Kick off Neurodiversity Celebration week with a lively panel discussion featuring neurodivergent young adults reflecting on their K-12 experiences. We will discuss how students' strengths helped them overcome challenges, what schools and parents can do to best support K-12 2e learners, and hear advice for students who are struggling.

MAGE Board Zoom Call.
Email president@massgifted.org for more information.

Young Scholars Academy: Hidden & Misunderstood Trauma in 2e Students w/ Dr. Sandra Clifton

Highly sensitive students are in every classroom, but few educators know of their presence or the problems that they face in the learning environment. This group of children often struggle in silence as twice-exceptional individuals who have both significant gifts but also encounter particular challenges to navigate a neurotypical school environment. Both teachers and parents, often unaware of this innate biological trait, can increase stress by “coaching” these children to toughen up and develop thicker skin. As a result, some of our brightest children turn to self-medication to numb their emotions or opt out of education entirely.

This presentation will help to illuminate the secret, subtle struggles of a particular population in our society who “hide in plain sight” in order to survive an intense, toxic school environment of competitive achievement that is consistently critical of their insight, intuition, empathy, and artistic expression—often at extreme cost to the individual. One goal of this sharing this research is to highlight how we as a greater society can recognize the unique trait of sensitivity in our students as a strength to celebrate and not a weakness to remediate—and thereby help to prevent both mental illness and suicide.

Register here.

The Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) & Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) Annual Conference is the must-attend event for education professionals dedicated to enhancing school governance and improving student outcomes. 

MAGE Co-Presidents Michelle Barmazel and Karen Blumstein will be presenting a 1-hour workshop on November 8th called: Advanced Learners, Giftedness & Twice Exceptionality: THE OUTLIERS.

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We invite families with children in grades K-9 to join us for a fun-filled Math Festival and Open House at Acera! Kids and parents will have the chance to dive into exciting, hands-on math games and problem-solving activities designed to inspire creativity and critical thinking. Families can also take a student-led tour of our innovative school, meet our passionate teachers, and learn more about how we nurture curiosity and foster a love of learning. This free event is open to the public, so bring friends and enjoy a day of math exploration, discovery, and fun! More details:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/acera-school-open-house-math-festival-tickets-999580130077?aff=oddtdtcreator

Elizabeth Letsch, Ph.D. and Deirdre V. Lovecky, Ph.D. are presenting to the RI Psychological Association on Identification, Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Gifted Children and Adolescents on October 25, 2024 from 9 am to 1 pm. .This workshop is meant for mental health professionals, especially psychologists, and will earn 3.5 APA CEU credits applicable to MA licensure. It will be a virtual presentation so can be attended more easily from MA. To register go to: www.ripsych.org/events.

Guests of all ages are invited to hear from leading scientists and innovators working at the forefront of cutting-edge science. Enjoy hands-on stations featuring exciting activities like robotics explorations, light-up wearables, virtual reality, and much more! It’s a night of inspiration, discovery, and fun for everyone! More details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1010566570817?aff=oddtdtcreator