Chris Holmes is a journalism teacher by training who helped found a dropout prevention program at a large, suburban high school in St. Louis County. In 2014 he was name the Missouri State Teacher of the Year, following which he founded the state’s first private, non-denominational high school for students with learning disabilities. Every June, Chris moves to the University of Missouri campus to teach at the Missouri Scholars Academy.
After nearly two decades teaching a variety of adolescents—those at risk of dropping out, kids struggling with social and learning challenges, and scholars gifted with exceptional intellect—Chris realized they all had one thing in common: an element of apathy preventing them from fully engaging in the learning process. In 2018, he launched a project to identify the roots of student apathy and to learn what schools could do to minimize it. His research study—in-depth interviews with dozens of teenagers throughout the country—is shedding light on how to maximize student engagement, learning, and well-being.
Keynote Topic: The Purpose of School: Perspectives from Adolescents Across the Country
During this time everyone is invited to visit the vendors and exhibitors! Enjoy some breakfast treats and meet our Featured Speakers.
Featured Speakers will be available for book signings during this time. We will have limited availability of some of their recent and/or popular publications available for purchase. Feel free to bring a publication you already own, or purchase one at the conference!
Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning, Gifted Education Consultants, LLC
Karen Brown is the Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning for Scottsdale Public Schools. Karen works with K-12 teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure that the instruction in classrooms provides offers the appropriate challenge for all students. Karen teaches in the Gifted... Read More →
Executive Director, Center for Access and Achievement, Director of Gifted Education Programs, Maryville University
Dr. Coxon directs the Graduate Programs in Gifted Education. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Maryville Summer Science and Robotics Program for High Ability Students which serves more than 500 students ages 4-15 annually with 80 courses in science, technology, engineering... Read More →
Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University
Donna Y. Ford is an expert on gifted education and urban education. She returned to The Ohio State University in August 2019 as a Distinguished Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology. She is also a Faculty Affiliate with the Kirwan Institute. Dr. Ford conducts research... Read More →
Professor, Gifted and Talented Education, University of South Carolina
Thomas P. Hébert is Professor of Gifted and Talented Education in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. Tom has more than a decade of K-12 classroom experience working with gifted students and 25 years in higher education training graduate students and educators... Read More →
Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, PhD (she/her) is an educator, author, and international lecturer.As a public-school teacher, she worked to expand access and equity for neurodiverse students who receive special and/or gifted education services. Currently, Kathryn has continued this work by... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 9:20am - 9:55am CDT
Upper Lobby, #720Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
NAGC’s Giftedness Knows No Boundaries Micro-Credentials Program is an outcome-based professional learning opportunity for educators on identifying gifted students from diverse backgrounds and increasing equity of access to quality programming. The program provides an opportunity for states, districts, and schools to support educators as they implement high-leverage strategies and practices that support the unique learning needs of gifted and talented children. In this session, you will receive an overview of this outcome-based professional learning opportunity and information to begin the work needed to enroll in your selected Micro-Credential.
Dr. Erinn Fears Floyd is NAGC's Director of Professional Learning. Prior to joining NAGC, Erinn served as State Gifted Education Specialist for the Alabama Department of Education. With nearly twenty-six (26) years of experience in education, she has diligently served as an Assistant... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 610Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Gifted young people are often compassionate and highly empathetic. These qualities evoke the altruistic motivation to improve the well-being of others. This presentation highlights the experiences of several students who channeled their leadership talent, compassion, and empathy to improve the lives of others in their communities. From them we gain an understanding of the influential factors that shape these positive characteristics. We consider the implications of the lessons they have taught us and examine strategies designed to enhance compassion, empathy and resilience in the young people we teach.
Professor, Gifted and Talented Education, University of South Carolina
Thomas P. Hébert is Professor of Gifted and Talented Education in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. Tom has more than a decade of K-12 classroom experience working with gifted students and 25 years in higher education training graduate students and educators... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
This session is based on the philosophy of equity in order to recruit more under-represented students of color in gifted education. Culturally responsive instruments are discussed, along with a strategy for setting quantifiable goals to target representation. Barriers regarding educator beliefs are presented. Participants are asked to read the Culturally Responsive Equity-Based Bill of Rights by Ford and co-authors. The Bill of Rights can be found at: https://www.drdonnayford.com/services2.
Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University
Donna Y. Ford is an expert on gifted education and urban education. She returned to The Ohio State University in August 2019 as a Distinguished Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology. She is also a Faculty Affiliate with the Kirwan Institute. Dr. Ford conducts research... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Children with extraordinary gifts and talents are different and have different needs when it comes to helping them achieve their full potential. NAGC’s three-point comprehensive action plan drives initiatives to support the field to accomplish its goals through action and collaboration. In this session, you will learn more about each goal of the campaign, and how you can implement new strategies and tactics to help society fully understand the nature and needs of gifted children, create supportive environments for their learning, and implement research-based practices that help children maximize the achievement of their potential.
Dr. Erinn Fears Floyd is NAGC's Director of Professional Learning. Prior to joining NAGC, Erinn served as State Gifted Education Specialist for the Alabama Department of Education. With nearly twenty-six (26) years of experience in education, she has diligently served as an Assistant... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 610Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Do you teach in a full-time or specialized program for exceptionally gifted students? If so, this networking session is directed at you. There aren’t many of us in the state of Missouri and forming a network of support is important for our unique needs. This session is a chance for teachers of the exceptionally gifted to meet, exchange ideas, and form a mini-support group.
This session provides an overview of The Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model and highlights instructional strategies for adapting regular classroom curriculum and activities to meet the learning needs of high ability learners. Participants will learn: methods for organizing and managing the Gifted Cluster Classroom, how to make student class placements, differentiation strategies to use with all students
Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning, Gifted Education Consultants, LLC
Karen Brown is the Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning for Scottsdale Public Schools. Karen works with K-12 teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure that the instruction in classrooms provides offers the appropriate challenge for all students. Karen teaches in the Gifted... Read More →
Gifted education teachers get training to challenge students academically, but not receive training in how to infuse multicultural content into the curriculum. This session fills this void by (re)introducing my Bloom-Banks Matrix. The matrix an be found at: https://www.drdonnayford.com/resources-galleryPage
Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University
Donna Y. Ford is an expert on gifted education and urban education. She returned to The Ohio State University in August 2019 as a Distinguished Professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology. She is also a Faculty Affiliate with the Kirwan Institute. Dr. Ford conducts research... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Gifted culturally diverse children often have trouble verbalizing their feelings and may need our help in facing the issues troubling them. One way we can address these problems is through children’s literature. Quality literature may help young people deal with their problems through reading stories about characters who face similar problems. The characters in a book serve as role models and help children open a dialogue with themselves on topics that require analyzing problem situations safely. This session, designed for elementary and middle school teachers will offer strategies for utilizing this approach as well as a helpful bibliography of picture books to begin supporting the emotional well-being of gifted culturally diverse students.
Professor, Gifted and Talented Education, University of South Carolina
Thomas P. Hébert is Professor of Gifted and Talented Education in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. Tom has more than a decade of K-12 classroom experience working with gifted students and 25 years in higher education training graduate students and educators... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
GAM Caucus meetings will be held during this time. Please plan to attend your District meeting as we will elect new District Officers. Signs will be posted for where your District will meet.
Friday October 11, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Lower Lobby, #730Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
GAM Board members - new and returning! Come network with others that sit on the board to discuss expectations of Directors & Assistants as well as take some time to brainstorm events for your area. Discuss upcoming events, how to go about planning, bounce ideas about what "has" and "hasn't" worked. Use this session as an opportunity to get a jump start on your plan to grow this organization and work on behalf of gifted education!
This session is offered twice for those that may not be able to attend the other one.
Empowering students to explore personal interests through real world problem solving is key to helping them acquire the skills necessary for participation in an innovation-based economy. Teaching students compassion and empathy as they tackle obstacles related to their problem is the essence of user based iterative design, and the path to a more caring and inclusive society. However, designing curriculum and evaluating an ever-changing array of student interests is a huge challenge that requires a flexible, interdisciplinary approach. This presentation will demonstrate a proven method for application of competency-based evaluation through personalized learning.
Students often get bogged down when they tackle nonfictional texts. This session will demonstrate ways to enable all students to develop critical skills to read and write nonfiction. “Best practices” will also be shared in these areas: techniques for setting purposes before reading, strategies for developing comprehension, and methods to stop the copying when students write research reports.
Dr. Keith Polette is an author of both professional and children’s books, the winner of multiple teaching and writing awards, and a Professor of English Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. A former English/Language Arts and Mentor teacher in the public schools in St... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 1:10pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Looking for an intervention to help students move from an oppositional frame of mind to one that helps them connect with others and develop their own voice? Whether it is from trauma, a developmental phase or just a bad day, the oppositional mindset of many students blocks their ability to productively and freely express themselves verbally or in writing. Improv can help! Improv helps students access a mental state of flow quickly and easily! Improv has been described by leading researchers as the neural signature of the flow state of the brain. With its 1- to 3-minute game structures, improv engages students of diverse backgrounds and educational needs, can be integrated with curricular content and develops a myriad of essential skills simultaneously. Come and learn a fast, easy, no-fear approach to help your student move from opposition to flow, where they perform and feel their best.
Consultant/Speaker/Educator (certified), One Rule Improv
Mary DeMichele is a coach, consultant, author and improviser with over 25 years of experience in educational, clinical and professional settings. She is the author of One Rule Improv: The Fast, Easy, No Fear Approach to Teaching, Learning and Applying Improv and Improv ’n Ink... Read More →
Math and science integration is critical in developing problem-based learning around real-world issues. Effective STEM-based lessons can start with natural math/science integration to discover more about the world around us. In this hands-on workshop, participants will participate in innovative activities that illustrate the science and math behind real-world ecology concepts such as carrying capacity in nature, natural resource use, and how humans are forever changing Earth’s landscape, habitats and biodiversity. Presented strategies include creating representational models with manipulatives, cooperative group problem-solving challenges, graphing and analysis, and role-playing simulations. The concepts and learner outcomes in these activities adhere to key Missouri Learning Standards for science and mathematics. Receive lessons in an electronic format.
Effective teaching in a gifted cluster class requires providing opportunities for all students to work at their challenge levels and then monitoring progress. This session provides strategy based tools and guidance for teachers working with gifted learners in a cluster learning environment. Participants in this session will learn how to both accelerate and enrich the learners in their classrooms. This is a must for anyone teaching in a cluster classroom.
Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning, Gifted Education Consultants, LLC
Karen Brown is the Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning for Scottsdale Public Schools. Karen works with K-12 teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure that the instruction in classrooms provides offers the appropriate challenge for all students. Karen teaches in the Gifted... Read More →
Despite the research of Lewis Terman in his longitudinal study of gifted and talented children and adults that showed the positive aspects that are associated with giftedness and that gifted children become gifted adults, there is also research that shows that gifted children and adults MAY be vulnerable to problems and pitfalls in life that are related to their and characteristics. This session will examine the possible negative aspects that high ability children and adults may face, including such issues as perfectionism, uneven development, overexcitabilities, twice exceptionality, unrealistic/unmet expectations, isolation and overload. The issues of Carol Dweck’s Mindsets research will address the risk aversion that may be encountered by gifted individuals. Exogenous issues such as enmeshment (or “confluence”), mistaking the abilities of the child, sibling relations, parental understanding (lack thereof), even chance and location factors – and more – will be examined, in light of their impact on the individual’s potential to be recognized as gifted or impede that recognition.
Gifted Education Research Specialist, Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duk
Dr. Richard D. Courtright serves as Gifted Education Research Specialist for Duke TIP. He has held the positions of lecturing fellow in the Duke University Program in Education, and as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Education at Elon University as well as at the... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 1:10pm - 2:00pm CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Students who understand what makes them gifted are stronger learners and leaders. Through various activities, students can analyze their own learning styles, strengths and weaknesses, and the qualities that set them apart from other learners. Students are empowered to take control of their own education when they can engage in strategies of meta-cognition and identify the best ways for them to process, utilize, and apply knowledge. Gifted students can and will change the world for the better -- they only need the tools to help them understand how they can accomplish this goal.
During this presentation, 20 year educator of the gifted, Dr. Robin Lady will share about secondary gifted offerings, including transitioning from middle to high school, being a high school gifted resource teacher, how to set that system up, and mostly how it helps gifted kids navigate high school both socially and academically.
Teacher of Gifted, Rockwood School District, Gifted Association of Missouri
I have been a public educator for 20 years, 17 in gifted education in small rural and large suburban areas. This session will be a discussion on gifted education options for high school students.
Friday October 11, 2019 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 640Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Spice up your G/T curriculum with higher order literacy! This dynamic, interactive workshop will deliver a plethora of ideas to help all G/T language arts students develop and strengthen higher order literacy skills. This workshop will focus on innovative, cutting-edge “best practices” to help students enhance literacy skills, discover the love of reading, develop higher order thinking skills, and deepen comprehension.
Dr. Keith Polette is an author of both professional and children’s books, the winner of multiple teaching and writing awards, and a Professor of English Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. A former English/Language Arts and Mentor teacher in the public schools in St... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Do you have a gifted student in grades 4-12 who is also reluctant to write? This makes the teaching of writing or assessing of content knowledge difficult if not impossible. A student’s reluctance may be rooted in either social emotional or literacy deficits.
So, what is a teacher to do? Improv! Improv takes students rapidly through a series of essential literacy skills, while simultaneously nurturing the development of social-emotional skills that both impact the ability to write. This engaging, and experiential session explores how and why improv so effectively and efficiently increases writing fluency. Participants are invited to experience the power and potential of improv by participating in an evidence-based scaffolded sequence of improv games. With its 1- to 3- minute long game structures and inherent ability to engage students of diverse educational needs, learning modalities, and backgrounds, improv fits easily into the already content-packed classroom.
Consultant/Speaker/Educator (certified), One Rule Improv
Mary DeMichele is a coach, consultant, author and improviser with over 25 years of experience in educational, clinical and professional settings. She is the author of One Rule Improv: The Fast, Easy, No Fear Approach to Teaching, Learning and Applying Improv and Improv ’n Ink... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 650Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Do you avoid philosophy because it just becomes a stale lesson on philosophers of past? In this session we will learn to facilitate real philosophy conversations in our classroom that make every student a thinker and searcher of wisdom? We will come away with strategies for facilitating deep discussion, ready to go prompts, and engage in the kind of philosophy discussion we want to bring our students.
The new Ignition course is a digital literacy and citizenship course dedicated to providing middle school students with the skills they need to safely and confidently navigate the digital world. The course will encourage students to take practical steps to protect their own privacy and safety online, while also teaching them how to evaluate content for accuracy, perspective, and motive. Ignition will acknowledge the benefits of a digital community and resources, while teaching learners to successfully navigate pitfalls inherent in the digital space. Educators that attend will receive access to the no-cost digital resource and learn best practices on implementation. This resources are student-driven and have assessments embedded into them enabling students to go at their own pace as the teacher can be a facilitator in the classroom and see measurable outcomes from student work. Join us or visit EVERFI.com/k12 to learn more.
Ben Gwynne formerly taught language arts in Memphis, TN. Based in Denver, CO, he now works for EVERFI, which provides online curriculum resources for schools at no cost. He trains teachers, provides them support throughout the year, and shares data with school/district administrators... Read More →
This session will explore curriculum writing strategies that will inspire your students beyond the classroom. Using Space Exploration as a springboard, we will experience the building of a new unit; how to write essential questions, choose lessons and hands-on activities. Curriculum today must go beyond facts and learning must reach across disciplines and cultures. Because gifted students crave depth not breadth, keeping units specific enough is critical to effective unit writing. Curriculum must also provide opportunities for students to explore global implications in the specific unit. Further considerations include real-world and career applications. Come take a look at leaders in the field as we together attempt to create the unit in this audience participation session.
“I tried flexible grouping… but it became chaotic. So, I quit!” Do these words sound familiar? Creating, implementing, managing and maintaining flexible grouping and collaborative learning structures puts teachers into a tailspin. Learn how to support teachers in understanding, implementing and successfully utilizing flexible grouping to build student collaboration while challenging all learners. Keeping the structures fluid, and manageable, requires the strategies, practice and support shared here. It’s the “how to” piece teachers are seeking!
Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning, Gifted Education Consultants, LLC
Karen Brown is the Director of Gifted and Accelerated Learning for Scottsdale Public Schools. Karen works with K-12 teachers, administrators, and parents to ensure that the instruction in classrooms provides offers the appropriate challenge for all students. Karen teaches in the Gifted... Read More →
Ritenour 4th grade gifted students studied best practices in creating and delivering PD, and sought the guidance of experts from various districts and fields. They surveyed other gifted students and classroom teachers and researched the needs of gifted children. They then created a 45-minute PD which will be delivered to all Ritenour elementary classroom teachers in the 2019-2020 school year. In this session, the students will share an overview of their PD, their experiences in creating and delivering it, and suggestions on how other schools can have students teach their teachers as well.
Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) has offered programs and support for gifted students for almost forty years. Through that experience with gifted students, it has been observed that there are traits and behaviors that are highly characteristic of this population. Educators responsible for meeting the needs of gifted children/youth are well-advised to be able to recognize that giftedness comes with both good news and bad news. This session is intended to offer an introductory overview that will examine varying conceptions of giftedness and their implications for identification/recognition of gifted children. It will provide key characteristics – the essentials of giftedness - that teachers can look for in their students to recognize their potential. Looking at the myths about giftedness and the misinformation and disinformation held by the public at large, the presentation will also examine cognitive and affective traits of gifted students and their implications for identification, curriculum, instruction and interaction in the classroom and beyond.
Gifted Education Research Specialist, Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duk
Dr. Richard D. Courtright serves as Gifted Education Research Specialist for Duke TIP. He has held the positions of lecturing fellow in the Duke University Program in Education, and as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Education at Elon University as well as at the... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
New to the field of gifted education? Did you attend New Teacher Workshop this summer, and want to regroup? Come as we network and support each other through the trials and triumphs of your first year in a gifted classroom!
This session is offered twice for those that may not be able to attend the other one.
GAM - New Teacher Workshop Coord., North Kansas City School District
Hi, My name is Cassie Fogel. I have been a teacher for the North Kansas CIty School District for 13 years. I have been the Gifted Association of Missouri (GAM) District Director for three years and have been the leader of organizing the New Teacher Workshop for Gifted Teachers for... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 3:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Room 640Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Learn about free curriculum aligned to CCSS: Math for 3rd-5th grade and suited for gifted students in grades 2-4. Developed by Maryville University researchers and available through MySci, CREST-M utilizes LEGO WeDo 2.0 to engage students in science, technology, and engineering while focused on math. The units, tested in controlled experimental evaluation with St Louis area students, engages children with comprehensive storylines featuring diverse characters solving real-world STEM problems. Download the LEGO WeDo 2.0 app on your Bluetooth-enabled device in advance to play with our robots after a short presentation.
Executive Director, Center for Access and Achievement, Director of Gifted Education Programs, Maryville University
Dr. Coxon directs the Graduate Programs in Gifted Education. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Maryville Summer Science and Robotics Program for High Ability Students which serves more than 500 students ages 4-15 annually with 80 courses in science, technology, engineering... Read More →
This session will present a model (in the form of a graphic organizer) that illustrates the interrelationships among a variety of systems and models in gifted and general education. Understanding the model can enable teachers and other educators to function as active designers of appropriately differentiated curriculum for gifted learners. Drawing together the work of such notable leaders as Gallagher (curriculum modifications of content, process, product), Bloom (the taxonomy of educational objectives and higher order thinking) along with Anderson, Hirsch (cultural literacy and the extensive and intensive curricula), Adler (the Paideia three modes of teaching/learning), Renzulli (the Enrichment Triad and Schoolwide Enrichment models), Kaplan (and others in the NS-LTI-G/T principles), Sternberg (Triarchic Model of intelligence), Dabrowski (overexcitabilities) and others, the end result offers a graphic representation of the correlation of the individual’s endogenous characteristics, the design of the core curriculum and strategies for differentiating it, and the implementation of instruction.
Gifted Education Research Specialist, Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duk
Dr. Richard D. Courtright serves as Gifted Education Research Specialist for Duke TIP. He has held the positions of lecturing fellow in the Duke University Program in Education, and as an adjunct assistant professor in the School of Education at Elon University as well as at the... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 3:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
This session will include an overview of the grant funding organization, the Innovative Technology in Education Fund, and the various grants they offer to individual teachers and schools. Strategies for innovative proposals, methods for increasing the likelihood of grant funding, and networking opportunities will be discussed.
This session presents a recent study that examined the life experiences of gifted males in their early careers who overcame serious adversity and attained personal fulfillment and professional success. The young men faced homelessness, poverty, alcoholic parents, gay bashing, bullying, racism, and challenges with twice exceptionality. Participants learn the influential factors that shaped resilience within the young men and the influential relationships that supported them as they overcame their difficult circumstances. Findings are highlighted along with practical implications for K-12 educators and counselors who work with gifted males.
Professor, Gifted and Talented Education, University of South Carolina
Thomas P. Hébert is Professor of Gifted and Talented Education in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. Tom has more than a decade of K-12 classroom experience working with gifted students and 25 years in higher education training graduate students and educators... Read More →
Friday October 11, 2019 3:30pm - 4:20pm CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Are your students equipped with the financial and business skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom? Join this session to gain access to digital resources that are student-driven, standards-aligned, have assessments embedded into them, and are FREE. You will be provided with login credentials, supplemental resources and access to:
- EVERFI - Financial Literacy for HS - Venture - Entrepreneurship for HS - FutureSmart - Building Financial Capability for MS -Vault- Understanding Money for Elem
Additional information will be provided on how students can apply for scholarship opportunities. Join us or visit www.everfi.com/k12 to learn more.
Ben Gwynne formerly taught language arts in Memphis, TN. Based in Denver, CO, he now works for EVERFI, which provides online curriculum resources for schools at no cost. He trains teachers, provides them support throughout the year, and shares data with school/district administrators... Read More →
Join us for some social time at: Sports Café 3579 Pennridge Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044,
It is 5.5 miles from Ritenour High School on the St. Charles Rock Road and 4.6 miles from the Drury Inn – St. Louis Airport. We have a private room reserved for those who want to play trivia at 7pm. Sports is an inexpensive place to eat with good food and lots of Sports TV’s. Hopefully, the Cardinals will be playing in the playoffs! :)
Christine Nobbe is a dedicated educator: a gifted education specialist, STEAM educator, and adjunct professor. She serves as the Director of Gifted Education for MO-DESE and loves this new adventure! Her passion area is living and working on the Moon and she is a NASA JPL Solar System... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 8:15am - 9:00am CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
New to the field of gifted education? Did you attend New Teacher Workshop this summer, and want to regroup? Come as we network and support each other through the trials and triumphs of your first year in a gifted classroom!
This session is offered twice for those that may not be able to attend the other one.
GAM - New Teacher Workshop Coord., North Kansas City School District
Hi, My name is Cassie Fogel. I have been a teacher for the North Kansas CIty School District for 13 years. I have been the Gifted Association of Missouri (GAM) District Director for three years and have been the leader of organizing the New Teacher Workshop for Gifted Teachers for... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 9:10am - 10:00am CDT
Room 640Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
The focus of this session is on teaching students to understand and use the 17 essential elements of grammar in their writing. When students consciously learn to use these 17 elements of grammar, they will develop the essential skills that will enable them to write purposefully, powerfully, effectively, and confidently.
Dr. Keith Polette is an author of both professional and children’s books, the winner of multiple teaching and writing awards, and a Professor of English Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. A former English/Language Arts and Mentor teacher in the public schools in St... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 9:10am - 10:00am CDT
Room 650Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Open-ended, fuzzy problems allow for curriculum creativity and ingenuity- something all gifted students deserve to experience in their classrooms. These problems encourage students to delve deep into their imaginations and develop teamwork skills as they either construct balsa wood towers, build vehicles, rewrite and perform classic plays, or re-imagine works of art. No matter which problem they choose, students will be ‘digging deep’ to solve an in-depth problem over several months.
This presenter has coached Odyssey teams for six years and will offer practical tips to help students navigate successfully through these multi-faceted problems. This session includes an overview of the five types of Odyssey problems, suggestions for coaching students towards developing their solutions, logistics for bringing a team to competition (if competition is desired), and guidance in inspiring students to collaborate with one another. Odyssey of the Mind works well as an in-school curriculum, or as an after-school enrichment.
What is the role of the teacher, parent, or counselor in “solving” boredom for a child? Is it a condition to be solved? This session will present theoretical and research contexts surrounding boredom, then highlight two years of survey and focus group research to position the concept for the gifted individual, with findings summarized in a resource booklet for stakeholders.
After six years teaching gifted middle school students, two years in the Peace Corps, and five years training teachers, I am drawn to the big picture in gifted education. My research has been in the social and emotional aspects of giftedness, but I love to geek out on curriculum and... Read More →
Do you know any twice exceptional students who: Struggle with time management? Have trouble initiating tasks? Are unable to self-regulate emotions? Can't manage transitions? Executive functioning deficits hinder a student's success, academically and socially. This session helps you understand how these lagging skills impact your 2e child/students and offers tools to help students build their E.F. skills and confidence!
Students from underserved populations will be in your class. How will you support them? What can you do to make sure they are reaching their full potential? Studies have shown that this special group of students need support from their community. It is our job as educators of the gifted to create inclusive programs that foster supportive environments. We will discuss specific ways to support students and families from underserved populations.
Program Coordinator for Gifted and Talented Certificate Program at MSU, Missouri State University
Michelle Satterfield is the Program Coordinator for the Education of Gifted and Talented graduate certificate program at Missouri State University. She was a classroom teacher for 23 years including 10 years as a GT teacher. Her research interests include equitably serving gifted... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 9:10am - 10:00am CDT
Room 630Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
“Makey Makey: An Invention Kit for Everyone” is an electronic invention tool that allows users to connect everyday objects to computer programs. Using a circuit board, alligator clips, and a USB cable, the device uses closed loop electrical signals to send the computer either a keyboard stroke or mouse click signal. In this session you will learn how to setup and use Makey Makey to learn about circuits and electricity by simply exploring the materials offered and how to operate the device. With the time remaining we will dive into how this tool can be used in design thinking through inventing, making and creative problem solving. You will see examples of student work and be given access to a resource page that can be used in your planning. This is an interactive workshop that will allow you to play while you learn and leave you wanting more time to explore. Please plan to bring a device that has a USB port to this session
This session will present a plethora of dynamic and divergent activities to help students build strong working vocabularies. Because the basis for reading and writing success rests on a strong linguistic foundation, students must have myriad strategies to acquire and internalize new words.
Dr. Keith Polette is an author of both professional and children’s books, the winner of multiple teaching and writing awards, and a Professor of English Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. A former English/Language Arts and Mentor teacher in the public schools in St... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Learn evaluation techniques that quantify decisions and teach students to increase creativity, collaboration, consensus, and critical thinking through evaluation. This workshop presents collaborative approaches that extend across disciplines. Attendees will participate in activities to learn evaluation skills so that they may directly apply these to their own classes and programs: ALoU - using a graphic organizer to compare ideas Criteria Matrix - applying student-generated criteria PCA - comparing several choices to determine the best Objectives covered: To develop a means to determine the creative potential and importance of ideas; To select intriguing ideas and apply methods to evaluate ideas Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to • examine problems and proposed solutions from multiple perspectives • evaluate the extent to which a strategy addresses the problem MO Standards covered: Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making….
Affiliate Director, Missouri Future Problem Solving Program
I am passionate about FPS! I have been working with this program since 1978. Empowering students to solve possible problems is extremely rewarding. The International Program is partnering with Renzulli Learning to bring FPS to more students. The mission statement of FPSPI... Read More →
Civitas, a non-profit organization based in St. Louis, coordinates Model UN programs for middle and high school students. We facilitate over 15 sessions a school year, all focused on dialogue and diplomacy vs. debate and competition. Our staff offers class/club visits to help prepare students in the St. Louis metropolitan area for their Model UN sessions. We have had students from other areas of the state participate, too, through email guidance and the mailing of materials. The research required to play the role of a country delegate, as well as the problem-solving required to address a variety of real global issues, creates an outstanding opportunity to challenge all students, especially gifted students. Civitas offers other events and speakers, all free, that help promote active citizenship in the community, country, and world. This presentation will explain in detail what Civitas offers and how teachers and parents can get their students involved.
Program Director for Civitas, a non-profit, Civitas
I taught middle school English, social studies, and Gifted for 29 years before retiring in June of 2016 to work for Civitas. As a social studies instructor and then a gifted teacher, I had my students participate in the Civitas Model United Nations program every year for over 15 years... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Room 620Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Knowing that all subjects require critical reading skills, how can we engage the students in our gifted programs to consider text in new ways? This workshop will provide practical and creative tools to move students toward deeper and more nuanced understanding. We will weave concepts of mindfulness, creativity, and engagement, and will practice breathing new life into the processes of reading and analysis through writing, thinking, discussing and even acting. Join us for this interactive session and leave with specific strategies you can implement in your classroom next week.
Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, PhD (she/her) is an educator, author, and international lecturer.As a public-school teacher, she worked to expand access and equity for neurodiverse students who receive special and/or gifted education services. Currently, Kathryn has continued this work by... Read More →
I am the coordinator of middle school programs at Mizzou Academy, with programs centered in Brazil and locally/globally. I am the program coordinator and a teacher at Missouri Scholars Academy. I am currently in a doctoral program at the University of Missouri College of Education... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Room 630Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
How might you integrate college and career interpersonal, intrapersonal and cognitive competencies within your gifted curriculum? Thanks to KU’s Competency Wheel and its resources, this WINGS teacher will share practical tips on using these competencies as the foundation for working with gifted children in theatre Major Units of Study (Just Act!, The Play’s the Thing, Shakespeare, etc.), writing Major Units of Study (Poetry on Stage, Words at Play, LAD Fair, etc.), Thinking Skills, Affective Education and in summer WINGS Explore classes (Castles, Knights, Checkmate!, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, etc.). Actively engage with workshop participants to discuss the importance of these competencies as we explore the process of planning meaningful competency based learning experiences for gifted children. Learn about how teaching these competencies now best connects students interpersonally, intrapersonally and cognitively with the skills they will need as they zoom forward into the future!
Gifted Resource Teacher, Springfield Public Schools R12
Gina Wyckoff teaches in Springfield Public Schools at Phelps Center for Gifted Education in the WINGS (Working with the Individual Needs of Gifted Students) Program. This one day a week program serves the needs of Springfield's students in grades K-8 with one hour of affective education... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Room 650Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Sometimes perfectionism is necessary, required, and even beneficial. Sometimes perfectionism is problematic and can impair decision making, progress, and communication. Thus, the goal is not to eradicate perfectionism, but rather to channel it when it is useful, and let go of it when it isn’t. Caring and educated adults can help gifted students who struggle with maladaptive perfectionism to decrease adverse thinking patterns and behaviors. It is important for these parents and educators to understand perfectionism, identify indicators of it, identify when it’s useful and when it isn’t, decrease negative perfectionism, and promote positive perfectionism. These themes will be addressed in this session, along with strategies that can be implemented within the regular classroom setting, in the exclusively gifted classroom, and in the home, with the ultimate goal of helping these students become more balanced and adaptable, enabling them to achieve their personal best.
Come learn first-hand how to implement the amazing (and sometimes intimidating) tech tool of the Arduino microcontroller. Arduino is a tool the size of a deck of cards that combines circuitry with coding for all ages 8+. All levels of technological knowledge & skills are welcome. Every participant will work with an Arduino to complete a project during this session and will receive tips and tricks for cheap purchasing, storage, and implementation guides.
Saturday October 12, 2019 10:10am - 11:00am CDT
Art Gallery, Room 740Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Learn how the integration of flexible learning, flexible seating, choice, high expectations, and a push in effort can change mundane schoolwork into passion projects that go beyond Genius Hour. Incorporate these strategies into the creation of higher-level learning targeted to your individual students. Assess their originality and effort through rubric-based feedback cycles for the ultimate showcase of student learning!
Participants will explore the use of student-led devised theatre productions to celebrate or commemorate important national or local events. These pieces provide students the opportunity to be researchers, authors, designers, actors and any other aspects of theatrical production they wish to add. They will have the chance to perform sample pieces in Readers Theatre format and begin preliminary work on selections that might be relevant in their own schools. As an example-- the Missouri Bicentennial is on the horizon. This project is an opportunity to celebrate that event, or others, in a completely immersive performance experience.
During this panel session the Gifted Advisory Council will offer updates on the 3rd Biannual Report to be presented to DESE on October 22nd. They will discuss recent work and take questions from the group. Come learn what efforts are being proposed as well as the overall state of gifted in Missouri.
Executive Director, Center for Access and Achievement, Director of Gifted Education Programs, Maryville University
Dr. Coxon directs the Graduate Programs in Gifted Education. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Maryville Summer Science and Robotics Program for High Ability Students which serves more than 500 students ages 4-15 annually with 80 courses in science, technology, engineering... Read More →
Christine Nobbe is a dedicated educator: a gifted education specialist, STEAM educator, and adjunct professor. She serves as the Director of Gifted Education for MO-DESE and loves this new adventure! Her passion area is living and working on the Moon and she is a NASA JPL Solar System... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 11:10am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 620Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Research in gifted education has focused primarily on K-12 students; however, students do not stop being gifted when they enter college. Gifted students in transition to college may be at risk for academic underachievement, psychological disruption, and even attrition. In this session, we will explore theoretical frameworks regarding gifted students in transition to college. Topics will include the effect of the lack of true challenge in high school coursework, the commodification of education, big fish in little pond syndrome, perfectionism, study skill development, and academic self-concept. The research will be presented within the context of the presenter's experience teaching and advising college honors students. Time will be given for participant questions and discussion.
Professor, Director of Honors Program, Southwest Baptist University
I teach and advise gifted students in the Gordon & Judy Dutile Honors Program at Southwest Baptist University. My research interest is gifted students in transition to college.
Saturday October 12, 2019 11:10am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 610Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Reflection is a powerful learning tool in any competency-based program of study. In this session, we will highlight several reflective tools and strategies that can be used to encourage the development of competencies found particularly within the common gifted education strands of Innovation and Creativity. Wise integration of widely-available technology to help students reflect upon their learning will be a core focus of the session. Participants should bring an internet-enabled device to the session in order to actively explore the various tools shared.
Saturday October 12, 2019 11:10am - 12:00pm CDT
Art Gallery, Room 740Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
When we partner with a gifted student, whether as educator, parent, or counselor, we are only effective if we partner with the whole person. Exceptional cognitive or creative capacity informs social interaction and emotional response, and these are landscapes we need to navigate with our students. We enjoy a deep literature and understanding, both accurate and inaccurate, surrounding the social and emotion needs of "these kids", and false assumptions can be as nefarious as the absence of information when we work together. This session will bring you up to date on what we know, what we think we know, and how we can be responsive to those we serve.
After six years teaching gifted middle school students, two years in the Peace Corps, and five years training teachers, I am drawn to the big picture in gifted education. My research has been in the social and emotional aspects of giftedness, but I love to geek out on curriculum and... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 11:10am - 12:00pm CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
What are the social-emotional complexities at the intersection of giftedness and high-achievement? How can we learn from programs that directly address these unique social-emotional needs? Dr. Fishman-Weaver’s study on wholehearted teaching followed 20 extraordinarily high-achieving young women from high school through college. Her findings led to important guidance on how to use courage, connection, and self-care to proactively address social-emotional needs and to create safe spaces where young people can thrive. Please join us for this story-rich workshop on how to proactively and holistically support the social-emotional development of our gifted youth.
Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, PhD (she/her) is an educator, author, and international lecturer.As a public-school teacher, she worked to expand access and equity for neurodiverse students who receive special and/or gifted education services. Currently, Kathryn has continued this work by... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 11:10am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 630Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
GAM Board members - new and returning! Come network with others that sit on the board to discuss expectations of Directors & Assistants as well as take some time to brainstorm events for your area. Discuss upcoming events, how to go about planning, bounce ideas about what "has" and "hasn't" worked. Use this session as an opportunity to get a jump start on your plan to grow this organization and work on behalf of gifted education!
This session is offered twice for those that may not be able to attend the other one.
Looking for some new curriculum options or to revisit your current offerings? We spend an inordinate amount of time scanning websites for the next engaging unit - why not focus closer to home? If we take a moment to leverage the principles and concepts that undergird zoology, for example, we can open up a deeper and more engaging world of knowledge for these information addicts we serve. Study zombies and have their attention for the day. Study identity, existence, and industrial overwatch, and you can deliver learning that sticks and transfers to other disciplines well into old age. Come join a discussion about concepts, principles, student empowerment, and doing right by the deep learner.
After six years teaching gifted middle school students, two years in the Peace Corps, and five years training teachers, I am drawn to the big picture in gifted education. My research has been in the social and emotional aspects of giftedness, but I love to geek out on curriculum and... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 1:40pm - 2:30pm CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Target a multitude of standards and affective needs in one engaging unit of study. The Entrepreneurship Challenge pushes students in many different areas. Students will build a business from the ground up while working with peers and professionals from the community. This unit pulls together every core subject, technology, community involvement, and affective needs. When you attend this session you will walk out with all the tools you need to implement this unit in your classroom. Students begin by developing a product they want to make to sell. They will keep cost and target demographics in mind as they present a product proposal. They will work through the design process as they develop their products as well as their websites and commercials. Finally they will launch their business and put into practice what they have learned in a real world setting.
National History Day is a memorable opportunity for students and teachers alike. NHD is an integrated, project-based, historical research contest with Regional, State, and National levels for which students research a topic of their choice within a given theme. The theme in 2020 is "Breaking Barriers in History". Students prepare historical research products within categories such as paper, performance, website, documentary, and exhibit. All of those (except the paper, of course) provide an option for students to work either as an individual or within a group! NHD allows students the unique opportunity to defend their research to and receive feedback from encouraging judges who are experts in history, archiving, teaching, researching, and other related professions. These are skills that will prepare them for scholarship and college application as well as for the real world.This workshop will explain what NHD is, how it helps teachers meet standards, and how to develop an NHD unit. Kimberly Brownlee has been involved with student NHD projects and in judging the contest for 11 years and has multiple years' experience at the regional, state, and national competition levels.
Do you have questions about the challenging road you travel as a parent of a gifted student, or as an educator with gifted students, that you wish you could ask? This presentation provides the opportunity for panel discussion with a presenter who is an educator of the gifted, and the parent of gifted children. Her teenage children will be joining her to provide their unique insights and share the trials and tribulations of growing up gifted.
Many high-ability learners go through life perched anxiously on a pedestal of unrealistic expectations. Factors leading to chronic stress in gifted and twice-exceptional learners may be a result of personality characteristics, environmental factors, or both. We must view their social and emotional development through the lens of their cognitive ability to fully understand stress and anxiety in these bright students. This session will explore why gifted and 2e kids experience stress and anxiety, how it manifests, and what we can do to help.
Reflection is a powerful learning tool in any competency-based program of study. In this session, we will highlight several reflective tools and strategies that can be used to encourage the development of competencies found particularly within the common gifted education strands of Innovation and Creativity. Wise integration of widely-available technology to help students reflect upon their learning will be a core focus of the session. Participants should bring an internet-enabled device to the session in order to actively explore the various tools shared.
Spheros are spherical robots (about the size of a navel orange) that can be used to teach introductory computer programming skills with very little effort. Students will be designing and creating code to direct the Sphero while connecting, communicating, collaborating, problem solving, testing, and failing – all key characteristics of 21st century learners. We will cover where to get Spheros cheaply, how to get started using them with students, and how else they can be integrated into projects or curriculum. Come ready to play!
How can gifted coordinators individualize programming to meet the needs of diverse gifted learners? Do gifted learners need an Individualized Education Plan? This session reports on research examining gifted education policy differences in two neighboring Midwestern states. Teachers reported their experiences individualizing curriculum with and without a gifted IEP. Find out how we can keep the most useful components of an IEP-driven gifted program without being buried in paperwork.
Adjunct Professor, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Dr. Jessica LaFollette has been teaching gifted students for 18 years. She is currently a gifted facilitator for the Piper School district in Kansas City, KS. She is also an adjunct professor at UMKC and Emporia State University, teaching Curriculum Design and Characteristics of the... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 2:40pm - 3:30pm CDT
Room 660Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA
Does your heart start palpitating out of your chest or your palms become sweaty when you have to make THAT call to THAT person?! Let's face it - we all have to communicate to and with challenging people. This session will give practical insights and tips to help that communication go more smoothly and be more productive. Mrs. Vandeventer has her Master's Degree in Professional School Counseling (K-12) and is also certified as a School Psychological Examiner.
Many gifted children think, feel, and react more deeply to every sense or situation: sounds can be stronger and emotional reactions can be immensely out of sync with a situation. In this session, we'll focus on the latter and focus on ways to guide your child through their emotional outbursts without losing your sanity.
Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, PhD (she/her) is an educator, author, and international lecturer.As a public-school teacher, she worked to expand access and equity for neurodiverse students who receive special and/or gifted education services. Currently, Kathryn has continued this work by... Read More →
Saturday October 12, 2019 3:40pm - 4:15pm CDT
Auditorium, Room 750Ritenour High School Auditorium, 9100 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA