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October 1/February 11: Why Does It Matter if My Child is Identified as Gifted? 

Does being identified as gifted really matter?  And if it does, why?  This session will highlight recent research and focus on three big reasons why gifted identification makes a difference in public schools.

October 8/February 18: CogAT Testing

In Northeast Colorado, the CogAT test (Cognitive Abilities Test) is given to every second-grade student and a middle-school-grade student (sixth or seventh grade). This session will cover what the CogAT  assesses and how that information is utilized for all students.

October 15/February 25: How Did My Child Get Identified?

Colorado has specific laws under the Exceptional Children's Education Act (ECEA) as to how children are identified as gifted.  This talk will provide an overview of that process and answer questions as to the difference between a "talent pool" designation and "gifted" identification.

October 22/March 4: Now What? What to Expect After Gifted Identification

Once you have been told your child is gifted, it can be confusing to understand what to expect happens next.  The family has an important role to play, and this session will cover three big areas to focus on as you navigate the complexities of public education and gifted needs.

October 29/March 11: Six Types of Gifted Learners

Gifted learners can typically fit into one of six different categories. Understanding which "type" of gifted learner your student may be can help you to better understand and support them going forward. Learn about their needs and how they can be supported both at home and at school.

November 5/March 25: Overexcitabilities and Gifted Students

Overexcitabilities are a heightened awareness and response to stimuli that shows through increased sensitivity and intensity. This session will cover how each excitability may present in a gifted student and provide strategies to help you and your child learn to work with it in order to be successful in the classroom and at home.

November 12/April 1: Perfectionism:  Enemy of the Good

Perfectionism sounds like a positive trait but it can, in fact, be an enemy of all the good your child can actually do. Learn about the different types of perfectionism and strategies you can implement at home to help your child harness their perfectionism for good.

November 19/April 8: Acceleration vs. Enrichment: Definitions, Pros and Cons

Most often, the school has two primary choices when deciding how best to serve gifted learners--acceleration and/or enrichment. This session will cover what each of these main strategies looks like, and inform parents and families about why one might make sense more than another at any given time in their gifted child's education.

December 3/April 15: Four Critical Thinking Strategies

Critical thinking skills enhance problem-solving abilities, contribute to making more thoughtful decisions, encourage viewing situations from multiple perspectives, and assist in understanding and approaching solutions. In this session, participants will learn about four different critical thinking strategies that can be used at home - at the dinner table, in the car, or sprinkled into conversation - to build capacity for this type of thinking in their child.

December 10/April 22: Advocating Well for Your Gifted Child

Advocating well means knowing when to speak up and what to advocate for when it comes to your child's needs in school.  This session will encourage parents and families to use specific tools and strategies when working with their school to help provide the best possible outcome for their child.