To promote better understanding of giftedness and the ways to nurture academic talent, the Center for Talent Development (CTD) is hosting a conference for gifted students and their families. Registration is still open for "Opportunities for the Future" on Saturday, June 26, from 1 to 5:15 p.m. at the Technological Institute on Northwestern University's Evanston campus.
The conference will feature top speakers for parents and educators along with mini-classes and activities for students. "Each summer, the Center for Talent Development hosts an enriching and informative afternoon event designed to provide gifted students and their families with a better understanding of giftedness and the variety of options available," says CTD director Paula Olszewski-Kubilius. "As always, this year's conference promises to be inspiring and educational."
Parents and educators will hear from highly qualified professors, psychologists, school administrators and businesspeople on diverse topics ranging from gifted children's needs to saving for college. Keynote speaker Sylvia Rimm, a psychologist, author and director of the Family Achievement Clinic, will speak on "Parenting for High Achievement" at 1 p.m. Her talk will discuss the fundamentals of raising happy, high-achieving children.
Seminars for parents and educators allow them to select topics of particular interest, ranging from "Why Bright Children Get Poor Grades" to "Gifted Parenting" and "Working with Your School." Educators who attend can earn professional development units.
High-interest student mini-classes for grades 4 through 12 target specific age groups, focusing on favorite subjects and careers. Workshops for students in grades 9 to 12 focus on the transition to college as well as introductions to careers in technology, medicine, business, law, engineering, liberal arts, journalism and science. Workshops for students in grades 7 and 8 are ""Building Your Academic/Extracurricular Portfolio," "Engineering: Materials Science," "Architecture," "Outer Space," "Computer Game Design" and "Technology and the Arts."
For grades 4 to 6, the topics are "Math: Puzzles and Games," "Medical: Food Safety and Foodborne Illness," "Business: How to Sell Stuff and Make a Profit," "Engineering: How Things Work" and "Liberal Arts: My Word." An afternoon of games and activities is planned for students in PreK through grade 3.
The family admission fee for the "Opportunities for the Future" conference is $120 for families, with a $10 discount for CTD families and a reduced fee of $50 for families with demonstrated financial need. Registration and information, including a brochure to download, are at http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/ctd/outreach/. Additional information is available by contacting Jody Rosenbaum at 847/467-0615 or jodyrosenbaum@northwestern.edu.
The Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy is an accredited learning center and research facility that identifies, educates and supports gifted students and their families and serves as a leader in gifted education. CTD, which began in 1982, serves approximately 37,000 families annually.