WATG 2024 Annual Conference

One of my many hats in my job as an “Advanced Learning Specialist” (i.e. gifted and talented resource teacher) is to educate and support TAG parents. A lot of that role is to help parents and students navigate the peculiarities of our specific school district, but part of that role is more universal. This session will be aimed at some generalities of parenting gifted students while also having time to talk about your specific student. -Darby Puglielli


Participants will be guided by two SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted) facilitators. My co-presenter, Jackie Drummer, is a nationally certified SENG trainer and facilitator with decades experience working with parents/caregivers, students, and educators nationally and internationally.

Twice exceptional students - 2E kids - are intellectually gifted children who have one or more learning disabilities. Twice exceptional students need to be identified for both their gifts and for their disabilities, which can be challenging. Developing a unique blend of academics and supports for each child is critical, because s/he thinks and processes information differently than the general student population. This presentation will provide an overview of the topic of twice exceptional and will supply strategies that teachers can use to help their twice exceptional children to thrive.

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.

College-bound gifted students have incredible potential to flourish in collegiate environments. In contrast to many K-12 school environments, college often provides students with more freedom of choice, more variety of learning opportunities, and supportive communities that appreciate unique talents. But choosing a college that is uniquely suited to a gifted learner, and getting in, is an important process that can be daunting for even the best prepared students and families.

In this session, participants will learn:
The current trends in US college admissions and how admission practices may help (or hurt) unique learners.
The top 5 tips for highlighting the gifted student’s unique talents and experiences through the college application process.
How colleges consider advanced-level coursework (e.g. honors, AP, dual-enrollment, etc).
How (and when) a successful college search begins.

How to support gifted students in PreK-Grade 2 at school & home

A discussion about the opportunities we create, find, or dream about for our gifted kids outside of school hours.

In this session, participants (parents/caregivers and educators) will explore five facets of working with gifted children. We will delve into cognition, creativity, curiosity, compassion, and confidence as pillars of the gifted child's experience. In this workshop, we will imagine, innovate, and inspire adults to discover and nurture these unique and promising characteristics of gifted children. The workshop will provide lots of resources, ideas, and thought-provoking discussion and activities.

One child panics when a single mistake is made. Another child breaks down when asked to work in groups. A third child has low self-esteem and refuses to turn in work. What do they all have in common? They are all perfectionists. While many professionals who work with children are able to recognize perfectionism when they see it, they may be unsure how to help a child overcome this barrier. This presentation will give specific strategies to use in the classroom or counseling setting to work both individually and in groups with students to overcome perfectionism.

This session aims to present a unique approach to engaging parents as part of a rich discussion about how to nurture and develop students’ passions and talents. Research shows that parents of gifted children seem to fully recognize the uniqueness of their children, but only a few understand their child’s ability profile and emotional peculiarities.Therefore, they may struggle to manage their child’s socioemotional needs, passions and special interests. Parents often struggle when they realize their child is gifted. Trying to provide a framework, regarding the profiles of gifted children, of the challenges faced by their parents, is a complex issue. Not only because of myths and misconceptions about giftedness, but also because of parents' high expectations.

Recent studies have questioned the traditional conception that considers giftedness as an immutable trait of the person, linked merely to the individual’s cognitive abilities. Indeed, innate abilities play a role in the emergence of giftedness, however other key factors relating to psychological and social dimensions appear to be central to the development and expression of individual potential. This evidence allows us to reinterpret giftedness from a developmental perspective, which considers the complex interdependence of different variables at the individual, familial, educational, and societal levels. Gifted children are first and foremost children and therefore, it is crucial to create the environmental conditions that can best support the gifted child’s harmonious development of cognitive and socio-emotional competencies in schools and at home.

This breakout session will be around what gifted students have shared can be challenging in their academic settings regarding their social and emotional needs. The session will include background/ psychoeducation around some of the mental health, social and emotional concerns that can arise for a gifted student in the classroom and the playground.