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Learn more about the complexities of 2e learners, the importance of belonging, and the launch of the ORB Insight System designed to support observation and response to student behaviour. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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In this issue…★ Mapping the Complexity of Twice-Exceptional Learners: A systematic review exploring the diverse characteristics, strengths, and challenges that shape twice-exceptional profiles. ★ The Power of Belonging at School: Examining how students' sense of belonging influences academic achievement, motivation, well-being, and engagement. ★ Das-Churchville ORB© System Launch: A structured tool designed to support observation and response to student behavior across academic, social emotional, communication, sensory, and memory domains. ★ Exceptionally Ordinary podcast: Exploring how existential questions evolve across childhood and adolescence, and why gifted and twice-exceptional learners often experience them with unusual depth and intensity. |
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Exceptionally Ordinary Podcast
The Deepest End: Gifted Minds and Existential Dread (Part 2)How do existential questions evolve as gifted children grow into adolescence? In Part 2 of this Exceptionally Ordinary series, we explore how existential concerns can emerge at different stages of development, from young children grappling with fairness, death, and justice to adolescents navigating identity, belonging, and purpose. The conversation examines why gifted and twice exceptional learners may experience these challenges with particular intensity, and how asynchronous development can leave them feeling isolated, misunderstood, or unable to express the depth of what they are experiencing. Through practical insights and real world examples, this episode offers parents and educators a deeper understanding of how to recognize and support gifted learners as they navigate life's biggest questions. |
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Welcome to The Research Recess! Grab a coffee and step away from the grading pile or the team meeting. This is your mental playground for the latest data, insights, and breakthroughs in gifted and 2e education.
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Twice-exceptional students: a systematic review to outline the distinctive characteristics through a multidimensional lensTwice-exceptionality can be described as a complex interaction between giftedness and one or more co-occurring challenges. Existing literature indicates that this coexistence may result in the inhibition of some characteristics typically associated with each condition when considered in isolation, the exacerbation of others, or the identification of new traits. However, limited data are available on this complex interplay, due to the small number of empirical studies conducted in this field, the difficulty in recruiting large samples, and the heterogeneous nature of the profiles investigated. This systematic review aims to identify the distinguishing characteristics of twice-exceptionality emerging… |
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The relationships between school belonging and students’ motivational, social-emotional, behavioural, and academic outcomes in secondary education: a meta-analytic reviewThis meta-analytic review examines the relationships between students’ sense of school belonging and students’ motivational, social-emotional, behavioural, and academic functioning in secondary education. Moreover, it examines to what extent these relationships differ between different student groups (grade level, SES), measurement instruments, and region. Results revealed, on average, a small positive correlation with academic achievement, and small to moderate positive correlations with motivational outcomes such as mastery goal orientations; with social-emotional outcomes such as self-concept and self-efficacy; and with behavioural outcomes such as behavioural, cognitive, and agentic engagement. A small negative correlation… |
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HAGT Tools, Services, & Resources
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Introducing the Das-Churchville ORB© System: From Observation to ActionThe Das-Churchville ORB© System (Observation & Response-to-Behavior) is a practical tool designed to help educators make sense of the behaviors they observe in diverse learners in mixed-ability classrooms. The system empowers educators to systematically observe and document student behavior across five key domains: Academic Engagement, Social-Emotional Functioning, Communication, Sensory & Motor Skills, and Memory & Processing. Structured observation of specific behavioral indicators flags areas of concern on a four-level rating scale, which are then mapped to possible underlying needs and evidence-informed strategies, turning classroom observation into clear, actionable recommendations. |
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HAGT PRISM© Questionnaire: Personalizing the Picture of Highly Able LearnersThe HAGT PRISM© Questionnaire (Profile of Reasoning, Interests, Supports, and Motivation) is a free, interactive tool designed to better understand and support highly able learners in grades 2–8. Developed to be used by educators and families, the questionnaire is completed by the student to draw out their strengths, interests, and support needs and generates a personalized learning profile to inform classroom practice and individualized support. |
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School Leadership Strategies: Explore HAGT’s Whole-School Approaches for Advanced LearnersLooking to strengthen support for highly able students across your school? HAGT provides guidance for school leaders committed to equity and excellence through whole-school models, strategic staffing, and flexible pathways for advanced learning. Explore research-informed strategies, proven program models, and practical tools designed for sustainable, schoolwide implementation. Whether you're just getting started or refining your systems, we invite you to partner with us to lead meaningful change. |
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HAGT Courses & Conferences
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Register for the Challenge for All Summit Today!The 9th Annual Challenge for All Summit Virtual Edition returns on February 5 and 6, 2027. Join a global community of educators to explore impactful strategies for supporting highly able learners. If you couldn't join us in person in Bangkok this year, the good news is that the Summit is going virtual, bringing the same inspiring sessions and global connections straight to you, wherever you are. No passport required. |
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Faculty Professional Development: Register for HAGT’s Challenge for All Fall & Winter Flex CoursesFall Session 2026: September 21 – November 22, 2026
Winter Session 2026: November 30, 2026 - January 30, 2027 Looking to better support advanced learners? HAGT offers a faculty Professional Learning Series for educators at all levels. With flexible asynchronous courses, you can build expertise in foundations, practical strategies, and specialized topics in gifted education. Earn 45 professional development hours. Contact us about graduate credit through SUNY, and gain real-world strategies to transform your teaching. |
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Learning Support Assistants: Register for the Neurodiversity Support Specialist ProgramFall Session 2026: September 21 – November 22, 2026
Winter Session 2026: November 30, 2026 - January 30, 2027 Supporting neurodiverse learners effectively requires more than just good intentions—it takes knowledge, skill, and confidence. Our Neurodiversity Support Specialist Certification Program is designed for learning support assistants who are ready to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity and apply practical strategies that improve student outcomes. Whether you're new to the role or have years of experience, this certification program equips you to support all learners, including those with learning difficulties, giftedness, or twice-exceptionality (2e), with clarity and confidence. |
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Perfiles Complejos: Un programa de certificación para educadores latinoamericanosSesión de fin de año de 2026: 30 de noviembre de 2026 - 30 de enero de 2027
Sesión de inicio de año de 2027: 1 de marzo de 2027 - 2 de mayo de 2027 «Perfiles Complejos» es un programa de certificación profesional bilingüe compuesto por tres cursos, diseñado específicamente para educadores y líderes escolares de habla hispana en contextos escolares latinoamericanos e internacionales. Desde los marcos conceptuales fundamentales hasta las herramientas listas para usar en el aula y el liderazgo a nivel sistémico, cada curso contribuye a la obtención de la certificación completa de HAGT. No importa en qué punto de tu trayectoria con HAGT te encuentres, siempre hay un punto de partida para ti. |
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Stay connected for more insights, opportunities, and resources in the next issue of The Navigator! In the meantime, explore our website for additional ways to support highly able learners. The Navigator is dedicated to helping schools and families navigate the education of highly able/gifted & talented (HAGT) and twice-exceptional (2e) learners. You’ll find research insights, practical strategies, and meaningful tools to help advanced learners grow and excel.
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