GAM 2024 Conference (Gifted Association of Missouri): Full Schedule

We can’t wait to see all of us in Columbia!

Registration

Registration starting Sept 1: $350

Click here to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-gifted-association-of-missouri-annual-conference-registration-879505032227

PLC Hours

For teachers who need professional learning clock hours, this conference provides 7.5 hours of content on the nature and needs of gifted, advanced, and neurodiverse learners. Certificates of attendance will be provided for attendees who request a certificate.

Parking
Hitt Street Parking Garage Visitor Parking: Please see the Mizzou parking policies for more information. Kiosks or a phone app are available for payments.

2024 Preferred Hotels

Hampton Inn & Suites at the University of Missouri

1225 Fellows Place, Columbia, MO 65201

573-214-2222

October 6-8

Rate of $125/night is good October 3 - 11 for extended stays.
Guests responsible for individual rooms and charges.
Rooms will be released back to the public on September 9, 2024.
Free breakfast, free parking, free wifi, and indoor pool/fitness.

Online Reservations Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=COUUMHX&groupCode=CHH91A&arrivaldate=2024-10-06&departuredate=2024-10-08&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

Reservations may also be made by calling the hotel.

Drury Plaza Hotel - Columbia East

3100 Interstate 70 Dr SE, Columbia, MO 65201

573-441-0090

Rate is $124 for stays during October 6 - 8.
Free breakfast, free parking, free wifi, free evening reception, and indoor pool/fitness center
Released back to public on September 4, 2024.

Online Reservation Link:

https://www.druryhotels.com/bookandstay/newreservation/?groupno=10104045

Reservations may also be made by calling 1-800-325-0720 and referring to your group number 10104045.

Break-out Session Schedule-at-a-Glance (See full schedule on tab)

9:15am CDT

Nurturing the Whole Gifted Child: Strategies for Developing Psychosocial Skills

Monday October 7, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT

N201 BC

This interactive session will equip educators with practical strategies for supporting the holistic development of gifted students. While academically advanced, gifted learners often face unique psychosocial challenges. Participants will explore research-based approaches for cultivating critical skills like social skills, motivation, resilience, and positive self-concept. Through hands-on activities, case studies, and small group discussions, attendees will gain insights into common psychosocial needs, learn techniques for creating supportive classroom environments, partner with families and counselors, and build a toolkit of resources. Leave empowered to nurture the "whole gifted child" by intentionally addressing their psychosocial needs alongside cognitive growth.

Speakers

Katherine Rottjakob

Elementary Gifted STEAM Specialist, Center for Creative Learning

Monday October 7, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT
N201 BC

Advocacy

Audience Educators, Parents, Administrators

10:15am CDT

Empowering Parents: Transforming Projects into Shared Learning Experiences

Monday October 7, 2024 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

N201 BC

Gifted students thrive on challenge and engagement. This session explores a unique method for fostering deeper learning by actively including parents in the project-based curriculum. Learn how to design projects that encourage collaboration between students and parents, fostering a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom walls.

Speakers

Lauren Maschmann

MS Gifted Teacher, Lindbergh Schools

I have been teaching for 23 years. I am excited to share how I help students think outside the box and learn and think in new ways. Teaching our gifted students how to relate emotionally is critical to their success.

Monday October 7, 2024 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
N201 BC

Parents

Audience Parents, Educators

2:45pm CDT

Intelligence and Intimate Relationships: What the Gifted Population Needs in a Partner

Monday October 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT

N214 C

Relationships and community are the number one key to happiness, as discovered by a Harvard research study, and gifted relationships should be no exception. Based on a research project completed by Mizzou student Lauren Huff in 2023-24, this presentation describes what traits are beneficial for gifted individuals to have in a partner, and offers suggestions on how to handle common conflicts that may arise in a relationship where one or both partners are gifted. Anyone curious about how to improve their own relationships, or what to look for when exploring potential partners, can benefit from this presentation.

Speakers

Lauren Huff

Student, University of Missouri-Columbia

Monday October 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT
N214 C

Unity

Audience Educators, Administrators, Parents, Teens

3:45pm CDT

Empowering and Powering Down Perfectionism

Monday October 7, 2024 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

N214 C

Sometimes perfectionism is necessary, required, and beneficial; sometimes perfectionism impairs decision making, progress, and communication. Thus, we ought not eradicate perfectionism, but rather hone and channel it. Adults can help gifted students struggling with maladaptive perfectionism decrease adverse thinking patterns and behaviors. To do so, we must understand perfectionism, identify indicators of it, identify if it’s appropriate, decrease negative perfectionism, and promote positive perfectionism. These themes are addressed in this session, along with strategies that can be implemented within the regular classroom, gifted classroom, and in the home, with the goal of helping these students become more balanced and adaptable.

Speakers

Dr. Brandi Klepper

Psychologist, A Place To Grow, LLC

Monday October 7, 2024 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
N214 C

SEL

Audience Administrators, Educators, Parents, Teens

3:45pm CDT

Music Therapy and the Gifted Child

Monday October 7, 2024 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

N201 A

According to the American Music Therapy Association, research on music therapy in special education shows strong connections for motor behavior, rhythm, recall memory, and retention of academic material, as well as enhancing mood, behavior, and attention to strengthen a student’s ability to interact and learn. See how our district used music therapy in our gifted program for all of these things, including using rhythm and therapy for mindful growth and healing. Attendees will be invited to participate in a sample of a music therapy session, as well as to ask questions about implementation and funding.

Speakers

Mrs. Jennifer Kidwell

TAG Facilitator, De Soto 73 School District

I have been teaching students how to speak world languages for 23 years. During that time I have also been blessed to work with the gifted students for 13 of those years.

Monday October 7, 2024 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
N201 A

SEL

Audience Educators, Parents

3:45pm CDT

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Environments for LGBTQ+ Gifted Students

Monday October 7, 2024 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

N214 B

This session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and strategies needed to support LGBTQ+ gifted students in both gifted and regular classrooms. It will address the unique challenges these students face and provide practical approaches to create inclusive and supportive learning environments. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand current LGBTQ+ terminology and the importance of using correct pronouns. 2. Develop strategies to create classrooms of belonging for LGBTQ+ gifted students. 3. Recognize the mental health risks specific to LGBTQ+ gifted students and identify ways to support their well-being.

Speakers

Shannon Fuller

Teacher, North Kansas City Schools

Monday October 7, 2024 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
N214 B

Unity

Audience Administrators, Educators, Parents

9:15am CDT

Creating Advocates: Gifted Education Awareness Week

Tuesday October 8, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT

N201 A

Are you ready to become an advocate for gifted education, then teach your students how to be an advocate? Creating advocates is a unit designed to teach the Missouri Gifted Learner Outcome skills of communication and advocacy to address the lack of awareness around gifted education. In this session you will learn how to introduce and implement the four forms of communication; verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual. You will then learn how to introduce and teach The Art of Persuasion using ethos, logos, and pathos for the purpose of advocacy. These two concepts are combined when students produce a real-world product to persuade the Missouri State Board of Education to declare Gifted Education Awareness Week. Finally, join other gifted educators, students, and programs across Missouri during the second full week of February to raise awareness about gifted education. Bonus, basic advocacy skills can be transferred to ANY topic you or your students are passionate about!

Speakers

Phoebe Pohlman

Gifted/Talented and Enrichment Teacher, Perry County School District #32

I am a second year gifted/talented teacher in a rural school district in Southeast Missouri. I am the only gifted teacher in my building. I initiated an enrichment program in grades K-1 in my school district to reach high potential learning students to help increase the number of... Read More →

Tuesday October 8, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT
N201 A

Advocacy

Audience Administrators, Educators, Parents, Teens

9:15am CDT

“You are NOT alone! Finding, creating and keeping networks of gifted parent support”

Tuesday October 8, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT

N214 C

No kid ever came with a handbook - and gifted kids certainly don’t! To add to the parenting challenge, being a gifted parent can be isolating when your kid’s interests, wins & challenges are often so different than their peers! Rest assured - you are NOT alone - there are other parents living the ups & downs of gifted parenting! We all know gifted kids need support from parents - and to give that support, parents need support from each other! But how do we find each other?? In her presentation, Jenny Long will share with her the strategies she has employed over 20 years of parenting gifted kids to find YOUR people, get the support YOU need and create and keep networks of support for yourself as a gifted parent.

Speakers

Jenny Long

Parent, Gifted Parent Support (GPS) & KGTC

Tuesday October 8, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT
N214 C

Parents

Audience Parents, Educators

9:15am CDT

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: Understanding the Complexities of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Differentiating SEL for Higher Level Thinking

Tuesday October 8, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT

N214 B

Affective development is critical to healthy childhood growth and achievement. Gifted children begin to gain social and interpersonal awareness during early childhood and continue to develop relational skills throughout life. Studying psychological factors in concert with academic content can build awareness that translates to empathy, kindness, and consideration toward others. Learn practical, hands-on strategies for developing and differentiating social emotional literacy among gifted learners.

Speakers

Dr. Bronwyn MacFarlane

Professor, Arkansas State University

Bronwyn MacFarlane, Ph.D., is a professor at Arkansas State University in the online doctoral program in educational leadership. Dr. MacFarlane serves as Secretary of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and as the WCGTC Executive Committee member from the United States... Read More →

Tuesday October 8, 2024 9:15am - 10:00am CDT
N214 B

SEL

Audience Administrators, Educators, Parents

10:15am CDT

Your brain at play - the cognition of joy

Tuesday October 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

N214 A

Play is the purest expression of our humanity. What is happening in our brain when we play? How can we incorporate more play into the lives of our gifted children? And how can we get better at play as adults? Some say we are most alive when we play. Let's get better at it.

Speakers

Dr. Denise Ford

Gifted Teacher, Kirkwood School District

Passionate about Gifted Education, innovation, creativity, and learning.

Tuesday October 8, 2024 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
N214 A

SEL

Audience Educators, Parents, Teens