Read this Special Conference Preview Message and Tip to Motivate Students

by Dr. Dante Dixson, Featured Presenter, IAGC 26th Annual Conference

Turning the Tide for Underrepresented Groups in GATE - Featured Presentation, Thursday, October 14, 2021, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Where is the Hope in Gifted and Talented Programs? - Breakout Session, Friday, October 15, 2021, 10:00 am - 11:00 am

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Hey gifted education colleagues in Illinois! I am VERY EXCITED to be coming to give a couple talks to you at the Illinois Association for Gifted Children 26^th Annual Conference!

I can’t wait to discuss how school districts can take a more proactive approach to increasing equity in their gifted programs as well as several key practical strategies of how they can turn the latest research into practice at their schools. I know there is so much information out there about increasing equity in one’s advanced programing, it can be hard to understand which information is important and how to exactly increase equity in a real life school setting. In my talk, I am looking forward to discussing both the latest research centered around increasing equity in gifted programs and how a real life school can do it. In addition, I look forward to discussing a couple new studies that I have just concluded that examined how the mindsets of gifted students play a role in their academic talent development as well as how school personnel and parents can encourage a “hopeful” and success-oriented mindset in their gifted students. 

On this latter point, I’ll leave you with a tip. If you are trying to help a young student with potential develop their academic talent, it might be more effective to tie their talent development to their short term goals (e.g., “you will get to practice math with your friends”) instead of “adult” long-term life goals (e.g., “you will make a historical discovery”) as they are likely to be more motivated to accomplish their short term goals, and they may not have the life experience to genuinely understand and value “adult” long-term life goals. See you virtually in Illinois!

Dante D. Dixson, PhD

Assistant Professor

Michigan State University