Press Release
The Tasmanian Association for the Gifteds biannual conference Empower Me! will be opened at 7:30pm today at Larmenier School in Launceston by Parliamentary Secretary, Paul OHalloran, MP. Pauls opening address will be followed by a keynote presentation by nationally renowned Professor Carmel Diezmann, entitled Small Things that make a Big Difference to the Gifted
This conference brings to together local, interstate and overseas presenters who have great expertise in working with gifted students. These presenters will give delegates, both parents and teachers, greater knowledge and skills to better assist our highly able and gifted student to achieve their potential, said the president of the Tasmanian Association for the Gifted, Lynne Maher.
The 10-15% of our children who are gifted are often not provided with school work at a level that is sufficiently challenging for them, Ms Maher said.
International research has shown that by grade 5, 33% of students could be working at a grade level above that in which they are enrolled, a proportion of these could be working 2 or more grades above.
Often our school systems offer gifted students a small amount of extension outside the standard classroom program, but this is really only icing on the cake. Gifted students dont need extra work, they need a differentiated program. The bread and butter of their everyday school experience needs to be at a higher level than that of the majority of their peers. This conference will equip parents and teachers with that understanding. said Ms Maher
WHERE: Larmenier School
WHEN: Friday July 15th 2011, 7:30pm 9:30pm
Saturday July 16th, 9am 5pm
Sunday July 17th, 9am 1pm
Tasmanian Association for the Gifted
