. Mme Créneguy will be on hand to answer questions and to help with any translation we need from Mme Côte.
Reading material: http://www.nationdeceived.org/ A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students;
http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=383 Position Statement: ACCELERATION; http://www.newhorizons.org/spneeds/gifted/forschmiedt_2.htm
The Acceleration Question: Should Gifted Children Skip Grades?

PASSIONATE READER'S JOURNEY

SATURDAY MARCH 22,
16h-17h30
American Library in Paris 10, rue du Général-Camou, 75007
RSVP giftedinfrance@gmail.com
(by March 15th, Subject: Passionate Reader's Journey)

All passionate readers, aged 9-13, are invited to find out how a library works, the treasures it holds, and participate in a scavenger hunt.
We are grateful to ALP's Children's Librarian Helen Stathopulos for wanting to help nurture the needs of avid readers. She will be organizing and overseeing this activity. Future Passionate Reader’s Journey events will require parent participation from our group. So, come forward if you are interested in helping, even just with one event for our readers.

TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE!
SPELLING BEE IS COMING TO PARIS

We are organizing three or four Spelling Bee events, which will culminate with a final competition on Sunday June 8 at the American Library in Paris. I'm pleased to report that ALP Chairman Charles Trueheart is very enthusiastic about this project. Mr. Trueheart has offered us the use of the library for the final competition, which will be open to participating children and their families. Leading up to the competition, we will host educational meetings and mock-competitions to train the spellers. Please note that we are making this up as we go along, and your support (physical or moral) is very much appreciated.

In order to participate in the June 8th Final Competition, each child must attend at least two of the following events:

Must RSVP: giftedinfrance@gmail.com

Sunday, March 16 15h00-18h00prox
Watch the movie Akeelah and the Bee, review words, and rules
Sunday, March 30 14h30-18h00prox
Watch the documentary Spellbound, practice spelling out loud

Sunday, April 6 15h00-17h00
Training, mock competitions, having fun!
Sunday, May 18 15h00-17h00
Training, preliminary competition.

Sunday June 8, 15h00-17h30prox

Final Spelling Bee Competition
American Library in Paris
10, rue du Général-Camon, 75007

This event is open to any child interested in participating in a Spelling Bee, and mostly having fun. This will be a learning experience for everyone involved, including the organizers! The purpose is to meet, have fun and learn to spell!

Reading material: http://www.spellingbee.com/