Missed out on the conference? Click on a breakout session title below to see the presentation. You may click on the presenters' names to get their email addresses, as well.
Opening Presentation
9:00 a.m. -10:15 a.m.
“DARE MIGHTY THINGS”
InSight Into What It Takes To Get To Mars From The Scientists and Engineers That Will Take Us There
9:00 a.m. -10:15 a.m.
“DARE MIGHTY THINGS”
InSight Into What It Takes To Get To Mars From The Scientists and Engineers That Will Take Us There
The youth of today will likely have the opportunity to travel far past the reaches of Earth’s gravity to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, but getting there will not be easy. Instead, it will take individuals with a pioneer spirit fueled by imagination, the ability to collaborate with others, and the willingness to stay focused on solving seemingly impossible tasks over long periods of time. “Dare Mighty Things” takes you behind the scenes at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the landing of InSight on the surface of Mars to learn from NASA/JPL scientists and engineers the behaviors and characteristics that made it possible and ways that we can develop these skills within ourselves and our gifted children. The future is now!
Presenter: Brian Housand, PhD.
Dr. Brian Housand, is the coordinator of the Academically or Intellectually Gifted program at University of North Carolina Wilmington. Dr. Housand earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Connecticut with an emphasis in both gifted education and instructional technology. He served two terms on the National Association for Gifted Children’s Board of Directors as a Member-At-Large. Along with his wife Dr. Angela Housand and Dr. Joe Renzulli, he co-authored Using the Schoolwide Enrichment Model with Technology. He is also the author of Fighting Fake News! Teaching Critical Thinking and Media Literacy in a Digital Age. Brian has worked in education as a classroom teacher, a teacher of the gifted, and a university professor for over twenty years. As a speaker and consultant, he has presented in 36 states, Canada, Australia, and South Korea. Brian is a lover of technology, Star Wars, video games, and fonts, and he proudly identifies himself as a geek. You can learn more on his website at brianhousand.com and by following him on Twitter @brianhousand.
Breakout Sessions 1 & 2
Change Your Words, Change Your Mindset Presenters: Lisa Allred & Jen Boysko
In this session, we will explore the impact that learning mindsets have on student achievement. We will explore and utilize practical strategies to help shift student and parent mindsets in order to positively influence learning!
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
CM Library Resources Presenter: Kim Ray
Participants will be introduced to ONE Access (a huge host of digital resources provided by the Public Library for CMS students) and how to use these resources to meet the unique needs of diverse learners. Participants will gain an overview of ONE Access resources and deeply explore 2-3 of them based on the needs of their learner(s).
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of all students
Don’t Count Me Out! Gifted Students in Title I Schools Presenter: Tiffany Stoner
This presentation will examine the needs of high skilled students needing extra support to allow them to achieve their best and thrive. Often times gifted students in Title I schools attempt to underachieve "dummy" themselves down or stay in the background. Students face many barriers and one major factor is social emotional needs. Meeting these students’ needs and building their esteem will provide them the confidence to perform consistently or motivate them to complete more rigorous work due to many factors. How do parents get their child/ren the support they need and affirm they are are capable of more and help them embrace the fact they are gifted and talented?
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
Duke TIP Presenter: Rick Courtright
The Duke University Talent Identification Program is a nonprofit organization that works with academically gifted and talented youth, as well as their families to provide resources they need to reach their highest potential. This session will provide a thorough understanding of both talent searches and the benefits offered to those who participate. Qualified students who enroll in the Duke TIP Talent Searches are offered the opportunity to participate in an above-level assessment, allowing greater insight into their abilities. Participants are also provided with the opportunity to engage in additional academic challenges through educational programming provided within a uniquely supportive social community. Duke TIP’s valuable resources can help all high-ability students establish an effective academic foundation for the years ahead.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of elementary and middle school students
Grit & Mindset at Home Presenter: Katie Weed
This session will focus on key ingredients to success for gifted children beyond their ability. Mindset, grit, passion, and perseverance are essential skills to success and can be developed at home. Many parents of gifted children have brought up their concerns about their child's hesitation to take risks, lack of perseverance during challenge, and lack of effort keeping them from their full potential. This workshop will be based on current research and strategies parents can use at home.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
Law of the Lid: Increasing the leadership capacity of your student Presenter: Troy Maxwell, Freedom House
Leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. The lower an individuals ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential. The higher an individuals ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential. In this break out session led by Troy Maxwell, parents will learn how to help their students increase their capacity and lead at a higher level. Join us as we explore an important leadership principle called, the Law of the Lid.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
Life Online: Building Savvy Digital Citizenship Presenter: Todd Nasife
This session will focus on key ingredients to success for gifted children beyond their ability. Mindset, grit, passion, and perseverance are essential skills to success and can be developed at home. The statistics that Sheena shared at the TD meeting about the high numbers of gifted youth dropping out in our district was very unsettling. Many parents of gifted children have brought up their concerns about their child's hesitation to take risks, lack of perseverance during challenge, and lack of effort keeping them from their full potential. This workshop will be based on current research and strategies parents can use at home.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of all students
Making the Transition to Middle School Presenters: Kristen Litchfield & Tony DeRiso
Transitioning to middle school is challenging for most students. Gifted students can have some unique challenges (perfectionism; adjusting to multiple teacher styles; peer differences). We will share information and strategies to help make this transition a successful one.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary and middle school students
Meeting the Needs of the Diverse Gifted Learner with IB Presenters: Maranda Thornburg & Karen Gorman
Come learn how to support your gifted learners from the IB Coordinator and the Academic Facilitator from Piedmont IB Middle School in Charlotte. As a magnet school with over one-third of our population identified as gifted, we have several ideas and strategies, including scheduling and project-based learning. Additionally, our principal was recently named the National Association of Gifted Children's administrator of the year and we will share much of what happens in our school from both the leadership and the teachers' perspectives.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of middle school students
Read All About It: Bibliotherapy for Gifted Children Presenter: Amber Stokes
Gifted children often face social and emotional issues such as perfectionism, social acceptance, and self-expression. In this session, bibliotherapy (reading and discussion of books focused on these areas) is explored as an easy, low-stress, effective way to help gifted children grow as individuals. Parents will receive a list of books appropriate for their elementary or middle school child, as well as strategies for discussing the books together.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary and middle school children
In this session, we will explore the impact that learning mindsets have on student achievement. We will explore and utilize practical strategies to help shift student and parent mindsets in order to positively influence learning!
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
CM Library Resources Presenter: Kim Ray
Participants will be introduced to ONE Access (a huge host of digital resources provided by the Public Library for CMS students) and how to use these resources to meet the unique needs of diverse learners. Participants will gain an overview of ONE Access resources and deeply explore 2-3 of them based on the needs of their learner(s).
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of all students
Don’t Count Me Out! Gifted Students in Title I Schools Presenter: Tiffany Stoner
This presentation will examine the needs of high skilled students needing extra support to allow them to achieve their best and thrive. Often times gifted students in Title I schools attempt to underachieve "dummy" themselves down or stay in the background. Students face many barriers and one major factor is social emotional needs. Meeting these students’ needs and building their esteem will provide them the confidence to perform consistently or motivate them to complete more rigorous work due to many factors. How do parents get their child/ren the support they need and affirm they are are capable of more and help them embrace the fact they are gifted and talented?
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
Duke TIP Presenter: Rick Courtright
The Duke University Talent Identification Program is a nonprofit organization that works with academically gifted and talented youth, as well as their families to provide resources they need to reach their highest potential. This session will provide a thorough understanding of both talent searches and the benefits offered to those who participate. Qualified students who enroll in the Duke TIP Talent Searches are offered the opportunity to participate in an above-level assessment, allowing greater insight into their abilities. Participants are also provided with the opportunity to engage in additional academic challenges through educational programming provided within a uniquely supportive social community. Duke TIP’s valuable resources can help all high-ability students establish an effective academic foundation for the years ahead.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of elementary and middle school students
Grit & Mindset at Home Presenter: Katie Weed
This session will focus on key ingredients to success for gifted children beyond their ability. Mindset, grit, passion, and perseverance are essential skills to success and can be developed at home. Many parents of gifted children have brought up their concerns about their child's hesitation to take risks, lack of perseverance during challenge, and lack of effort keeping them from their full potential. This workshop will be based on current research and strategies parents can use at home.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
Law of the Lid: Increasing the leadership capacity of your student Presenter: Troy Maxwell, Freedom House
Leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. The lower an individuals ability to lead, the lower the lid on his potential. The higher an individuals ability to lead, the higher the lid on his potential. In this break out session led by Troy Maxwell, parents will learn how to help their students increase their capacity and lead at a higher level. Join us as we explore an important leadership principle called, the Law of the Lid.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of all students
Life Online: Building Savvy Digital Citizenship Presenter: Todd Nasife
This session will focus on key ingredients to success for gifted children beyond their ability. Mindset, grit, passion, and perseverance are essential skills to success and can be developed at home. The statistics that Sheena shared at the TD meeting about the high numbers of gifted youth dropping out in our district was very unsettling. Many parents of gifted children have brought up their concerns about their child's hesitation to take risks, lack of perseverance during challenge, and lack of effort keeping them from their full potential. This workshop will be based on current research and strategies parents can use at home.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of all students
Making the Transition to Middle School Presenters: Kristen Litchfield & Tony DeRiso
Transitioning to middle school is challenging for most students. Gifted students can have some unique challenges (perfectionism; adjusting to multiple teacher styles; peer differences). We will share information and strategies to help make this transition a successful one.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary and middle school students
Meeting the Needs of the Diverse Gifted Learner with IB Presenters: Maranda Thornburg & Karen Gorman
Come learn how to support your gifted learners from the IB Coordinator and the Academic Facilitator from Piedmont IB Middle School in Charlotte. As a magnet school with over one-third of our population identified as gifted, we have several ideas and strategies, including scheduling and project-based learning. Additionally, our principal was recently named the National Association of Gifted Children's administrator of the year and we will share much of what happens in our school from both the leadership and the teachers' perspectives.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of middle school students
Read All About It: Bibliotherapy for Gifted Children Presenter: Amber Stokes
Gifted children often face social and emotional issues such as perfectionism, social acceptance, and self-expression. In this session, bibliotherapy (reading and discussion of books focused on these areas) is explored as an easy, low-stress, effective way to help gifted children grow as individuals. Parents will receive a list of books appropriate for their elementary or middle school child, as well as strategies for discussing the books together.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary and middle school children
Breakout Session 1 only
Inside Out: Anxiety Presentation for Gifted Learners Presenters: Sharon Beatty & Twila Quattlebaum
We teach parents effective techniques on how to manage stress and anxiety.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary school students
Managing Anxiety in the High-Achieving Classroom Presenter: Mark Jenkins
Observations on how anxiety impacts high-achieving students, strategies for managing its optimal use, tips for managing its potentially damaging effects.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of high school students
We teach parents effective techniques on how to manage stress and anxiety.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary school students
Managing Anxiety in the High-Achieving Classroom Presenter: Mark Jenkins
Observations on how anxiety impacts high-achieving students, strategies for managing its optimal use, tips for managing its potentially damaging effects.
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of high school students
Breakout Session 2 only
Addressing the Academic, Social, and Emotional Needs of Gifted Students
Presenters: Kelly Safran, Alex Langlois, and Sarah McMurray
This presentation addresses common myths and misconceptions of gifted students – particularly surrounding social/emotional issues. It debunks ten common myths and misconceptions, provides suggestions for ways parents can support students at home, and offers a wide range of suggested parent resources (websites, books, and blogs).
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary school students
Getting Girls to AP Computer Science Presenter: Shoufen Jacobson
Very few girls have registered in AP Computer Science classes in CMS high schools. Based on a quick pull, there are about 5 girls in each AP Computer Science classes. This is a snapshot of what is going on in the high school/middle school CS classrooms nationwide, which, to a certain extent, relates to the fact that very few women earn CS bachelor's degree from colleges. According to Alison Rayome (2018), "women earn only 18% of computer science bachelor's degrees in the United States. And leaders such as Apple CEO Tim Cook have stated that if the US tech industry doesn't solve its gender imbalance issues then America will lose its lead in tech." (https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-state-of-women-in-computer-science-an-investigative-report/). One of the reasons, according to the same study, is that "A lack of exposure to computer science and engineering concepts in middle school and high school". This is why we, as parents, community leaders, school leadership teams, and teachers, need to develop awareness of this issue, and work together to help girls get into Middle School and High School computer science classrooms. The synergistic approach will make stronger voice and produce a better results. That said, this process needs to start from home, from mom and dad; needs to start from school, from counselor, from principals, and from teachers. In addition, we need to develop instructional strategies that are suitable for girls--make them feel comfortable and help them thrive in this new type of learning environment, and much more.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of all students
Presenters: Kelly Safran, Alex Langlois, and Sarah McMurray
This presentation addresses common myths and misconceptions of gifted students – particularly surrounding social/emotional issues. It debunks ten common myths and misconceptions, provides suggestions for ways parents can support students at home, and offers a wide range of suggested parent resources (websites, books, and blogs).
Focus: Social & Emotional Needs of Gifted Children Target audience: Parents of elementary school students
Getting Girls to AP Computer Science Presenter: Shoufen Jacobson
Very few girls have registered in AP Computer Science classes in CMS high schools. Based on a quick pull, there are about 5 girls in each AP Computer Science classes. This is a snapshot of what is going on in the high school/middle school CS classrooms nationwide, which, to a certain extent, relates to the fact that very few women earn CS bachelor's degree from colleges. According to Alison Rayome (2018), "women earn only 18% of computer science bachelor's degrees in the United States. And leaders such as Apple CEO Tim Cook have stated that if the US tech industry doesn't solve its gender imbalance issues then America will lose its lead in tech." (https://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-state-of-women-in-computer-science-an-investigative-report/). One of the reasons, according to the same study, is that "A lack of exposure to computer science and engineering concepts in middle school and high school". This is why we, as parents, community leaders, school leadership teams, and teachers, need to develop awareness of this issue, and work together to help girls get into Middle School and High School computer science classrooms. The synergistic approach will make stronger voice and produce a better results. That said, this process needs to start from home, from mom and dad; needs to start from school, from counselor, from principals, and from teachers. In addition, we need to develop instructional strategies that are suitable for girls--make them feel comfortable and help them thrive in this new type of learning environment, and much more.
Focus: Academic Support and Enrichment Target audience: Parents of all students