Gifted Parent Groups: The SENG Model 2nd Edition

by James T. Webb, Arlene DeVries

Overview

This manual provides essential information for persons wishing to conduct SENG Model parent support groups for parents of gifted children. Each week, parents in the group read a chapter of A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, and then discuss the concepts in the chapter, led by the group facilitator. Parents support one another in practicing new techniques at home. Who should receive SENG Training? Persons with some knowledge of gifted children who want to facilitate parent groups in an encouraging, non-confrontational style. This might include: Coordinators of gifted programs; Teachers; Counselors; Experienced parents; Social workers; and/or Psychologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780910707770
Publisher:	Gifted Unlimited
Publication date:	08/15/2019
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

James T. Webb, Ph.D. was recognized nationally as one of the most influential psychologists on gifted education. Dr. Webb wrote 16 books, over 75 professional publications, three DVDs, and many research papers for psychology conventions or for conferences regarding gifted and talented children. Six of his books were on gifted children and adults, and four won “Best Book“ awards. In 1981, Dr. Webb established SENG, a national nonprofit organization that provides information, training, conferences, and workshops, and served as Chair of SENG's Professional Advisory Committee. In 2011, he was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Association for Gifted children, the Community Service Award from the National Association for Gifted Children, and the Upton Sinclair Award by EducationNews.org. Most recently, Dr. Webb was President of Great Potential Press, Inc. Dr. Webb received the 2017 Palmarium Award at the University of Denver's Gifted Education conference, “Transformational Leadership: Inspirations and Issues in Gifted Education”, where Dr. Webb was honored for exemplifying “a future in which giftedness will be understood, embraced and systematically nurtured throughout the nation and the world."

Arlene DeVries, M.S.E., is a frequent gifted conference speaker with 24 years of experience as a gifted/talented program consultant. James Webb, Ph.D., is clinical psychologist and founder of SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted).

Read an Excerpt

Introduction

SENG Model parent groups are structured to bring together 10 to 20 interested parents of talented children to discuss such topics as motivation, discipline, stress management, and peer relationships. The co-facilitators of the group, though they are persons with knowledge about parenting and about educating gifted/talented children, do not attempt to give expert advice to particular families. Instead, their facilitation provides a nonjudgmental and nurturing atmosphere. The parents of high ability children are themselves a rich resource of information, and they are able to get fresh ideas from other parents and from A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children, the book around which the group sessions are organized.

The groups meet weekly for a set number of weeks--usually 10 weeks. Since the model does require co-facilitators (i.e., two or three co-leaders) for the parent groups, it is recommended that two or three persons from the same locale receive the training described in this manual prior to starting parent groups. In this way, they will be better able to work together. Prior to the training, it is also strongly recommended that two books be read: A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by Webb, Gore, Amend, and DeVries (2007), and Children: The Challenge by Dreikurs and Soltz (1964). Many of the specific techniques and approaches referred to in this training manual are more fully described in these books.

This manual contains an action plan with specific steps to assist in implementing the discussion group series within your community, and we have reproduced sample letters and forms that you may copy for use as they are or which you maymodify to suit local needs. Likewise, we have included appendices that list additional resources and which contain a great deal of useful information for parents and teachers.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Background of the SENG Model Parent Groups

Chapter 2. About the Parents

Chapter 3. Specific Content Covered in the Groups

Chapter 4. What SENG Group Facilitators Do

Chapter 5. Techniques that Group Leaders Model

Chapter 6. End of Group Session Assignments

Chapter 7. The Framework of the Group Sessions

Chapter 8. Potential Problems

Chapter 9. The Action Plan

Chapter 10. Parent Group Variations

Editorial Reviews

"This manual is essential for current facilitators of the SENG Model Parent Groups and individuals interested in becoming a facilitator. It would also be useful background for school personnel who are considering providing discussion groups as part of their parent education...Those school personnel who are worried about bringing parents of gifted children together will be reassured to learn that the SENG parent discussions are neither therapy groups nor advocacy groups and often contribute to better parent school communication leading to more understanding of the separate roles of home and school in the lives of gifted children." -- Judy Smith, Gifted Education Communicator

From the Publisher