WATG 2024 Annual Conference

The rise of Artificial Intelligence in schools has led to questions about the impact on student writing. How can we inspire students to find joy and efficacy in using their unique and authentic voices while also acknowledging that AI tools can provide assistance for many writing tasks? This session will inspire participants to focus on writing joy in the age of AI.

So many Federal Javits grants do excellent work, but then disappear when the funding ends. 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, through which educators from 20 additional districts worked in 2023 – 2024. 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 improve identification practices, and how they can be accessed and used by anyone.

Wisconsin Future Problem Solving (FPS) is a dynamic educational program for grades 1-12. It engages students in a six-step problem solving process that develops skills essential for today’s world. With repeated application of problem solving techniques across a wide variety of important global issues, problem solving becomes a habit of mind that empowers students throughout their lives. FPS alumni often report that becoming a problem solver was the most important element of their education, and that they use the skills on a regular basis in their lives and careers. While engaging in problem solving work, students experience critical and creative thinking, decision making, effective communication, time management, and teamwork – skills that are good for all students, but particularly suited for gifted students’ great intellectual
curiosity, depth of perception, and high level of intensity. We offer both competitive and non-competitive components, with options for implementation in most classroom situations. In our session you will experience first-hand some of the skills of problem solving and learn how you can empower students to become effective problem solvers. Come discover how we engage minds and empower success in today’s youth!

Introduce Dash the Robot. Demonstrate using the Wonder Workshop program and available apps. Have participants actively engage in coding with Dash. Discuss how Dash was implemented in our district.

Explore the power of critical reasoning in tailoring instruction for individual student needs in this session. Learn how to create an engaging advanced learning environment through strategically grouping students to foster and enable their self-understanding and strengths. Discover practical strategies using ability and achievement data for a strengths-based approach to differentiating instruction, igniting and inspiring learning for all students.

In the Hamilton School District, we spent the last 3 years developing and implementing our new math vision which states: Where all mathematical learners are valued, and all learners are driven by curiosity, inspired by challenges, and committed to deep, conceptual understandings in order to navigate the world as flexible thinkers and doers of mathematics. To realize this vision, we created choice, compacted pathways for middle school, a wide variety of content and pacing options for high school, and an applied-math certificate for graduating seniors who venture off the "beaten path" of traditional math learning. Our comprehensive new programming took many hands focused on many minute details. In the end, we've created an innovative new vision for 5-12 mathematics that will inspire our next-generation mathematicians!

In this hands-on session, discover inquiry-based activities for advanced learners that integrate knowledge and skills in multiple disciplines to address authentic problems from climate change and pollution to equitable resource use and more. Presented activities incorporate STEM skills, critical thinking, modeling and inspire innovative thinking. Receive activities and readings linked to Wisconsin Academic Standards in several disciplines.

During this session, participants will engage in best practices in mathematics education coupled with thinking about our advanced learners in the classroom to ensure that learners are appropriately challenged and developing depth of knowledge of mathematical concepts. Participants will experience a specific lesson plan and collaborate with peers in the room around ways to extend and enrich the experience for students with exceptional mathematical promise.

Online interactions are becoming an essential element of daily life, but how do we foster this skill in our students? In this session we will address fostering online expectations, providing an environment for rich online interactions, steps in developing online conversation skills and building a safe space for peer critiques and collaboration.

Join us for a fun, interactive session jam-packed with engaging, challenging puzzles you can take home and use right away with your gifted students of almost any age. These complex puzzles, combined with proven strategies for developing students’ metacognitive skills, will fully engage your students, getting them to think in new ways. Plus, you'll learn why puzzles are so unique and effective at building both academic and social/emotional skills in gifted students.