Description

Have you taught those students who devour advanced texts, challenge your assumptions in class discussions, or show incredible depth in their chosen subjects? Are you looking for ways to truly stretch and support the intellectual and emotional growth of your most capable learners in grades 6-12? During the series, we’ll focus on the unique characteristics of gifted adolescents.

These sessions aim to equip secondary educators with a comprehensive understanding of giftedness, enabling them to effectively identify, engage, and support the diverse academic and social-emotional needs of gifted adolescents and pre-adolescents within their content areas and beyond.

This isn’t just about high grades; it’s about understanding their intensity, perfectionism, asynchronous development, or even how overexcitabilities might manifest in a high school setting. We’ll explore why some highly capable students might underachieve, disengage, or struggle with social connections and identity in the complex middle and high school environment. Through insightful case studies, we’ll analyze real-world scenarios and discuss how to respond effectively to their varied academic and social-emotional needs.

Finally, we’ll focus on strategies that work within your content areas. We’ll explore various models and frameworks that allow you to extend learning, promote critical thinking, and engage gifted students in meaningful ways. Get ready to deepen your understanding, refine your strategies, and truly empower your brightest students to reach their full potential.

All sessions will take place online from 13:00 – 14:00 GMT

Part 1: 21 Oct. 2025
Part 2: 28 Oct. 2025
Part 3: 04 Nov. 2025

As a result of participating in this institute, attendees can expect to:

• Critically analyze common myths and complex issues surrounding giftedness in secondary education
• Identify the unique academic and social-emotional characteristics of gifted middle and high school students, including potential issues like perfectionism, intensity, or asynchronous development
• Explore and adapt advanced differentiation and enrichment strategies applicable to various secondary subject areas
• Understand the complexities of identification and underachievement in gifted adolescents and respond with inclusive, evidence-based approaches

Target Audience: Grades 6-12 Teachers, Special Education Staff, Gifted Program Coordinators, School Psychologists, Counselors, and Administrators