2024 IAGC Conference: Full Schedule

10:15am CDT

Free, Online, Self-Paced Professional Learning on Best Practices in Gifted and Talented Student Identification

Friday November 1, 2024 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Streaming / Hybrid Session

As part of a 2020 Javits grant, a team of researchers worked to train staff from ten districts around the country on best practices in student identification. Lessons learned were used to develop an online system of training modules. Now, those modules are free and available for anyone to use! This session will provide an overview of what they cover, why the content can help, and how they can be accessed and used by anyone.

Presenters

Scott Peters

Director, Research Consulting Partnerships, NWEA

Scott J. Peters, Ph.D. is the Director of Research Consulting Partnerships at NWEA, a division of Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt (HMH). Prior to joining HMH he served as a Professor of Assessment and Research Methodology at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater for 13 years. He received... Read More →

Friday November 1, 2024 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Room 101C

Effective Program Leadership

11:15am CDT

Understanding the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan and What it Means for Advanced Learners

Friday November 1, 2024 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT

Room 101C

In Person and Streaming Virtual Session

The Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan and its implications support differentiated literacy instruction for ALL learners providing districts and schools "flexibility and local autonomy" in a " no one size fits all" literacy learning program. The overview of this Plan will share how it focuses on a "7 Competencies of Literacy" and how they apply to diverse learners including advanced learners.

Presenters

Laura Beltchenko

Consultant, Lake County ROE

Laura Beltchenko is a 34 year veteran educator. Her career in public education included classroom teacher, reading specialist, teacher and coordinator of gifted education programs as well as an associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction for a Chicago suburban school district... Read More →

Friday November 1, 2024 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 101C

Addressing Opportunity Gaps

1:30pm CDT

Identifying Outliers in Potential and Performance to Unlock Opportunity

Friday November 1, 2024 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT

Room 101C

The data from gifted identification can provide a world of insights when scouting for those "diamonds in the rough" who can truly shine with a little help. This session highlights strategies for understanding student aptitude, identifying gaps in potential and performance, and differentiating instruction by contrasting ability and achievement data to provide a bridge from students' demonstrated potential to drive opportunity and academic growth through a strengths-based lens.

Presenters

Joni Lakin

Professor, University of Alabama, The

Dr. Lakin is Professor of Educational Studies at The University of Alabama University. She conducts educational measurement research related to test validity and fairness. She is lead author of the Cognitive Abilities Test (Form 8). Her federally funded research on developing new... Read More →

Vickie Driver

Senior subject matter expert, Riverside Insights

I am an expert on CogAT®, the Cognitive Abilities Test ™, considered by many to be the "gold standard" as an assessment of cognitive reasoning and student ability. I work with educators and thought leaders across the country about using CogAT and about best practices for identification... Read More →

Friday November 1, 2024 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Room 101C

Acceleration and Identification

2:30pm CDT

Integrating Science and ELA to Enrich Advanced Learners

Friday November 1, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm CDT

Room 101C

Streaming / Virtual Session
The purpose of this session is to show teachers and administrators the importance of integrating science and English language arts (ELA) to enrich the curricula for all learners but especially for advanced students. Using novels, informational texts, poetry, short stories, fairy tales, and folk tales, participants learn how to easily create their own hands-on lessons from kindergarten – 12th grade which effectively integrate science and ELA.

Presenters

Dr. Tara Kristoff

Director for Equity and Justice, Northern Illinois University

As a teacher and as an educational administrator, Dr. Tara Kristoff’s focus is always on doing what is best for children and making education accessible to all families. She collaborates with all stakeholders to create and to revise preschool – 12 curricula in all academic disciplines... Read More →

Friday November 1, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm CDT
Room 101C

Evidence-Based Curriculum and Instruction

3:30pm CDT

Friday Member Meeting

Friday November 1, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Room 101C

Join the IAGC for a brief meeting of the IAGC membership as we give updates on the organization, past and upcoming education and training, advocacy efforts, and opportunities to get involved.
We will also recognize our IAGC Scholarship and Award winners.

Afterwards, please join us for a fun and relaxing social hour.

Friday November 1, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 101C

Advocacy

11:15am CDT

The Brain Bracket: A new way to encourage perspective taking

Saturday November 2, 2024 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT

Room 101C

Gifted students can struggle with one of the core skills in interpersonal relationships: perspective taking. When a person can adopt another person’s perspective, it enhances their ability to interact with that person effectively and leads to more successful social interactions. The Brain Bracket is a structured activity that is designed to help gifted students develop their perspective taking skills while levering their knowledge bases and areas of interest.

Presenters

Matt Zakreski

Psychologist, The Neurodiversity Collective

Matthew "Dr. Matt" Zakreski, PsyD is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent (gifted, 2e, ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc.) people and has presented over 300 times all over the country and internationally.

Saturday November 2, 2024 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 101C

Social-Emotional Learning and Support, counselors & support staff