This issue's "Parent Group Spotlight" features Deborah Simon, president of West Sound Gifted, Talented & Twice-Exceptional (WSGT2e), who started a parent group in Washington in 2013. In just one year, this small, but mighty group has held community forums, attended school board meetings, and helped influence local gifted programming.…

Today the author received the umpteenth parental request from a mother wanting help with her child who is reading far above grade level and yet remains in an on-grade-level reading group. The frustration from this and every other parent who has spoken to the author about this subject is palatable. Parents want what is best for their child, but in…

The topic of this month's column is the development of parent organizations for parents of gifted and talented children.

Suggestions are offered for establishing local parent association groups as advocates for gifted and talented students. Beginning concerns include location and recruitment of new members; affiliation with state and national groups (such as the Association for the Gifted within the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Assocation for…

Part of a 10 booklet series on talented and gifted education, the booklet discusses organizing a support group for parents of talented and gifted children. Aspects described include making the contacts, developing the structure of the group, possible group projects and activities, and suggested program topics. Techniques for insuring group success…

Lessons learned over 26 years about parent power by the Gifted Child Society in New Jersey are recounted, including the importance of respecting the group that holds the power, adopting a constitution, and identifying leaders. (CL)

The directory lists 123 local or state parent groups for gifted children in 37 states. Groups are listed alphabetically by name under each state. Provided for each listing is name and address; a contact person (name, address, and phone number); an additional contact person; membership number; organization focus; examples of past and present…

Intended for parents of handicapped children in rural areas, the directory lists a variety of resources available to families. A section on general information lists materials for parents; academic programs for handicapped and gifted children; prevocational and vocational training programs; physical, recreational, and social/emotional programs;…

The author provides information on organizing a parent support group for parents of gifted children to share problems and plan appropriate educational opportunities for their children. Suggestions are made for making contacts, developing the group structure, and ensuring the group's success. (SBH)

The digest addresses concerns of parents of gifted children. An initial section recaps ways in which gifted children are identified. The next section examines ways in which parents can encourage gifted children at home (through such avenues as permitting ample time for thinking and daydreaming and assigning household tasks that coincide with…

Described are the objectives and activities of a 5-year-old local (Richmond County, Georgia) association for parents of gifted children. Organization objectives are listed and include presenting parents with information for better understanding of gifted students and supporting projects planned by the resource teachers for the gifted (such as…

The gifted education movement in California is traced, and the efforts of the California Association for Gifted (a parent group) to save the California gifted program are reviewed. It is pointed out that the strongest component of California's successes in developing gifted/talented education legislation has been parent support. (SW)

A national survey of parent/educator advocacy associations for gifted and talented education found membership ranging from 50 to 6000, with most being organized, led, and managed by volunteers. Associations produce publications and state associations hold annual state-wide conferences. (Author/DB)

The booklet is intended to develop advocacy skills in those concerned with the education of gifted and talented children in California. Sample chapters have the following titles: "As an Advocate How Do You Measure Up?""Why Is Advocacy Important?""What Are the Goals of Advocacy in California?""Where and How Does…