Survival Guide

Gifted and Talented Coordinators’ Survival Guide: 

Gifted and Talented Coordinators ’ Survival Guide This webinar was made possible by a 2010-2011 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Gifted and Talented Grant Your host: Jackie Drummer

Welcome to this webinar! : 

Welcome to this webinar! TODAY ’ S TOPICS: The joys of being a gifted and talented coordinator The difficulties of being a gifted and talented coordinator Tips from “ seasoned ” gifted and talented coordinators

First the joys…: 

First the joys… Collegial work with many staff members A wide variety of responsibilities and autonomy Monitoring the learning of very able students Much appreciation from gifted families Personal growth as a teacher, a learner, and a thinker A variety of teaching and learning venues :) Chance to develop and implement high level, challenging curriculum Responsibility to maintain “ cutting edge ” skills

And the challenges…: 

And the challenges… Loneliness No unnecessary bragging or complaining Paradox students Working with some parents Unenlightened educators Mountains of paperwork Too many hats Not enough training Resources

Advice from “seasoned” coordinators…: 

Advice from “ seasoned ” coordinators…

Above all, find yourself a mentor. Set up regular times to meet, and bring a list of questions. Try to find some time to shadow him/her, and keep him/her on speed -dial. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee: 

Above all, find yourself a mentor. Set up regular times to meet, and bring a list of questions. Try to find some time to shadow him/her, and keep him/her on speed -dial. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee

Find and join a support group for gifted educators. Most CESAs have them, and there are others around the state. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, lots of them. Every coordinator there was once a newbie and will understand. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee: 

Find and join a support group for gifted educators. Most CESAs have them, and there are others around the state. Don ’ t be afraid to ask questions, lots of them. Every coordinator there was once a newbie and will understand. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee

Create a wide menu of options to serve students who have needs beyond the regular classroom. These can include competitions, clubs, challenge activities, projects, etc. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee: 

Create a wide menu of options to serve students who have needs beyond the regular classroom. These can include competitions, clubs, challenge activities, projects, etc. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee

Consider getting SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted) training, and facilitating parent groups. Parents find these groups invaluable. Jean Paulus, Wauwatosa Schools : 

Consider getting SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted) training, and facilitating parent groups. Parents find these groups invaluable . Jean Paulus, Wauwatosa Schools

Include parents in decision-making , and help them find constructive ways to channel their suggestions, ideas, and concerns. Deb Douglas, Manitowoc Schools (retired): 

Include parents in decision-making , and help them find constructive ways to channel their suggestions, ideas, and concerns. Deb Douglas, Manitowoc Schools (retired)

Be sure you have a defensible plan or system to partially accelerate or radically accelerate students. Many school systems use the Iowa Scale of Acceleration. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee: 

Be sure you have a defensible plan or system to partially accelerate or radically accelerate students. Many school systems use the Iowa Scale of Acceleration. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee

Join PLNs (Professional Learning Networks)… These are great places to learn new ideas and make new friends. Some of my favorites are: www.classroom20.com http://globaleducation.ning.com/ Heidi Williams, Fox Point/Whitefish Bay: 

Join PLNs (Professional Learning Networks)… These are great places to learn new ideas and make new friends. Some of my favorites are: www.classroom20.com http://globaleducation.ning.com/ Heidi Williams, Fox Point/Whitefish Bay

Your responsibility is to build best practice in gifted education into the fabric of your school system so completely that programming and opportunities do not disappear with reductions, retirements, or reorganizations. Ruth Robinson, Janesville  : 

Your responsibility is to build best practice in gifted education into the fabric of your school system so completely that programming and opportunities do not disappear with reductions, retirements, or reorganizations. Ruth Robinson, Janesville

As soon as possible, get permission to create a gifted and talented programming steering team. This should include parents, educators, and students. One who wishes she had…: 

As soon as possible, get permission to create a gifted and talented programming steering team. This should include parents, educators, and students. One who wishes she had…

Be sure to get on your district’s RtI (Response to Intervention) team Judy Born, Ripon Schools: 

Be sure to get on your district ’ s RtI (Response to Intervention) team Judy Born, Ripon Schools

Know that you will be lonely, and try to forge sustaining connections with at least one staff member and one parent. Many more connections will develop over time. Anonymous: 

Know that you will be lonely, and try to forge sustaining connections with at least one staff member and one parent. Many more connections will develop over time. Anonymous

Be sure to develop a system for collecting and organizing information/data on students. Keep this information up to date and use it in decision making and planning for gifted students. Susan Henn, Fort Atkinson Schools : 

Be sure to develop a system for collecting and organizing information/data on students. Keep this information up to date and use it in decision making and planning for gifted students. Susan Henn, Fort Atkinson Schools

When working with kids and with adults, use real life examples to help make your point relevant. Nancy Esveld, Fall River: 

When working with kids and with adults, use real life examples to help make your point relevant. Nancy Esveld, Fall River

Be sure to encourage classroom teachers to use compacting -- nothing speaks like “the data” when it comes to what kids already know. Nancy Esveld, Fall River: 

Be sure to encourage classroom teachers to use compacting -- nothing speaks like “ the data ” when it comes to what kids already know. Nancy Esveld, Fall River

Compacting is the “key” that opens the door to additional differentiation strategies such as flexible grouping, tiered assignments, questioning and learning contracts. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee: 

Compacting is the “ key ” that opens the door to additional differentiation strategies such as flexible grouping, tiered assignments, questioning and learning contracts. Jackie Drummer, School District of South Milwaukee

Share a one-page email with your teachers each month. Include a strategy that can be implemented immediately in their classrooms. Consider the work of Janet Aaker Smith or TRIBES activities Kirsten Reitan, Aldo Leopold Commuity School: 

Share a one-page email with your teachers each month. Include a strategy that can be implemented immediately in their classrooms. Consider the work of Janet Aaker Smith or TRIBES activities Kirsten Reitan, Aldo Leopold Commuity School

Teach gifted students how to advocate for their needs. This is a life skill that needs to be developed early and practiced often. Deb Douglas, Manitowoc, retired: 

Teach gifted students how to advocate for their needs. This is a life skill that needs to be developed early and practiced often. Deb Douglas, Manitowoc, retired

Start small with new projects. Always “under promise” and “over deliver.” Ruth Robinson, Janesville: 

Start small with new projects. Always “ under promise ” and “ over deliver. ” Ruth Robinson, Janesville

And now…the Ten Commandments of a Gifted Education Advocate (coordinator, teacher, etc.) Sally Reis and Deborah Burns: 

And now…the Ten Commandments of a Gifted Education Advocate (coordinator, teacher, etc.) Sally Reis and Deborah Burns

Commandment #1: 

Commandment #1 Smile a lot and turn the other cheek

Commandment #2: 

Commandment #2 Be realistic about your goals; set yearly objectives for yourself

Commandment #3: 

Commandment #3 Don ’ t have high expectations about administrative support; realize that your priorities might be different than theirs…

Commandment #4: 

Commandment #4 Create ownership -- you ’ ll expand (many times over) the resources at your disposal

Commandment #5: 

Commandment #5 TTT Put up in a place where it ’ s easy to see The cryptic admonishment “ TTT ” When you feel how depressingly slowly you climb It ’ s well to remember that “ Things Take Time ”

Commandment #6: 

Commandment #6 Be organized; follow through on things that you say you will do

Commandment #7: 

Commandment #7 Find your sense of humor; if you don ’ t have one, find one fast!

Commandment #8: 

Commandment #8 Find a support system so that you ’ re not alone; be sure you have one at school and at home

Commandment #9: 

Commandment #9 Start small, and do a good job

Commandment #10: 

Commandment #10 Keep things in perspective

Treat yourself once in awhile…: 

Treat yourself once in awhile… A great resource is a little book by Lois Roets, “ How to Survive and Thrive as an Educator of Gifted Students ” Another is “ The Survival Guide for Teachers of Gifted Kids ” by Jim Delisle, Barbara A. Lewis, and Marjorie Lisovskis Of course, a glass of wine or a bouquet of flowers might also be in order!

Finally…: 

Finally… Whine and complain, and then get on with it! (Many of us do this a lot)