WATG 2024 Annual Conference

In this session, participants will learn how to create a multilingual leadership program that gives students access to immersive educational experiences ahead of key grade level units in order to position them as leaders. Imagine the possibilities when advanced learning specialists and multilingual teachers work together to inspire student leaders!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

How do you know if advanced learners are growing academically? How much growth is enough? What are growth norms? Measuring growth for advanced learners can be difficult. This session will explore growth of grade-level and above-grade-level assessments, review best data practices using NAGC standards, and discuss the most useful approaches to understand advanced learner growth and impact of services and instruction.