Kia ora, talofa lava, kia orana, hello!
Ina kei te mohio koe ko wai koe, i anga mai koe i hea, kei te mohio koe, kei te anga atu ke hea.
If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.
If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Ko Ruahine tōku maunga. Ko Oroua tōku awa. Nō Kirikiriroa ahau. Ko Kelvin Hainsworth tōku matua. Ko Jennifer Hainsworth tōku whaea. Ko Sharn Hainsworth taku tungāne. I te taha o toku whaea, ko Joan Laws toku kuia. Ko Bill Laws toku koroua. I te taha o toku matua, ko Mary Baker toku kuia. Ko George Hainsworth toku koroua. Ko Kevin White taku tāne. Ko Caleb raua ko Jacob ōku tane. Ko Vanessa White tōku ingoa. Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. |
Kia ora, most who know me, call me Ness. I am a specialist educator in gifted and talented education, based in Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand, and offering services throughout the country. You can learn a little about the beginnings of my journey in the world of giftedness through my early blogs for the New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education. It's been a long steep learning journey since then, with a big shift in focus from learning in a more traditional school sense, to wellbeing and the integral roles belonging, identity, thinking, feeling and learning all have within this. You can read more about this over on my other website, Hello Calm.
I value the privilege of being able to provide support and guidance through provision of information, advice and resources to those seeking it. My work includes assisting families with gifted children, as well as engaging with educators who are seeking to enhance their professional understanding around giftedness and talent, develop their repertoire of skills, and add to their kete of resources. Crafting and sharing tools and strategies for families and educators is one aspect of such support that I really enjoy, hence the birth of this web resource, however in saying that, this website is still very much in its infancy, being added to as I have time. If you have ideas about what might be a useful resource to add, or if you have a resource you would be willing to share, please let me know.
I hold a Masters in Specialist Education with an endorsement in gifted and talented (Distinction), and as an avid life-long learner, am awaiting an opportune time-span in which to undertake doctoral studies. Other qualifications I hold include a BSocSci (Psychology) and REACH Certificate of Effective Practice in Gifted Education (Distinction).
Some of my more current roles have, and do, include:
It is an exciting time for gifted education in New Zealand. We have support from the current Government in this area of special education, and there are many dedicated people across a range of roles and sectors collectively working to advocate for and support gifted learners, their whānau/family, and educators. There is certainly always plenty to do! To keep abreast of opportunities to learn more about some of the opportunities to be more involved in gifted education advocacy and/or Professional Learning and Development (PLD), check out Gifted Aotearoa and giftEDnz.
I value the privilege of being able to provide support and guidance through provision of information, advice and resources to those seeking it. My work includes assisting families with gifted children, as well as engaging with educators who are seeking to enhance their professional understanding around giftedness and talent, develop their repertoire of skills, and add to their kete of resources. Crafting and sharing tools and strategies for families and educators is one aspect of such support that I really enjoy, hence the birth of this web resource, however in saying that, this website is still very much in its infancy, being added to as I have time. If you have ideas about what might be a useful resource to add, or if you have a resource you would be willing to share, please let me know.
I hold a Masters in Specialist Education with an endorsement in gifted and talented (Distinction), and as an avid life-long learner, am awaiting an opportune time-span in which to undertake doctoral studies. Other qualifications I hold include a BSocSci (Psychology) and REACH Certificate of Effective Practice in Gifted Education (Distinction).
Some of my more current roles have, and do, include:
- Manages Lifting the Lid and Hello Calm, and runs Piwakawaka Studio BnB & Wellness retreat (Current)
- Homeschooling Mum (2016 - ongoing)
- Member of the Ministry of Education Gifted Advisory Group (2018-ongoing)
- Senior Tutor in gifted and talented education for Massey University (2016-2019)
- Blogger for the New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education (2016-2019)
- Contributing to the Te Kete Ipurangi Gifted website (with my parent hat on)
- Co-author of several New Zealand based research articles
- Voted Board member of giftEDnz, the New Zealand professional association for gifted education (2015-2018)
- Member of Waikato regional professional gifted and talented group (when the group is active)
- Supporting whānau/fono/families with gifted/multi-exceptional learners as and when needed
It is an exciting time for gifted education in New Zealand. We have support from the current Government in this area of special education, and there are many dedicated people across a range of roles and sectors collectively working to advocate for and support gifted learners, their whānau/family, and educators. There is certainly always plenty to do! To keep abreast of opportunities to learn more about some of the opportunities to be more involved in gifted education advocacy and/or Professional Learning and Development (PLD), check out Gifted Aotearoa and giftEDnz.
Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti arahia o tatou mahi.
Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work.
Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch via the contact form if you have any questions, want to chat about giftedness and talent or would like to arrange for me to provide tailored professional learning support at your centre or school. Likewise, if you are seeking information and support for use within the home environment - or are simply in need of an understanding ear to talk about your own experiences, please do get in touch.
Ngā mihi nui,
Vanessa
Ngā mihi nui,
Vanessa