giftED22

It’s the bestselling video game of all time. Embrace that and use Minecraft to differentiate, encourage creativity, and promote critical thinking. Learn ways to get students thinking beyond the nether! Many districts already have Minecraft Education Edition, but we’ll also look at options for students to obtain it for free!

The standards are an important part of preparing each student to read, write, and do math on grade-level, but they are not enough to truly prepare students for the world they will face when they leave school. They are necessary, but not sufficient. Students need to approach material in more broad, deep, and complex ways in order to truly master critical thinking across the disciplines. Learn strategies for asking and answering better questions in class can be a simple, but powerfully transformative tool to unlock learning potential and make the “basics” more interesting and engaging.

Begins with an overview of what authentic learning is, specifically project-based learning, problem-based learning, and case-based learning, all which fall under inquiry learning. Then participants have the choice to explore one of these strategies and see how they would use it for themselves.

Gifted kids are often very curious creatures. However, many lose sight of this playful nature and instead go in search of the one right answer. In this adventurous session, we will go down the rabbit hole and explore a wonderland of technology infused and teacher tested lessons designed to reconnect you and your students with a playful sense of wonder.

Transparency: We are a company that writes curriculum and supports student programs. Other great companies do this too. Truth: Every student deserves access to summer enrichment, but not every school can afford our services. Solution: Give you every tool you need to build a camp. No strings. No tricks. Copies of waivers, sign up forms, scheduling solutions, free curriculum, and supply sheets. It'll still be hard work, but you won't be starting from scratch. Your students need this; you can do this; and we want to help.

The Excellence Gaps Intervention Model (Plucker & Peters, 2016) provides strategies to reduce excellence gaps and equitably serve students with advanced learning needs. Excellence gaps can be reduced through evidence-based strategies (e.g., frontloading, flexible ability grouping) and this presentation will discuss practical interventions educators can use in their classrooms. _x000D_

As society’s challenges grow ever more complex, so too does the need to work together to solve them. Invention Education promotes “soft skills” needed to become lifelong learners and problem solvers. Through exposure to relationship skills, self-awareness, and responsible decision making, students social-emotional learning becomes the key.

You don’t have to be a computer science teacher to teach your GT students coding. Join us for coding for non-coder teachers. You’ll learn about and get hands-on time with several free coding tools to get your students coding and creating. You’ll be amazed at what they can create!

This session covers various tools and techniques from creativity research that will transform the way educators think about depth and complexity. Participants will gain practical strategies in the form of templates and online tools to engage their students in differentiated activities.

Authentically engaging gifted learners can be challenging and seem like extra work. But, the reality is that every learner deserves an opportunity to learn in a way that is meaningful for them. In this learning experience, Andi McNair will share practical ways that we can “create the perfect wave” for gifted learners and even help them understand that there is value in “wiping out.” Educators will leave this learning experience with tools, ideas, strategies to encourage gifted learners to grab their boards and paddle out into the water knowing that they will be challenged, encouraged, and most importantly, engaged.

In this session, participants are challenged to bring their entire school team or new friends at the conference to work on a series of creative, comedic challenges. Enjoy a variety of activities that are not only a fun challenge, but also can be taken back to your campus to build self-efficacy. Build your perseverance and task commitment with your team while having a few laughs on the way with the always entertaining comedic team, Curtis Needs A Ride.

Many gifted students raised in poverty face memory development delays which can impact their ability to learn. This session focuses on understanding how memory works, memory development, and suggested strategies to help students of any age develop their memory. Leave with several ideas you can implement immediately in your classroom.

In this hands-on session, secondary educators will learn about and how to implement tabletop role-playing game design to build an engaging, collaborative, and fun product created by their students. Utilizing game design focuses student attention on the end product while balancing their understanding of the content.

Are even your top students intimidated by the SAT? Do they agonize over their answer choices? Do they plead for more time? Let's debunk some SAT myths, clarify the process, and walk away with tips and strategies for teachers and students that will boost their confidence AND their scores.

Travel with us to explore social issues through the lenses of Depth & Complexity. We will work together to layer D & C with children's books and other literary works to assist students in developing a greater understanding of themselves, others, and the world in which we live.

This session will detail the importance of internationalizing the secondary curriculum within gifted education to center glocalism pedagogy, the interconnection of local and global social concerns, to promote student engagement and diversity of thought. The presenter offers key recommendations to foster intercultural learning within gifted education in Texas schools.

Get ready to fill your bucket with tons of strategies for serving G/T students in this fun, fast-paced giftED Exchange session! The giftED Exchange allows attendees to experience a variety of creative teaching techniques that can be applied immediately in the gifted classroom. Each presentation will be repeated speed-teaching style for a full hour. Come prepared to walk away with resources, tips, tools, and lesson plans you can immediately use in your classroom. Sponsored by National Inventors Hall of Fame.


 
Table #1: The Power of Innovation: Let's have a conversation about how this connects to your classroom inspiring your students to become the next generation problem seekers and solutions finders. Participants will be provided with an Innovation poster connecting attributes for hands-on implementation. Presented by Barbara Hinton

Table #2: Teaching SEL Skills Through Exploration of Award-Winning Children’s Books about Gifted Racially and Culturally Diverse Mathematicians: Explore 12 award-winning children’s books with storylines about gifted girls, boys, African American, Asian, International, Nerdy, and Bullied mathematicians that can be used to teach social and emotional skills. Apply knowledge and create engaging research-based SEL lesson plans. Presented by Shaunise Robinson & Joyce Miller

Table #3: Bubbly About Blockly: Looking for an easy way to begin coding with your students? Jump in to easy, free resources and get started with Blockly! Fun and challenging for all ages, and great resources for projects and stations! Presented by Vanessa Brower.
 
Table #4: Captivating Curiosities: Students will be drawn in by these captivating images that can be used as discussion starters, lesson springboards, or independent study ticklers. Come and grab our shared slideshow with intriguing images and associated links to use with your students. Presented by Sheila Mulbry and Yvonne Garcia
 
Table #5: Dollar Store DIY Creativity: With a few inexpensive everyday items you can get from the dollar store, you can unlock your students' imagination. These low-prep, highly engaging 15-minute challenges will connect dendrites, build teamwork, and foster creativity. Students create castles, fortresses, bridges, catapults, and even innovative kitchen utensils! Presented by Annie Mitchell
 
Table #6: Pain Free Way to Take Math Notes for Gifted Students With Dysgraphia: A gifted/2e student with dysgraphia. demonstrates his easy and pain-free way to take math notes using an IPad, Apple Pencil and the “Good Notes” App. His strategy is a game changer for students struggling with note-taking and writing out of math problems. Presented by Jordan O’Kelley.
 
Table #7: Creativity in the Classroom: Proven Techniques That Work: Participants will receive engaging strategies and lesson ideas they can use immediately with their students. This session will discuss the benefits of incorporating creativity into the classroom while using higher order thinking skills and fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration. Presented by Johnna Rosson.
 
Table #8: Serving Gifted Students and Their Teachers With Curriculum Kits: Participants will leave with an idea of how to create and implement curriculum kits that can be utilized in the classroom to meet the needs of gifted learners while simultaneously allowing teachers to earn their 6-hour update. Presented by Christine Williamson and Mirinda Coleman.
 
Table #9: Using Choice Boards for Differentiation of Learners: Teachers will learn how to build choice boards that will allow students to take ownership of their learning and choice when they finish early, allowing them to stay engaged in learning. Presented by David Cupp.
 
Table #10: Playful Learning With Mats: Keeping students engaged in the learning process takes imagination and careful planning. Learning Mats activities allow students to work independently, take risk without fear of failure, and develop self-discipline by exploring in their own way. Presented by Joy Sloan.
 
Table #11: When I Grow Up I Want to Be an Engineer!--Spoon Game: Participants will play the Engineer Spoon Game where they match what the engineer does with the definition along with 2 pictures that correlate with a job he/she might perform. Each person will obtain a copy of the game and template they can use to make their own. Presented by Doris Tomas.
 
Table #12: Choice Boards: Tic-Tac-Toe Boards: In this session, teachers will learn what a Tic-Tac-Toe Choice Board is, its benefits to all students, and how to create their own board for their content area. All participants will walk away with a product they can use confidently Monday morning. Presented by Lindsey Cameron.
 
Table #13: Walk. Listen. And Learn. We will talk about a Walking Classroom podcast and the associated lesson plan, and the curated resources that support the podcast. Participants will get a sample lesson plan and access to the free podcast. Presented by Debra Ives.
 
Table #14: Problem Solving Through Play: Participants will learn about using games to teach and improve problem-solving skills while also incorporating social-emotional lessons into play time. We will explore various games that can be used in the G/T classroom to improve logic, reasoning, cooperation, perseverance, and most importantly problem solving. Presented by Amanda Coatney.
 
Table #15: There’s a Book for That!: Often, our G/T students are at a loss in how to navigate social situations. Using books is a great way to show students how a character reacts in similar scenarios! Links to the books (videos/purchase options) provided! Presented by Amanda Zeigler.
 
Table #16: G/T Commercial Breaks: Use the idea of commercial breaks to keep your G/T students on their toes. Quick activities that stretch the problem solving and creativity of G/T students can easily be incorporated anytime the class seems "off." Presented by Mel Harlan.
 
Table #17: Team Titans: Discover engaging and innovative ways to place your students into teams for collaboration using music, motion, and relevance. Participants will collect new methods for randomizing groups and learn to remove the stress and stigmatism that comes with telling students to find a partner. Presented by Misty Lewin.
 
Table #18: Gifts of the Gifted: Engage our gifted and twice-exceptional students through connection with their hearts. Capture their curiosity digitally and create unique opportunities for whole child learning. Walk away with strategies and digital resources guaranteed to set the stage for purposeful, meaningful learning at all capacities. Presented by Patricia Castano.