GAM 2024 Conference (Gifted Association of Missouri)

Meeting the academic and emotional needs of gifted students is an everyday challenge for parents, teachers, and administrators.  Working with exceptionally gifted students adds complexity to the challenge.  Teachers of regular gifted and exceptionally gifted students will share their experiences and successes, as well as strategies and lesson ideas. Some key points will include: incorporating personalized learning into core learning targets, pre-correcting for emotional regulation, and maintaining rigor while keeping students engaged.

After sharing their experience and ideas, the presenters will give time for attendees to share their own victories and challenges. Brainstorming together with the gifted community may result in new ideas to try, confirmation of your own solid practices, and hopes for meeting the varied needs of your students.
It’s a win-win for everyone involved!

This presentation will provide attendees with an overview of grades 9 through 12 gifted program. Whether you are interested in starting or expanding your school’s secondary program or looking for new curriculum ideas to add to your high school’s gifted program, there is something for you. This presentation will dive into all facets of Nevada High School’s gifted program including compacted classes, independent studies, small projects, affective needs activities and mentoring programs

Gifted teachers are often "lonely onlies," or the only person in a district working in that capacity. As such, they often struggle to be a part of a Professional Learning Committee that focuses on what they are doing in their programs. Join three mid-Missouri gifted teachers as they chronicle their journey to finding each other and developing their own informal PLC. We'll discuss overcoming feelings of isolation, working to support each other in and out of the classroom, developing best practices for solo gifted educators, and collaborating to develop programs and activities that allow the students in our programs to meet and network with one another. You will have the opportunity to join an ongoing network for continued support throughout the year.

Many say they cluster-group, but few say they do it successfully. Dr. Brulles offers approaches for overcoming common obstacles. Learn how to create fair and equitable systems by incorporating cluster grouping into existing school structures, which include methods for placing students, supporting cluster teachers, monitoring success, and building community support.

This session shows how a vertically aligned gifted curriculum can extend throughout high school, addressing the unique needs and interests of all gifted adolescents.