Audience: Gifted Resource Teacher/Gifted Cluster Teachers (Elementary)

Presenter: Andrea Greene, GRT – Newtown Elementary School

Description: During these last unprecedented school years, connecting with students has been more important than ever. In this session, cluster teachers will be shown the value of honoring the diversity of their students in order to build strong relationships. Cluster teachers will hear student testimonials, see student work samples, and get ideas for resources.

Audience: Gifted Resource Teachers/Gifted Cluster Teachers (All levels)

Presenter: Dr. Dornswalo Wilkins-McCorey, Gifted Programs Coordinator

Sun-Siret Betancourt, GRT - New Castle Elementary

Description: The purpose of this session is to demonstrate the process of collecting qualitative data through anecdotal note-taking. Participants in this session will learn how to recognize the different types of traits, attitudes and behaviors indicative of gifted characteristics. In addition, the participants will learn how to translate this data into evidence that illustrates critical, creative, analytical and logical thinking skills of potentially gifted students with an emphasis on grades K and 1.

Audience: Gifted Resource Teachers/Gifted Cluster Teachers (Secondary)

Presenter: Tina Cerja, Gifted Testing Specialist

Description: Based on the previous Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted, the VBCPS Gifted department implemented several components to provide equitable representation of gifted students throughout the school division over the last several years. This session will highlight the strategies/resources used and some of the lesson plans created as a result of this work. The presenters will provide video footage and a toolbox of resources that can be used to meet the diverse population in the city of Virginia Beach.

Audience: Gifted Resource Teachers/Gifted Cluster Teachers (All levels)

Presenter: Terri Darnell, GRT – Thoroughgood Elementary School

Description: Participants will learn practical applications of Kaplan's Depth & Complexity that the presenter learned in a week long seminar with Dr. Sandra Kaplan herself. Students can learn to speak these thinking skills as a second language. We will also explore how to uses TLAD (Thinking Like a Disciplinarian) frame in a useful manner. Kaplan's Depth & Complexity model will be demystified!