Little Mad Scientist

GIFTED IN FRANCE

March 24, 2011

“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.”

LITTLE MAD SCIENTIST

Ages: 4-7 years-old

Sunday April 3, 2011

PALAIS DE DECOUVERTE

Meet: in the lobby at 10h30

Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt
75008 Paris
Museum: 01 56 43 20 20
Click HERE for map: 
more info click here:   http://www.palais-decouverte.fr/index.php?id=339

                                                     

 

Dear Friends,

Get ready to start a series of visits to science museums with GiF’s Little Mad Scientist meetings, where the aim is to expose children to all things science throughout the year. Our first visit will be to Palais de la Decouverte on Sunday April 3 at 10h30. We will meet in the lobby in time to buy entrance tickets (7 euros for adults, free for under 6's, 4.50 for ages 6-25).  Children and parents will chose a couple of topics to focus on based on how well you know the place.  We will pause for lunch around 12h00 (you can bring your own sandwiches and just buy drinks there in their small snack area, which also sells sandwiches, cookies and drinks.) After lunch, we can chose the second or third activity depending on the group’s interest.  After that and depending on the weather, we can get our sillies out by going to a nearby park.   

In addition to instilling and encouraging interest in science and technology, another important project goal is for children and parents to meet like-minded peers.

We look forward to developing and growing the Little Mad Scientist Club. We welcome parents leading talks, doing show and tell, and sharing their expertise with children. (Please note that if you have a membership to the Cites des Sciences, it should also work at this museum, so bring it along. There's also a coat and stroller check-in and there should be plenty of room on a Sunday morning.)

Best regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly

Gifted in France

giftedinfrance@gmail.com

Parenting Successful Children

GIFTED IN FRANCE

March 18, 2011

PARENTING SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN

Tuesday March 29,
(two different times to chose from)
12h30-15h00 -or-19h30-22h00

DVD Presentation --Description:

James Webb, in this DVD, talks to parents about how, "frequent breakups of families, the fast pace of technology, the information explosion, and other changes in today's evolving world make parenting more difficult. Learn more than two dozen strategies to set successful limits, avoid power struggles, minimize sibling rivalry, promote self-esteem, and more."

Dear Friends,

I would like to invite you to the follow up session to Gifted 101. This one, as you can see from the description above, is focused on parenting.

At the last meeting and through emails, some of you indicated that you are only available during the lunch hour showing (12h30-15h00), so we'll offer the same presentation twice on the same day.  Please RSVP by Sunday 27 March, latest, if you are interested, available and for which time. Please feel free to pass this on to your friends, partners or child minders, but RSVP is absolutely mandatory.

Here is the information.

• Session 1: Tuesday 29 March
• Time: 12h30-15h00 (As before, bring your lunch, I'll provide coffee and dessert.)
• Session 2: Tuesday 29 March
• Time: 19h30-22h00  (please bring a drink or a snack to add to the table.)
• Address: (near Radio France, 75016).
• RSVP: Sunday 27 March, latest.

Thanks for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly
GiF
giftedinfrance@gmail.com
parisfrancespellingbee.wordpress.com

Gifted 101

GIFTED IN FRANCE

February 11, 2011

Hide not your talents. They for use were made.
What's a sundial in the shade?
– Benjamin Franklin.

Dear Friends,

Please join us for the following presentation on understanding gifted children, to be held in the 7th arrondissement on Tuesday March 8,  19h30-22h00. You are welcome to join us even if you've already attended it in the past. The second part to this DVD presentation, Parenting Successful Children, will be held on Tuesday March 29th (there will be a separate announcement on this after the February break.)

Gifted 101:
Tuesday March 8, 19h30-22h00

Two DVD presentations by , James T. Webb, 45 minutes each. 

Followed by a brief discussion and getting to know other parents.

Bring along a drink or nibble to add to the table.

Location:  Paris

RSVP: RSVP by 5 March is mandatory as space is limited and event is being held at a private residence. 

A. IS MY CHILD GIFTED? IF SO, WHAT CAN I EXPECT? (45 mins)
- "Dr.Webb describes the most common basic characteristics of gifted children and shows how/why some of these traits can actually result in underachievement, power struggles and failure to be recognized as bright."

B. DO GIFTED CHILDREN NEED SPECIAL HELP (40 mins)
- "As they enter school, gifted children are frequently criticized for the very characteristics that make them who they are. Dr. Webb describes the traits, common behaviors, and challenges for gifted children from preschool through adolescence."

Resources:

1. A very useful book that is often used as a companion to the DVD's and SENG's parent workshop is called: A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, by Webb, Gore, Amend and DeVries.) I'll have a copy or two you can have a look at.

2. What is Giftedness: http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=574&ir

3. Gifted 101: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/gifted_101.htm

4. SENG articles library: http://www.sengifted.org/articles_index.shtml.

With your RSVP, please indicate your portable and home numbers where you can be reached in case of an emergency.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me. Hope to see you soon.

Kind regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly

Gifted in France

giftedinfrance@gmail.com

parisfrancespellingbee.wordpress.com

Plasma Fusion Part II

GIFTED IN FRANCE

February 11, 2011

PLASMA FUSION, PART II:
Science workshop for Kids 9-14+ years-old.
Sunday March 13, 2011
Time: Two groups, two different times:
Group 1: 9-10 years-old: 12h00-14h00 (up to 8 kids per session)
Group 2: 11-14+ years-old and up: 15h00-17h00 (up to 8 kids per session)
Location: near Radio France, 16th

PLASMA FUSION, Part II
Stephen M. Elliott

The development of plasma fusion power plants will provide an abundant and environmentally clean supply of electrical power.  Once fully developed, this method of producing electrical power will produce more energy than is needed by our growing population, will not contribute to climate change, and avoids the problem of high level radioactive waste.

Following the popular plasma fusion power seminar last September, Steve Elliot is returning (as promised) for Part II.

This time he will present, “ the first development stage of the Split Torus Small Tokamak (STST), an actual plasma device that we will use to gain experience with ionized gas and tokamak machines. The STST will be developed over time and will continue to be part of future GiF workshops.”  Part II discussion will focus on ionized gas plasma and a review of the principles of tokamak fusion machines. 

RSVP:  February 14 for returning students to secure your spot

               March 4, for everyone else, space limited.

.

In part I workshop, on September 5, 2010, Steve discussed basics of fusion reactions, the tokamak fusion machines and tokamaks in different countries including the ITER tokamak being built in France.

If you are interested in the environment, energy, and big science, bring your ideas and join us. Aside from Plasma Fusion Power, in the fall of 2009 Steve also did a two-part GiF series on Thought Experiment/ Designing With Your Mind with two groups of 8 children who worked on the project over two weekends in a row. Steve is based in Colorado and travels to Europe for his work once or twice a year.

More About Steve:
Stephen M. Elliott: In 1975 at the Scaife Nuclear Physics Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, Stephen M. Elliott started working in charged particle physics.  During his career, Mr. Elliott has worked on the development of ion beam sources, electron guns, linear accelerators, field emitting devices, magnetron sputtering cathodes, and plasma and ion deposited thin film coatings.  In 1991, he founded Thin Film Consulting to provide charged particle beam device design and thin film process development services.  In 1993, Mr. Elliott began using Vector Fields software for space charge beam device development.  Since then, he has developed models for the simulation of X-ray tubes, neutron generators, plasma and surface ion beam sources, electron guns, cavity resonators, klystrons, and ion spacecraft thrusters. In 2008, Mr. Elliott became the CEO and Sr. Scientist of Lamplighter Technology Inc.

Related links to Fusion Power:

a. http://www-cadarache.cea.fr/gb/activites/fusion/

b. http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/fu/Fusion_power

See you soon!

Best regards,
Helen Sahin Connelly
Gifted in France
giftedinfrance@gmail.com

GIFTED in FRANCE

January 1, 2011

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Dear Friends,

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful New Year full of laughter,

friendship, compassion and wisdom…

Here are two video links raising questions on our current education system...continued food for thought from those pushing for a revolution in the way our children are being educated.

 "Trailer: We are the people we've been waiting for..."

"Changing Educational Paradigms, by Sir Ken Robinson."

Thank you for your continued support of Gifted in France and the Paris Spelling Bee.

Best regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly

Gifted in France

giftedinfrance.blogspot.com

parisfrancespellingbee.wordpress.com

GIFTED in FRANCE

21 November 2010

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society.  

The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. 

~Gil Stern

Dear Friends,

News Flash! Gifted in France was able to get a last-minute, sought-after tour slot!

We are pleased to announce a very special educational outing to the Musée Air + Espace: the Mécaniques du Vol! This unique event will take place Sunday, December 12 from 10h00 -16h00 at the museum, and is limited to 15 children (ages 11-18). The day will include a guided tour (in French) of the museum's Grande Galerie and an atelier led by the museum staff: Explanation is below and attached. First come first serve, payments must be received by 28 November, (this is a requirement by the museum).

Journée Mécanique du vol

Au cours de cette journée, chaque enfant alternera les activités suivantes :

• Visite des collections du musée avec un jeu parcours de la Grande Galerie distribué à chaque enfant.
  (Durée de l'activité : 2h30)
• Activités prises en charge par les animateurs du musée :
  Eléments constitutifs d’un avion (maquette, démonstrateur).
  Les forces en action (utilisation d’une soufflerie).
  Visite du Boeing 747.
  (Durée de l'activité : 2h15)

This event has been a year in the making by the museum! The cost for each person attending is 15 euros (does not include transportation costs). Parents must accompany children, or designate another adult (see below). We must have at least 5 adults to accompany our group to the museum.

We suggest you bring a bag lunch, in order to keep up with our guided adventure. It is a full, action-packed day!

WHAT:  Daylong-visit to the Musée Air + Espace (at Le Bourget)

(Duration 6 hours on-site)

WHEN: Sunday, 12 December, 2010
TIME:    10H00-16H00 on-site (Meeting place at Gare de Lyon at 09h00, returning there by 17h00), details to be confirmed.
WHERE:  Le Bourget

RSVP:  You must reserve your space and all payments must be made in full and received before November 28, 2010. Space is limited to 15 children. These fees are set by the museum for group tours. 

NOTE:  Children must be accompanied by an adult to the meeting point and we must have five adults going on site to the museum with the group.  If you wish to get their on your own, children and parents can meet us at the museum no later than  9:45.  Don't forget your bag lunch!

Please consider joining Gifted in France, a small but growing non-profit association.  We have many goals for this coming year, among them are to purchase our own video projector for presentations; more webinar recordings with experts in the field; and several hand-held GPS devices for geocaching/.educaching activities we hope to host for children via geocaching.com and other outlets. Please consider helping us with your time in sharing your expertise with children, with coordinating an outing to a museum, or being part of the community development and planning committee. This is a genuine plea as we can not accomplish much without your help.

We hope to see you all soon. Don't forget to send in your RSVPs and payment before 28 November - this event will fill up quickly.

Best regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly

giftedinfrance.blogspot.com

giftedinfrance@gmail.com

GIFTED in FRANCE

11 November 2010

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent

if no birds sang except those that sang best.

~Henry van Dyke

Dear Friends,

Just a quick and final reminder of the upcoming recorded Webinar by SENG on Superachiever or Underachiever – Parents and Teachers Make the Difference on Thursday 18 November 19h30-22h00, must RSVP in advance (see below). Dr. Rimm will discuss the importance of perceived expectations, self-efficacy, resilience, appropriate curriculum and parenting styles as key contributing factors to children's success at home and at school. We'll take a look at peer pressures and how children go 'under cover,' and what parents and schools can do to help reverse under-achievement, oppositional behavior, perfectionism etc.

Please bring your partner, and invite a teacher who is interested in helping children succeed. RSVP is mandatory for reasons of space, security, and a 29-page PowerPoint handout that has to be copied in advance.

Here are the details:      

What:	The Gifted Child: Superachiever or Underachiever – Parents and Teachers Make the Difference Recorded Webinar in PowerPoint format: Presented by  Dr. Sylvia Rimm
Date:	Thursday 18 November, 2010  at 19h30-22h00
RSVP:	by Saturday 13 November,  respond to this email, giftedinfrance@gmail.com, Subject: GiF: Sylvia Rimm 18 Nov. (please indicate your phone number)
Cost:	5€ for members, 10€ for non-members (GiF membership form is attached)
Location:	75016
ote:	RSVP is mandatory due to limited space and preparation of handout materials. Refreshments: Please bring something to add to the table of nibbles and drinks. Nothing fancy or stressful!

“About the presenter: Dr. Sylvia Rimm is a psychologist who directs Family Achievement Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio and specializes in working with gifted children. She is a clinical professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Rimm speaks and publishes internationally on family and school approaches to achievement. She has authored 22 books, including Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades, and co-authored the popular textbook, Education of the Gifted and Talented. Dr. Rimm was a longtime contributing correspondent on NBC's Today and a favorite personality on public radio. She also served on the board of the National Association for Gifted Children.”

Gifted in France is a loi 1901 non-profit association. GiF does not endorse speakers or their material, but aims to provide a wide variety of ideas on parenting and relationships with a focus on understanding the gifted and twice exceptional population.

Kind regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly
President, Gifted in France
giftedinfrance.blogspot.com
ParisFranceSpellingBee.wordpress.com

GIFTED in FRANCE
10 October 2010

“The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do,

never does what he can do.”
~John Stuart Mill

HOW TO WORK THE FRENCH EDUCATION SYSTEM?

Guest speaker: Florence Créneguy

DATE: Tuesday 19 October, 2010

TIME:  19H30-21H30/22H00

RSVP TO: giftedinfrance@gmail.com, Subject: French Education System

                 Space Limited. RSVP Deadline, latest, Saturday 16 October.

                 Please include your emergency /cell phone numbers.

LOCATION: in the 16th, near Radio France

COST: 5€ for members, 10€ non-members.

Mme Créneguy will explain how the French system works from Primary through Lycée, what are some of the ‘problems’ that gifted children encounter in the traditional system; what are the ideal grades for skipping/grade acceleration and some of the options your child may have outside of the ‘classical’ track for entering and succeeding in Lycée. This talk is generally aimed at helping parents manage the French system by understanding how it’s structured and opportunities to make it work for your child. With your RSVP, please send along your questions and the ages and grades of your children.  This will help us understand the needs of the participants. General information on the French system can be found in this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_France.

Background: Mme  Créneguy has been a teacher of gifted children for more than 15 years. She currently teaches in the secondary section of  Ecole Gerson, a Catholic semi-private school (in the 16^th).  She also gives talks on behalf of AFEP to teachers and parents around the country and participates in conferences and meetings regarding gifted children in France.  She is French, but speaks English quite well. She has participated at previous GiF meetings.

Munchies/Potluck: Please bring along something to drink or eat, something very easy you can pick up from the grocery store to add to the nibble selection. No stress!

Membership Forms: Annual membership form is 30€ per family, email giftedinfrance@gmail.com for a copy of the form. 

Side note:  Peter Gumbel, the author of the recently published book On achève bien les écoliers, has provoked a debate about the French education system. His next presentation will be held at the American Library in Paris on 16 November. It is not a GiF event. Visit ALP's link for Gumbel's talk. To follow ongoing discussions, you can track him on the book's facebook page.

I hope to see you soon!

Best regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly

President, Gifted in France

giftedinfrance.blogspot.com

GIFTED in FRANCE
15 September 2010
 “I think in the coming decade we will see well-conducted research demonstrating that emotional skills and competencies predict positive outcomes at home with one’s family, in school, and at work. The real challenge is to show that emotional intelligence matters over-and-above psychological constructs that have been measured for decades like personality and IQ. I believe that emotional intelligence holds this promise."
--Peter Salovey, from “Emotional What?” EQ Today

Dear Friends,

We're going to declare the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of October Family Weekend focusing on building a better relationship with our children with a DVD presentation for parents on Saturday 2 October 10h30-14h30 and the Odyssea walk/run race for the entire family on Sunday 3 October 09h45-13h00. (See the previous post.)

WHAT: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child,

  DVD Presentation featuring a lecture by John Gottman, PH.d
  (Duration 1h40mins, followed by parents networking)

WHEN: Saturday 2 October, 2010
TIME:    10H30-14H30 (DVD presentation will run from 10h30-12h00/12h30, followed by parents making friends and comparing notes.
WHERE:  Maison des Association du 16ème, near Radio France.
RSVP:  Please RSVP giftedinfrance@gmailcom by Monday Tuesday 28 September --Subject: Emotional intelligence
NOTE: RSVP in advance is mandatory. The venue is usually closed for business on Saturdays. The conference room is located in the basement of the building, phone reception is not always reliable.
 
We chose this DVD since the topic of Emotional Intelligence has been one of the more popular subjects among parents looking to improve communication with their children. With the rentrée already underway, we are, once again, going to need all the help we can get. So, come with your partners, parents, grandparents and friends and lets get on the same page in building stronger bridges with our children. Dr. Gottman's expertise is also in relationships between adults, see his bio at the end of the page.

DVD Description:
" Every parent wants to equip their child with social and emotional skills necessary to succeed in school and life. In this 90-minute community talk to parents, John Gottman reveals how successful parents us "emotion coaching" with their children. Based on evidence gathered from his studies of families and parents, Dr. Gottman says that when parents offer their children empathy and help them to cope with difficult feelings like anger, sadness, and fear, they build bridges of loyalty and affection. Within this context, emotion-coaching parents will still need to effectively set limits, but misbehavior is no longer the main concern. "Compliance, obedience and responsibility come from a sense of love and connectedness children feel within their families," he says. "In this way, emotional interactions among family members become the foundation for instilling values and raising moral people." Source:  http://www.gottman.com/51166/Books-and-Lectures.html

About Dr. Gottman:
"He is the author of 190 published academic articles and author or co-author of 40 books, including the bestselling The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work ; The Relationship Cure ; Why Marriages Succeed or Fail ; and Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child , among many others. Dr. Gottman’s media appearances include Good Morning America, Today, CBS Morning News, and Oprah, as well articles in The New York Times, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Glamour, Woman’s Day, People, Self, Reader’s Digest, and Psychology Today. "

Gifted in France does not endorse speakers or their material, but aims to provide a wide variety of ideas on parenting and relationships with a focus on understanding the gifted and twice exceptional population.

Please consider joining Gifted in France, a small but growing non-profit association.  We have many goals for this coming year, among them are to purchase our own video projector for presentations; more webinar recordings with experts in the field; and several hand-held GPS devices for geocaching/.educaching activities we hope to host for children via geocaching.com and other outlets. Please consider helping us financially or with your time in sharing your expertise with children, with coordinating an outing to a museum, or being part of the community development and planning committee. This is a genuine plea as we can not accomplish much without your help.

We hope to see you all soon. Don't forget to send in your RSVPs for the Emotional Intelligence event above on 2 October, and sign up with Odyssea for the family event on 3 October.

Best regards,

Helen Sahin Connelly, President
Rose Burke, Vice President of Events
Gifed in France