"Teacher to Teacher"

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Registration Closes Monday, August 10, 2020

Looking for ways to engage and challenge advanced learners online as this school year begins? Fill your "online classroom" toolbox by joining IAGC for this special "teacher to teacher" virtual live event!  Choose from four one-hour sessions that will be presented by experienced teachers who deliver online instruction to challenge advanced learners with the Northwestern Center for Talent Development programs.  

Registration fee includes 2 sessions of your choice from the four sessions offered. See descriptions for each session below!

Member Rate (pre-register for 2 one-hour sessions of your choice): $25.00

Regular, Non-Member Rate (pre-register for 2 one-hour sessions of your choice): $50.00

Additional sessions may be added for $15.00 each when you register online.

Professional Development Credit: Participants are eligible for one PD hour per session if sign in/sign out and evaluation form requirements are met.

                           Session Descriptions:

MiaLynn D. Bennett

Session 1, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Connection and Communication in a Virtual ELA/Writing Classroom - (K-5)

Virtual learning presents an opportunity for gifted and talented students to shine. By embedding specific tools and opportunities for our advanced learners, we can provide a learning environment that fosters academic growth and positive social interaction through distance learning. Participants will dig into ELA practices that will boost student engagement, assess their understanding and foster positive communication. While online learning is not new to gifted learners, we will explore the importance of building and offering enrichment activities before diving into the accelerated lessons and activities. We will discuss the essential need for virtual student-to-student discussion boards, examine organizational tools, implementation of choice boards and the availability of tech tools to utilize in the ELA classroom. Teachers will leave this session with a detailed plan that includes planning for learning outcomes, key assessment moments, and aligned instructional strategies to reach our advanced ELA students.

MiaLynn D. Bennett, a highly qualified seasoned educator, has been with the Northwestern Center for Talent Development community since the Fall of 2012. MiaLynn holds a BA in Spanish, MSED in Early Childhood Literacy, Instructional Coaching, & Teacher Leadership, and a MATL in Curriculum & Instruction.  She is passionate about embedding innovative learning experiences and opportunities into her teaching for all students.  During her 18 years in education, MiaLynn has taught elementary, middle and high school in addition to facilitating graduate level courses.  She has worked in multiple capacities across both public and private education; traditional and virtual.  MiaLynn has been published several times in teacher magazines including the Virginia Association of Science Teachers’ publication.  She was nominated for the Presidential Award in Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and has been awarded numerous project learning grants to motivate student achievement and enhance instruction. Mrs. Bennett and her husband, who is a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, are the proud parents of 3 young boys and one daughter.  MiaLynn is currently working on her National Geographic Educator Certification.

Amy   Schneider

Session 2, 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. 

Virtual Engagement: Putting the Pieces Together (K-5)

Fostering engagement is a must during online learning! In this session, participants will be given the pieces necessary for remote student engagement, including teacher clarity, engagement structures, and feedback. Take in the importance of creating rubrics and checklists with students to ensure clarity while providing multiple options for students to showcase their learning. Learn how to cultivate a sense of belonging, connection, and participation among students through the use of engagement structures. Enhance student discussion and interaction by stimulating peer feedback and questioning. This is one virtual engagement puzzle participants will want to complete!

Amy Schneider is an instructional coach for a K-4 building in Grayslake, Illinois, and has supported both teachers and students in this role for the past five years. Prior to becoming a coach, she taught grades kindergarten through third grade for 16 years. Amy has connected with gifted and talented students for over a decade as an instructor for the Center for Talent Development through Northwestern University. She is a nationally board certified teacher who holds a Bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University. a Master’s degree from Aurora University, and a Master's degree in Instructional Media.

Session 3, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

An Online Learning Space to Engage Gifted Learners (K-8)

Moving from the classroom to an online learning space can be challenging. We want to make it inviting as well as useful. When using an online learning platform, you can find a wealth of resources at your fingertips. While worksheets are at times helpful, you also have videos, audio, illustrated text, and the aid of famous organizations and people. There are even ways to include hands-on assignments. You can use these resources to present and then refine concepts in engaging ways. In addition, you can encourage students to use audio or video to respond to your lessons by sharing short movies or visual presentations, or by sharing something they have created. Gifted students respond well when choices in learning and responding are provided. In this session we will look at possible resources and techniques to create a dynamic online learning environment for gifted students. The focus will be primarily on science and social studies.

Cindy Sheets is currently an instructor for GLL Enrichment Courses teaching Discovering Paleontology and Climate Detectives: the Science of Climate Change to 3-5th graders. Her education career included sixteen years in the general classroom (K-6) and twenty-six years as an elementary gifted facilitator in Shawnee Mission, KS. She served two terms on the NAGC board of directors as a teacher representative, and one term as chair of the Computers and Technology Network, as well as many years serving with her state gifted association. Now she enjoys online teaching and spending time with her grandchildren.

Megan Storti 

Session 4, 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 a.m.

Online Math Engagement Strategies (Middle School)

How can we engage high performing students in math online? In this workshop, we'll consider strategies that allow students to develop problem-solving skills and improve their work with mathematical communication, while solving rich, challenging problems. Free tools will include Desmos activities and google docs for collaboration as well as common tools that may be available in your LMS. Participants will leave with resources that are ready to use in the online classroom.

Megan Storti has been a math educator for 16 years, with experience ranging from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus. She currently teaches online to middle school & high school students through Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development, and in the classroom at San Francisco University High School. In addition to teaching, she serves as department chair and works in a coaching role with other teachers. Megan earned an M.A. in Mathematics from San Francisco State University and a Master’s in Educational Technology from Boise State University.

Register Today!

Thanks to the Northwestern Center for Talent Development ("CTD")  for their assistance with organizing this program. For information about professional development offerings through CTD, please visit:  https://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/gifted-education-resources-educators.