Thursday, April 22, 7:00 to 8:30pm, Zoom info sent the day before the event

Join Dr. Melanie Hayes, founder of Big Minds School for 2e students in Pinole, CA, for a discussion about strength-based learning. When kids are far from the bell curve in both directions, parents and educators tend to focus on shoring up weaknesses at the expense of bolstering strengths. However, strengths are where 2e kids build energy to face their challenges and boost their self esteem, as well as where their likely future careers will lie.

Melanie will share the strength-based methods of Big Minds Unschool, as well as how strength-based learning can be incorporated into any learning environment. What can parents do to bolster strengths at home and advocate for them in the classroom? How can we use strength-based learning to increase student motivation and tackle challenge areas? How does focusing on strengths help heal school trauma? We will leave plenty of time for your questions on anything 2e from this dynamic fountain of 2e wisdom!

----------------

About Dr Melanie Hayes
Dr. Melanie Hayes, Founder and Executive Director, Big Minds School. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on twice-exceptionality, a Masters of Arts in Gifted Education, a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, a California Teaching Credential, and is currently working toward LMFT/LPCC licensure in California. Melanie has 20 years experience teaching, mentoring, coaching, and advocating for 2e persons. She won the Innovations 4 Entrepreneurs National Award for her work using adaptive technology for twice exceptional students, and the Jefferson Award in recognition of her contributions to the 2e community. She also received SENG’s Educator of the Year Award for her groundbreaking work in educating gifted and twice exceptional children. Melanie is a certified SENG Model Parent Group Facilitator and supports parents to help them develop their parenting skills. She also works with various other professional associations, such as the IECA, where she serves as the Affinity Group Co-Chair for Gifted/Talented and Twice Exceptional.

If you’d like to learn more about Melanie’s expertise and insights, check out these resources:
Embracing Intensity podcast featuring Melanie as the guest
TiLT parenting podcast where Melanie is in conversation with Debbie Reber
Melanie’s book “We Tried Normal” free on the BigMinds website
Building Successful Schools for 2e Children a 4-part series she wrote for 2eNews