Mind Matters

On episode 50 we talk with Haley Taylor Schlitz, a 17-year-old first-year law student who began college at age 13. We discuss her education experience, some of the benefits and barriers of homeschooling, and we imagine what the perfect public school system would be like. About the guest - At age 17, Haley Taylor Schlitz has graduated from Texas Woman's University with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies, and has chosen to attend SMU Dedman School of Law, after being accepted to many prestigious law schools. Homeschooling allowed her to advance through high-school at her own pace, graduating at age 13, ready for college. Haley excelled as an honors student while representing the College of Professional Education as a Student Senator. Additionally, Haley has been actively involved in meaningful extracurricular activities such as The Representation Project, where she works to eliminate limiting stereotypes in the media, and serve as a catalyst for cultural transformation. Haley lives with her family in Fort Worth,

As we move into the 2020s, we look back at some of the conversations we had in the two years of our podcast’s history. While we covered a variety of subjects, one seemed to pop up just above the fray. We’re revisiting some of our best conversations about twice-exceptionality, on this special 49th episode of Mind Matters. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.MindMattersPodcast.com Thank you for caring about kids. Copyright © 2019 Morris Creative Services LLC. All rights reserved.

Shopping for the holidays can be a headache, but choosing the right gifts for high-ability kids is extra-challenging. Between meal planning and decorating, Jen Merrill found time to pop in with holiday stories and gift ideas, and Emily divulges her darker history as a “peeker.” Shopping for the hard-to-buy-for kids in your life, on this special holiday edition of Mind Matters. About our guest - Jen Torbeck Merrill is an Illinois-based writer and gifted family advocate. The mom of two teen sons, she homeschooled one and is happily watching her public schooler thrive. She is a music educator by trade, with degrees in Music Education and Flute Performance. Still, long before she picked up a flute as a child, Jen wanted to be a writer. She began that career in 2006, focusing on gifted families and advocacy. Her book, If This is a Gift, Can I Send It Back?: Surviving in the Land of the Gifted and Twice-Exceptional, struck a nerve with families who suspected Jen was living in their closet. Her second book, on the n

Often, gifted kids feel isolated and unable to find like-minded peers, so they end up lacking opportunities to socialize and communicate. Dr. Jean Peterson joins us to talk about ways to bring gifted kids into the conversation, including tips on conducting gifted discussion circles and group counseling. Getting kids talking - on episode 47 of Mind Matters. About the guest - Jean Sunde Peterson, Ph.D., Professor Emerita and former Director of School Counselor Preparation at Purdue University, was a classroom and gifted-education teacher for many years and was involved in teacher education prior to graduate work in counseling at The University of Iowa. She is author of Get Gifted Students Talking, Gifted at Risk: Poetic Profiles, and The Essential Guide to Talking with Gifted Teens, as well as over 100 journal articles, books, and invited chapters. She is a former chair of the Counseling and Guidance Network and also served two terms on the NAGC Board of Directors. You can support the podcast and receive subscr

In this bonus episode, Emily Kircher-Morris talks about uncertainty and doubt. How can we help our kids be less afraid of uncertainty, and more comfortable with doubt? And for advocates of gifted kids, she explains why it’s better to say “I don’t know” than jump to conclusions from anecdotal evidence. This is a bonus episode of Mind Matters, as Emily shares her thoughts after the National Association of Gifted Children’s annual conference, where she found the topic of uncertainty trending. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.MindMattersPodcast.com Thank you for caring about kids. Copyright © 2019 Morris Creative Services LLC. All rights reserved.

How can educators, counselors, and parents help neuro-diverse kids learn executive functioning skills? Gifted and twice-exceptional kids often lag with this skill development, so we’ll talk about tools and techniques you can use to help kids grow. Our guest is Brendan Mahan, an ADHD/executive functioning consultant and speaker, a veteran educator, and the host of a podcast called ADHD Essentials. Executive functioning, on episode 45. About the guest - Brendan Mahan, MEd., MS, is an ADHD/executive function consultant, coach, and speaker. As a veteran educator, he is skilled at teaching people how to effectively manage the challenges they face. He and his twin sons have ADHD, and he enjoys helping others with ADHD meet the challenges they face. Brendan is also host of the ADHD Essentials podcast. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod.

We’ve had mixed results in our efforts to identify 2e kids. It’s a complicated process, and many of the assessment tools used to identify ASD and other disorders need to be utilized differently when working with gifted individuals. Megan Foley-Nicpon joins us on episode 44 to tell us what she’s learned through various research projects about identifying the elusive 2e child. About the guest - Megan Foley-Nicpon is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology and Associate Director for Research and Clinic at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, both at the University of Iowa. Dr. Foley-Nicpon’s research and clinical interests include assessment and intervention with twice-exceptional students, particularly gifted students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and emotional/learning difficulties, and the social and emotional development of talented and diverse students. She has over 35 referred articles and book chapters in the areas of gifted, counseling psychology, and twice-e

School counselors wear a variety of hats, but “giftedness expert” often isn't one of them. On episode 43, Jean Peterson and Susannah Wood, authors of Counseling Gifted Students: A Guide for School Counselors, join us to talk about ways school counselors can better meet the needs of their gifted students. About the guests - Jean Sunde Peterson, Ph.D., Professor Emerita and former director of school counselor preparation at Purdue University, was a classroom and gifted-education teacher for many years and was involved in teacher education prior to graduate work in counseling at The University of Iowa. She is author of Gifted at Risk: Poetic Profiles, and The Essential Guide to Talking with Gifted Teens, and is co-editor of Models of Counseling Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, among over 100 journal articles, books, and invited chapters. She is a former chair of the Counseling and Guidance Network and also served two terms on the NAGC Board of Directors. Susannah Wood, Ph.D., is currently an Assoc

Advanced Placement is a good way for many kids to get a head start on college. On episode 42, Andrew Scanlan and Chester E Finn, Jr. of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, answer questions about the history of AP, where it’s going, and where kids may encounter difficulties. About the guests - Chester E. Finn, Jr. is Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and a Senior Fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution. He served as Fordham’s President from 1997 to 2014, after many earlier roles in education, academe and government. Over the years he has served in various capacities, including Counselor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education and Staff Assistant to the President of the United States. Finn currently serves on the National Council on Teacher Quality, the Core Knowledge Foundation, and Maryland’s Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education. Author of over twenty books, Finn is co-author with Andrew Scanlan of Learning in the Fast Lane: The Pa

This is the final installment of our series on suicide among gifted and 2e people. Today, Lisa shares the story of what led to her son’s suicide, and we get a glimpse into her current state of mind, nine months after her Nick’s death. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.MindMattersPodcast.com Thank you for caring about kids. Copyright © 2019 Morris Creative Services LLC. All rights reserved.

In part two of our series on suicide among high-ability people, we explore some of the signs of depression and suicidal ideation with Lisa Van Gemert, author of Perfectionism, and Living Gifted. We explore ways to identify problems that could lead to self-harm or suicide, and suggest ways to help you work through those problems. If you haven’t listened to episode 39 with Dr. Tracy Cross, we suggest you do. And as always, if you need help, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours every day at 1-800-273-8255. About the guest - Lisa Van Gemert is an expert consultant to television shows including Lifetime’s “Child Genius,” and a writer of award-winning lesson plans. She has written numerous published articles on social psychology and pedagogy, and is the author of two books - Perfectionism: A Practical Guide to Managing Never Good Enough, and Living Gifted: 52 Tips to Survive and Thrive in Giftedland. She is a co-founder of The Gifted Guild, a professional community for educators of the gifted. The

Is suicidal ideation more prevalent among the gifted population? Do our beliefs about suicide square with statistics? In part one of our series on suicide among gifted and 2e youth, Dr. Tracy Cross joins us to shed some light on a dark subject, and shares his Spiral Model of the Suicidal Mind. This is a series all parents should hear. About the guest - Dr. Tracy L. Cross holds an endowed chair, Jody and Layton Smith Professor of Psychology and Gifted Education, and is the executive director of the Center for Gifted Education and the Institute for Research on the Suicide of Gifted Students at William & Mary. He has a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an EdS in Educational Psychology and Guidance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a BS in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He received the Distinguished Service Award from The Association for the Gifted (TAG)

As parents and educators prepare for the start of the new school year, middle schools everywhere are welcoming a new crop of excited, nervous, and sometimes unprepared kids. On episode 38 we talk about the middle school transition, and the changes parents can expect to see as their kids adapt to their new surroundings. Guest Phyllis Fagell is author of Middle School Matters, and she joins us with ideas and advice. About our guest - Phyllis Fagell is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Professional School Counselor and journalist. She has worked in both public and private schools with students in grades K-12, focusing on middle school for the last several years. She currently works full time as the school counselor for Sheridan School in Washington, D.C. Sheridan School has been named a 2017 National School of Character. Phyllis also provides therapy to children, teens and adults in private practice at the Chrysalis Group, Inc. As a journalist, Phyllis writes regular columns for The Washingto

Gifted kids turn into gifted adults, it’s something you live with for your entire life. When adults forget about their own atypical wiring, they open themselves up to social issues, and miss opportunities to continue growing. Guests Aurora Remember-Holtzman and Michelle Benedict talk to us about their experiences, and provide advice for people who may have forgotten they were gifted. About the guests - Aurora Remember-Holtzman is the host of the Embracing Intensity podcast, and is founder of www.EmbracingIntensity.com. After years of feeling “too much,” Aurora finally realized that intensity, in the form of excitability, is the source of her greatest power. Now instead of beating herself up about not measuring up to her own self-imposed standards, she is on a mission to help outside-the-box thinkers befriend their brains and use their fire without getting burned through her Embracing Intensity Podcast and community, coaching, facilitation and strengths-based psycho-educational assessment. Michelle Benedict ha

Giftedness can be a double-edged sword when it comes to empathy and compassion. When we help kids realize their emotional potential, their capacity for empathy and kindness will grow. Christine Fonseca is our guest on episode 36. About the guest - Christine Fonseca is a licensed Educational Psychologist, critically acclaimed author, and a nationally recognized speaker on topics related to educational psychology, mental health, giftedness, and using storytelling to heal past wounds. Using her experience consulting and coaching educators and parents, Christine brings her expertise to Psychology Today, authoring the parenting blog Parenting for A New Generation. She has written self-help articles for Parents.com, Johnson & Johnson, and Justine Magazine. Her critically acclaimed books include The Caring Child:  Raising Empathetic and Emotionally Intelligent Children, Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, Raising the Shy Child, Letting Go: A Girl’s Guide to Breaking Free of Stress and Anxiety, and the Young

People with ADHD have to face both the strengths and struggles that come along with their diagnosis. When ADHD is combined with giftedness, a condition known as twice-exceptionality, those struggles can be magnified, or maybe worse, hidden. On episode 35 Dr. Matthew Fugate shares data from his research about ADHD and provides parents and teachers insight into better understanding our kids. About the guest - Dr. Matthew Fugate received his doctorate in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Studies at Purdue University. Prior to this, he worked as an elementary teacher in the Houston Independent School District where he also served as a Gifted Coordinator and Magnet Coordinator. Dr. Fugate's past research has examined the relationship between working memory and levels of creativity in gifted students who have ADHD characteristics. He also examined the coping mechanisms of twice-exceptional girls in secondary school as they navigate both their academic studies and interpersonal relationships. He has presented to parent

In school districts in the US and around the world, there are programs in place to help gifted and twice-exceptional kids overcome their educational challenges. But one of the least-expensive and easiest tools to utilize, acceleration, is often overlooked. Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik from the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa joins us on episode 34 to talk about most kids’ first option for acceleration, early entrance to Kindergarten. About the guest - Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, PhD is the Administrator for the Acceleration Institute and Research at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, both at the University of Iowa. She founded the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary Students (C-MITES) at Carnegie Mellon University and was its director for 22 years. Together with Dr. Susan Assouline, she wrote Developing Math Talent: A Comprehensive Guide to Math Education for Gifted Students in Elementary and Midd

One thing’s for sure about parenting - it’s hard. Even more so with gifted and twice-exceptional kids. But parents often get so caught up in taking care of their kids they forget the all-important self-care. Jen Torbeck Merrill is the author of If This Is a Gift, Can I Send It Back, and also a parenting self-care advocate. She’s our guest on episode 33 of Mind Matters. About the guest - Jen Merrill is an Illinois-based writer, blogger, flutist, and gifted family advocate. The mom of two boys, she homeschools her twice-exceptional teen while happily sending his brother off to middle school every morning. She is a music educator by trade, with degrees in music education and flute performance. Jen started blogging in 2006 and now runs the website LaughingAtChaos.com. Her book, If This is a Gift, Can I Send It Back, is available wherever books are sold. Jen can be found at An Intense Life, and has published articles in the Understanding Our Gifted Journal and Huffington Post. Jen is a Gifted Homeschoolers Forum A

Special education services can make a huge difference in the educational experience of a twice-exceptional child. On episode 32, author and education writer Amanda Morin joins us to discuss some of the services available and share best practices for parents and counselors to effectively advocate on behalf of 2e kids. About the guest - Amanda Morin worked as a classroom teacher and as an early intervention specialist for 10 years. She has been working as an education writer since 2007 and played an integral role in launching Understood.org in 2014. As an educator and also as a parent of kids with learning issues, she has been an active member of numerous Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and believes strongly in the importance of educators partnering with families. Morin received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Maine and special education advocacy training from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. She is the author of three books, including The Everything Parent’s G

When your inner skeptic constantly nags at you saying something’s not right, what should you do? Dr. Brian Housand thinks you should celebrate. On episode 31 Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Brian about how to fight fake news, and the short answer is: question everything. About the guest - Dr. Brian Housand is the Coordinator of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is an educational consultant working with schools, districts, and educational organizations. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and earned a Masters and PhD from the University of Connecticut in Gifted Education. He co-authored Using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model with Technology with Angela Housand and Joe Renzulli, and authored Fighting Fake News! Teaching Critical Thinking and Media Literacy in a Digital Age. Host Emily Kircher-Morris has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and specializes in the area