2024 IAGC Conference

The Gifted population has long been synonymous with the term perfectionism, but what does that word really mean? Perfectionism has long been described as problematic, but what if it's not?  This presentation will dive into the myths and misunderstandings surrounding perfectionism as well as how to identify it in individuals who may not present in the "typical" way. Let's get down to the root of the meaning behind the word so we don't have to fear it.

Discover a comprehensive toolkit tailored for kindergarten to second-grade gifted students, addressing their social-emotional and academic needs. Crafted with a focus on holistic development, it supports educators in prioritizing emotional well-being and academic advancement. Equipping teachers with practical strategies, from emotion recognition to differentiated instruction, fosters inclusive classrooms where gifted learners feel understood and challenged. Empowered educators nurture the full potential of gifted students, creating supportive environments where every child thrives.

Implementing an inclusive and well aligned identification practice for advanced learner services can be challenging. Through case study, this session will explore best practices that include use of a student “talent profile” approach to identify students in need of advanced learner placement and instruction at all tiers in a continuum of services.  

How do you know if advanced learners are growing academically? How much growth is enough? What are growth norms? Measuring growth for advanced learners can be difficult. This session will define growth of grade-level and above-grade-level assessments, review data practices using NAGC standards, and discuss the most useful approaches and nuances of measuring growth.

Learning readiness is imperative for “right-sized” instruction and programming for advanced students. This session explores best assessment practices to inform academic readiness and plan responsive, tiered lessons across a continuum of learning needs. Focus includes extended enrichments, tier-one instruction strategies and extending the “readiness-runway” by front-loading essential readiness skills.  Attendees will walk away with strategies to implement tomorrow!