SENGinar - Of Grizzly Bears and Yellow Labs: Social-Emotional Lives of Gifted Boys In and Out of the Classroom

Sometimes   you get the yellow Lab . . . and sometimes you get the grizzly bear. 

In   a society that often neglects to teach its boys the vocabulary of emotions   (let alone how to recognize and process emotions), gifted boys—like all   boys--can struggle to navigate their social-emotional world. Only the most confident boys reluctantly   engage in social-emotional discussions which deal directly with   feelings--especially those "softer" feelings. 

This   doesn't mean we, as teachers and parents who love and care about our   children, shouldn't seek to approach these topics.

In   this session, we will seek to understand the conflicted world of “boyness”   and review practical ways to approach difficult topics for boys like   bullying, love, hurt, perfectionism, and fear. We will sort through ways to use humor,   hands-on learning, mystery, and active learning to sneak up on these grizzly   bears and yellow labs. We will find   ways to discuss social-emotional issues which leave boys "off the   hook" of owning emotions they might not be comfortable expressing. 

Boys   can indeed see their classroom and family as a safe place to explore   social-emotional issues.

About the presenter: 

Mark Hess is the Gifted Programs Specialist in Colorado Springs School District 11 and is in his 32nd year of doing what he loves best—working with gifted kids. He is the president of the Pikes Peak Association for Gifted Students and board member for the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented. As Portable Gifted and Talented, Mark has published over 200 units for gifted and high ability students. Mark’s articles appear in the SENG library, have been featured by the National Association for Gifted Children’s blog and Newsletter, and by the National Math and Science Initiative.