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Posted by on Apr 29, 2016 in Chapter Meeting, Stillwater ISD 834

UPDATED: Mon 5/16 | Socio-Emotional Health & GT Kids with Dr. Diane Heacox

UPDATED: Mon 5/16 | Socio-Emotional Health & GT Kids with Dr. Diane Heacox

MCGT_May2016webA focus on whole child development means looking beyond academic abilities to supports in the learning environment that foster kids’ socio-emotional health and well-being.

UPDATE: Scroll below for Dr. Heacox’s book recommendations and related resources.

We are honored to welcome back Dr. Diane Heacox, Ed.D. as the featured guest for our May chapter meeting in partnership with Stillwater Area Public Schools. Download the event flyer (.pdf) in color or grayscale.

Topic | Socio-Emotional Health & GT Kids: Providing Supports as they Grow

When | Monday 5/16, 6:30 – 7:30pm

Where | Stillwater Junior High Media Center, 523 W. Marsh St., Stillwater

As we learn even more about how each area of the brain develops during childhood and adolescence, educators are recognizing distinct developmental factors that pertain to GT learners. Awareness of these factors can help both parents and teachers put key supports in place over time.

Dr. Heacox has provided professional development for district educators in differentiation and, most recently, supporting socio-emotional health among high-ability students in both elementary and secondary. She will introduce parents, caregivers, and community members to the same research and concepts that educators are utilizing in district classrooms and advisory.

Reading Resources

Dr. Heacox recommended several books during her presentation:

  • Dr. Thomas Greenspon, Ph.D., licensed psychologist, past co-president of MCGT, and recipient of the MCGT Award for Distinguished Service to Gifted Individuals
    • For kids – What to Do When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough: The Real Deal on Perfectionism: A Guide for Kids (2007)
    • For adultsMoving Past Perfect: How Perfectionism May Be Holding Back Your Kids (and You!) and What You Can Do About It (2012)
  • Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, 2013 MacArthur Fellow, and the Founder and Scientific Director of the Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance the science and practice of character development
    • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverence (2016)
    • VIDEO: How True Grit Drives Success, CBS News interview with Angela Duckworth (May 2016)
  • Carol Dweck, Ph.D., Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University
    • Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (2007)
  • Mindfulness (MBSR or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) as a useful socio-emotional support

St. Croix Valley Gifted connects you with related resources here and at our Parent / Educator Resource pages:

  • VIDEO: Moving Past Perfect: The Road to Recovery from Perfectionism, a presentation by Dr. Thomas Greenspon, Ph.D. to Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented (2013)
  • Interview with Thomas Greenspon on Perfectionism via Davidson Gifted (2013)
  • MacArthur ‘Genius’ Angela Duckworth Responds To A New Critique Of Grit via NPR (May 2016)
  • Carol Dweck Revisits the Growth Mindset via Education Week (September 2015) – access requires free login
  • Mindful Teachers – Activities and teaching resources

Speaker Bio | Dr. Diane Heacox is Professor Emerita at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is a national and international consultant, providing professional development to both public and private schools on a variety of topics related to teaching and learning. Dr. Heacox has taught at both elementary and secondary school levels and has served as a gifted education teacher and administrator, as well as an instructional specialist in public education.

Dr. Heacox is also the author of four books. Her newest book co-authored with Richard Cash, Differentiation for Gifted Learners: Going Beyond the Basics, received the 2014 Legacy Book Award for Educators by the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented. Dr. Heacox serves on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development  and the Minnesota Department of Education Gifted Education Advisory Board. She was recognized by the Minnesota Educators of Gifted and Talented as a Friend of the Gifted for service to gifted education. She is also in the University of St. Thomas Educators Hall of Fame for contributions to the field of education.