Presentation given as part of the Giftedkids.ie workshop at the Irish Centre for Talented Youth's Gifted Education Conference on March 13th 2010, Dublin City University

1. An Online Survival Guide
for Parents & Teachers
of Gifted Children in Ireland
Online Resources for Exceptionally Able and Twice Exceptional Children
Presenters:
Margaret Keane & Anna Giblin, Giftedkids.ie

3. Background
 Launched in February 2008
 Founded by Margaret Keane,
parent of exceptionally able
children
 Frustration at lack of information,
understanding and supports for
parents and families
 Initially aimed at parents and
children but began to focus on
teachers in response to requests
from educators
 Initial aims:
– to create a support network
for parents & teachers
– To act as a signpost to
educational & other support
services
 Run on a voluntary basis by small
group of parents & teachers
 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
Awardee 2009
 Member of Clare Voluntary Forum

4. Exceptionally able children can be found in all socio-economic groups and
in all communities. It is Giftedkids’ vision to see an education system in
place which allows for the early identification and support of all
exceptionally able children in Ireland, regardless of their socio-economic
background, culture or learning challenges, so that early potential can be
recognised and successfully guided towards achievement.

5. Giftedkids.ie is a web based support and advocacy voluntary group which provides
online supports for parents, teachers and exceptionally able children in Ireland. Our
mission is to build an online gifted community where parents and teachers can
share their unique experiences, offer support and ask for advice. We advocate on
behalf of gifted children by promoting awareness of gifted issues to the general
public and special interest groups through the use of ICT tools such as social media
(Twitter), webinar technology, podcasting and a GK youtube video channel. We
also advocate with education policy makers and individual schools around the
possible development of a gifted education policy for schools.

6. Giftedkids.ie –
Independent Parent
national web based
Support Groups –
support, information
parental support at a
portal, online
local level &
resources &
advocacy
advocacy
Irish Centre for
Talented Youth –
enrichment Individual Advocates
programmes, gifted
research & advocacy
Gifted
Advocacy

7. Supporting Gifted Children, Parents and Teachers
GIFTEDKIDS.IE:
HOW WE SUPPORT ALL OF THE
STAKEHOLDERS

8. • Website • Webinars - aimed at • Partnering with N.C.T.E.
• Community Forum parents, teachers & other • Partnering with other
• Articles education & psychology S.E.I. Awardees - Daynuv
professionals
• Book reviews • Social Networking –
• Downloadable Resources Twitter, Learncentral.org,
• Online Resources
• Presentations Classroom 2.0, Gifted
• Amazon Affiliates shop
• Videos Networks Worldwide
• Daynuv Pilot Programme
information education advocacy
Giftedkids.ie Partners:
• Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
• National Centre for Technology in Education
• Daynuv - Immersive Virtual Technology
• Irish Centre for Talented Youth

10. Parents Section
 Characteristics
 Myths & Misconceptions
 Assessment
 What is NEPS?
 Supporting Your Gifted
Child at Home
 Dealing with Schools
“I asked Mom if I was  Accessing educational
resources
a gifted child... she  CTYI information
 Parenting Gifted Girls
said they certainly  Parenting Gifted Teens

wouldn't have paid for 
Homeschooling
Recommended Reading
me.” Anon

11. Teachers Section
 Role of the School
 Dual Exceptionality in the
Classroom
 Indentifying Exceptionally
Able Students
 Innovative ICT
“Tell me and I'll forget;  Online Resources for
Teachers
show me and I may  Pages in Development:
– Differentiation
remember; involve me – Classroom Strategies
– Enrichment Activities
and I'll understand.”
Anon

12. Online Gifted Education Resources
 Giftedkids.ie Pilot Webinar Series: "Characteristics of the Exceptionally Able - Faster,
Earlier, Differently". To view recorded webinar click here. The accompanying presentation
handout, suggested reading list and the online resources list can also be downloaded.
 Special Education support Service: Equality of Change Post Primary Pilot
 Gifted Education Professional Development Package commissioned by the Australian
government.
 A case for affective education: Addressing the social and emotional needs of gifted
students in the classroom. SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted)
 Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration: Some implications for teachers of gifted
students. SENG
 National Association for Gifted Children (US) - Resources for Educators
 Teachtidbytes - Gifted Education Resources - information on Enrichment
 Hoagies List of Online Resources for Educators
 Special Education Support Services: Information on Exceptionally Able / Gifted & Talented
Children
 CTYI - List of Resources for Teachers
 The Visual-Spatial Learner: An Introduction by Linda Sliverman
 Visual Spatial Resources for Teachers from Visualspatial.org
 Developing Individual Education Plans For Gifted Students: Information for Parents by the
Association for Bright Children of Ontario
 Meeting the Needs of Gifted Students in the Regular Classroom - Teachersfirst.com
 Giftedkids.ie - List of Teacher Links

13. Kids Section
 Ancient History
 Animal Science
 Anime
 Archaeology
 Architecture
 Art
 Astronomy & Space
 Chemistry
 Chess
 Children’s Book Reviews
 Creative Writing
“It’s not easy being 

Geography
History

Green!” Kermit the Frog
Information Technology
 Language
 Maths
 Music
 Natural History
 Paleontology
 Physics
 Puzzles
 Science
 Strategy Games
 Video Game

14. Teens Section
 Online Resources
 Books
 Our Voice – for creative
& talented teens
 Gifted Programmes,
scholarships & events
“It's difficult to decide  How to be Happy
whether growing pains
are something
teenagers have - or
are.” Anon

15. Giftedkids.ie Gifted Community Forum
 PARENTS:
– General Parenting
– Accessing Educational Support
Board
– Parenting a Twice Exceptional
Child Board
 TEACHERS:
– Teachers’ Board

16. Anna Giblin – One Mum’s Lightbulb Moment!
GIFTEDKIDS.IE
COMMUNITY FORUM

22. New ways to advocate . . .
CURRENT PROJECTS

23. GIFTEDKIDS/DAYNUV ICT PILOT
 Innovative ICT pilot project based
in Gaelscoil, Carlow
 Learning Support for small group
of exceptionally able children
 Used to support & enrich the
Primary Curriculum
 Building a 3D virtual world which
replicates a local history site
 Using ICT equipment such as
digital cameras & laptops
 Includes site visit
 Daynuv

24. Giftedkids.ie WEBINAR Series
Next Webinar coming in MARCH 2010!
Free to Parents & Teachers
Introductory Online Seminars
Download Recorded Webinars & Videos
 Characteristics of the Exceptionally Able – Faster,
Earlier, Differently
 How to be your Child’s Best Advocate – Supporting your
Child at home and at School
 Educational Assessment
 Dual Exceptionality – Aspergers, Adhd, Dyspraxia,
Dyslexia, Behavioural Issues
 In Class Strategies – Differentiation, Enrichment,
Acceleration, ICT Resources
 Social & Emotional Sensitivities

25. Giftedkids.ie Webinar Series
BE Your Child's Best
Advocate
“How toSupport Your Exceptionally Able
Child at Home and at School”
Presented by
Margaret Keane,
Founder of Giftedkids.ie
& Anna Giblin,
Giftedkids Committee
Supported by
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland,
C.T.Y.I. & N.C.T.E.

26. Summary
 The love of learning - keeping up with your exceptionally able child
 Negotiating the early years – preschool activities
 Importance of a peer group and how to help a child create
opportunities for friendship
 The relationship between home and school and the key partnership
between teacher and parent.
 Importance of parental involvement – supporting your school
community
 From Home to “Big” School
 From Primary to Secondary School
 Online Resources
 Suggested Reading

27. Contact Details:
Website: Giftedkids.ie
Email: info@giftedkids.ie
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Giftedkidsie
Register for Webinars: webinars@giftedkids.ie