Saturday Programs

November 7: Navigating Gifted Conversations, Pam McDonald

As a parent of a gifted student, conversations about your child, be it with administrators, teachers, counselors, or even neighbors and family, can be tricky. How much will they understand about your child's academic, social and emotional needs? Will they think you're bragging?... or crazy? This presentation will give you some language to use, talking points, and questions to ask.

Bio: Pam is a long time educator of the gifted, specializing in supporting young gifted children and their families. She worked in several school districts in Minnesota, serving in both the public and private school sectors. She is the former lead teacher of Gifted Services for District 196 which serves Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Eagan. Pam is now  pursuing her passion for writing. She has had two children's picture books published. Her third has just been completed and tells the story of two unique horses who lived at the Minnesota Zoo in 2025. Learn more here.

November 14: Practical Strategies for Navigating Common Challenges Faced by Gifted and 2E Students, Carolyn Berger

Gifted and twice-exceptional students have so many strengths, and alongside those strengths, they often face a distinct set of everyday challenges, including friendships with peers, screen time, and managing big emotions. This session offers parents practical, research-informed strategies to support their child, both proactively and in the moment when challenges arise. Parents will leave with concrete tools they can start using right away.

Bio: Dr. Carolyn Berger is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed School Counselor with over 20 years of experience in mental health and school settings. She is the owner of Anchor Wave Therapy, a group private practice with offices in the West Metro. Carolyn is also a Teaching Associate Professor in the Counselor Education program at the University of Minnesota, where she engages in teaching, supervision, and research. She is a proud parent of two teenagers and has navigated many of the challenges she presents firsthand.

Recent Presentations:

• "When Giftedness Is a Family Affair" - Melanie Olson
• "Stealth Dyslexia, ADHD, and Other Learning Differences in Twice Exceptional Students" - Dr. Liz Adams
• "Increasing Engagement and Success Through Creative Expression and Exploration" - Erin Boltik
• "Co-Regulation and Responsive Structure: Tools for Caregivers of Intense Children and Youth" - Dr. Mary Wandrei
• "Anxiety, Boredom, and Underachievement. How to Help Your Child Navigate School" - Dr. Mark Larson and Jodi Larson
• "Gifted Readers and the Science of Reading: What Parents Should Know" - Dr. Liz Fogarty
• "Decoding Puzzling Minds: Giftedness & Neurodiversity" - Dr. Megan Helmen
• "When Your Child’s Job of School is Taking Over Your Family" - Carol Malueg
• "Using Mind-Body Science to Enhance the Well-Being of Gifted Families" - Dr. Andrea Johnson
• "Recognizing Anxiety in Gifted Children" - Shelly Harvey
• "Supporting the Academic Success of the Visually-Spatially Talented" - Martha Palm
• "The Challenge of Being Good at Almost Everything" - Josh Chambers
• "The Parenting Journey" - Dr. Teresa Argo Boatman
• "Defining Success Your Own Way" - Tina van Erp
• "Easy Ways to Cultivate Critical and Creative Thinking at Home" - Molly Hammel
• "The Origin of Worries in Gifted Children" - Dr. Lori Migdal
• "Building Relationships And Self-Efficacy Skills To Support Academic Success" - Dr. Melissa Malen
• "ADHD: Symptoms, Superpowers, Self-Image, and Support" - Dr. Liz Adams
• "Guiding Principles For Raising Gifted Kids" - Dr. Danika Maddocks
• "If Gifted Kids Are So Smart, Why Can't They Just..." - Anne Tyler
• "Perfectionism, Passions, Problems, And Possibilities" - Pam McDonald
• "Executive Functioning in Gifted Children" - Jennifer Siebenaler
• "Navigating a Gifted Child's Educational Journey: Strategies to Support Parent-Teacher Collaboration" - Dr. Carol Hokanson