Free Webinars in February

A FREE, expert-led series designed for teachers, administrators, and parents of the gifted!

4th annual webinar conference sponsored by UC Irvine in California

Cluster Grouping: A Paradigm Shift in Gifted Education

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PST
In these times of shrinking budgets, gifted programs are at great risk. The practice of cluster grouping gifted students in otherwise
heterogeneous classes provides full-time academic services for them with almost no budget impact. Positive outcomes of cluster grouping
include highly motivated gifted students, satisfied parents, and rising achievement for all students at the grade levels that use the cluster model. Participants will learn how to form and teach cluster groups. Achievement data for all students in a model program will be shared. Susan Winebrenner, M.S., is a consultant and author who works with school districts to help them translate current educational research into classroom practice. Susan founded Education Consulting Service Inc. in 1986 to provide practical inservice workshops for educators.

Understanding and Supporting the Emotional Aspects of Giftedness

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PST
This webinar focuses on emotional attributes and how they can result in various school difficulties including underperformance, difficulties with peers, and poor behavioral control. An emphasis on strategies useful in working with gifted children to increase student outcomes will be discussed. Christine Fonseca, M.S., PPS, has worked as a school psychologist for more than 15 years. Her areas of specialty include autism, behavior support planning and the social and emotional needs of the gifted. She is a frequent lecturer, parenting coach and author. Her current releases include Emotional Intensity in Gifted Children and 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids.

Identifying, Serving, and Enfranchising Our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Gifted Students

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PST
How can educators help CLD gifted students receive and benefit from specialized instruction? Gifted identification should predict scholastic success, yet teachers wonder how CLD gifted students’ test scores relate to potential when scholastic success is commonly determined by communication in English. Learn how to structure services based on general intelligence, develop potential in the content areas, and teach to the intellectual levels of ELL gifted students while they develop skills, such as mastery of the English language.
Dr. Dina Brulles, Ph.D., is the Director of Gifted Education Services in the Paradise Valley Unified School District in Arizona where she has developed a continuum of GATE programs. She is also Coordinator of Gifted Programs at Arizona State University and serves on SENG’s Editorial Board, SENG’s Diversity Committee, and NAGC’s Equity and Diversity Committee.

Technology Tools for (GT) Teachers

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. PST
This webinar will demonstrate the use of technology to differentiate for gifted students. Use iMovie to develop a thematic movie trailer for a piece of literature. Teach students to give quality presentations with slides. Learn how to best use PowerPoint in your instruction of gifted learners. Ian Byrd, B.S., has taught a classroom of gifted 6th graders since 2007 and was a gifted student himself. Before teaching his own classroom, Ian worked with high school students, students with special needs, and earned a degree in computer science. He writes about gifted education at Byrdseed.com.