Professional Development Session Options

This session provides an overview of the unique characteristics and needs of gifted students, with a focus on understanding the myths, misconceptions, and biases that can impact their identification and support. Participants will explore the social and emotional challenges faced by gifted learners, including issues related to asynchronous development, perfectionism, overexcitabilities, and peer relationships. The session will offer strategies for addressing student cases with collaborative approaches that take into account both their intellectual and emotional well-being.

Through the lens of real-world case studies, this session offers an in-depth look at the diverse profiles of gifted learners. Participants will explore the varying characteristics, strengths, and challenges that gifted students may exhibit (with or without formal identification). Educators will gain valuable insights into the practical application of theories and strategies, such as a profile matrix of support, enabling them to better understand and meet the unique needs of gifted learners in the international school context.

This session guides school leaders in creating or enhancing gifted and talented programs aligned with their school's mission, vision, and goals. Participants will engage in a needs assessment process, learn strategies for involving key stakeholders such as teachers, students, and parents, and establish a leadership team to drive the program. The session offers a framework for setting long-term objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and actionable steps to integrate a successful gifted program into the school's strategic priorities.

Participants will explore various models of gifted education, such as pull-out programs, in-class differentiation, cluster grouping, talent development, and acceleration. The session provides practical examples from other international schools and research-based approaches to selecting and customizing program models based on the specific needs and resources of the school. Leaders will leave with the tools to make informed decisions about flexible models that promote continuous growth and refinement for advanced learners.

This session provides a foundational understanding of how these terms are defined and recognized in educational settings. Participants will examine both formal and informal methods of identifying gifted students, including the use of checklists, observations, and various assessment tools. The session will emphasize the importance of integrating objective and subjective data to create a comprehensive profile of each student. Additionally, current research on identification strategies will be discussed, offering educators evidence-based approaches to accurately identify and support high-ability learners in diverse educational environments.

This session will focus on what the best practice “look-fors” are in terms of classroom differentiation for learners at all levels, particularly those at the higher end. Participants will explore practical strategies within a Tier 1 classroom setting, highlighting the use of universal screening data, along with formative & summative assessments and classroom observations that inform instructional planning. 

The best inclusive learning environment is one that supports the needs of all students, not only of those who have special education needs but also of those who are gifted. By leveraging existing school structures and the expertise and knowledge of special education personnel, schools can more comprehensively support both ends of the spectrum. This session will address ways for schools to use existing learning support personnel and intervention systems to effectively include gifted students in service provision. Individualized instruction, small-group instruction, support from learning support personnel, development and implementation of accommodations and interventions, and collaboration with other professionals and stakeholders to ensure that students’ needs are being met will be explored.

This session delves into advanced classroom and school-wide strategies such as subject and grade-level acceleration, cluster grouping, enrichment classes and projects, curriculum compacting, and telescoping curriculum, enabling educators to appropriately accelerate the learning paths of gifted and highly capable students by enriching and streamlining their learning experiences.

Having a clear philosophy for gifted education is essential in the building of an effective program that truly meets the needs of highly able/gifted & talented students. In this session, attendees will delve into the various factors that constitute the development of effective programs and policies at international schools for highly able students.  School leaders will leave the session armed with tools to choose the framework that not only aligns with best practices and current research in gifted education but also fits their school context and existing resources.

This fully customizable session offers a collaborative approach between the consultant and school leadership to design a gifted and talented program tailored to the school’s specific context, resources, and student needs. Drawing from elements of strategic planning, program model selection, goal setting, teacher training, and evaluation, this session allows school leaders to work closely with the consultant to co-create a roadmap for program development. Whether the focus is on refining existing strategies, building capacity for differentiation, or establishing monitoring systems, the session is designed to be flexible and adaptive to the school’s unique objectives. Leaders will leave with a personalized action plan that incorporates best practices while addressing their specific challenges and goals.