At the NAGC conference, educators Dr. Emily Mofield and Dr. Brian Housand highlighted the potential of AI in enhancing the education of gifted learners. They emphasized using AI to support student growth in courage, curiosity, wisdom, and discernment, ensuring students remain the leaders in their learning journey, with AI as a supportive ally.
Author Archives: Dr. Ann H. Colorado
NAGC25 Session Review: Using Subject Acceleration to Support Talent Development
The session led by Wendy Behrens and Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik emphasized the importance of acceleration in supporting advanced learners. They differentiated between traditional gifted education and talent development, advocating for subject acceleration to better address students’ specific strengths. Successful implementation requires careful planning, collaboration, and ongoing monitoring to ensure effective learning outcomes.
NAGC25 Session Review: Motivation and Giftedness: What the Research Says and Why It Matters
Dr. Pamela Clinkenbeard’s session at NAGC25 emphasized the crucial role of motivation in gifted education. She argued that motivation is shaped by experiences and challenges rather than being an inherent trait. Key principles include the need for appropriate challenge, a focus on growth over competition, and fostering self-regulated learning to enhance student engagement and potential.
NAGC25 Session Review: Bite Size Arts Integration Strategies to Have Learners Wanting More
At NAGC25, Amanda O’Neil and Bobbie Parmann emphasized the essential role of arts in education, demonstrating its impact on student engagement and learning. They shared eight effective arts integration strategies, highlighting the benefits of creative expression for understanding, confidence, and social skills. These practices encourage innovative thinking among gifted learners.
#NAGC25 Session Review: How Blockbridge Increased Identification of Historically Underrepresented Groups by 16x
Dr. Austina De Bonte’s research presented at the NAGC25 Annual Convention highlighted how Blockbridge School District significantly increased the identification of underrepresented gifted students by implementing universal screening, static local norms, and multiple pathways for entry. Their comprehensive approach led to a sixteen-fold increase in underrepresented identifications and improved student performance, emphasizing the importance of equitable practices in gifted education.
#NAGC25 Session Review: MTSS, IEPs, and AI: Oh My! Rethinking Support for Twice-Exceptional Learners
Dr. Claire Hughes and Sheyanne Smith presented at #NAGC25 on enhancing support for twice-exceptional (2e) learners by evolving MTSS processes. Emphasizing a strengths-based approach and the 5F IEP framework, they advocated for unified educational practices and the use of AI to streamline IEP development. Their message: the system must adapt to meet student needs effectively.
Teacher Rating Scales: Promises and Pitfalls — A Review from #NAGC25
At NAGC25, Dr. McCoach and Dr. Rambo-Hernandez revealed that teacher rating scales (TRS) significantly impact gifted student identification, often leading to missed opportunities for nearly 70% of high-ability students. They urged educators to use TRS alongside multiple measures, advocate for fair policies, and provide ongoing training to improve accuracy in identification systems.
“Being the Educator They Need:” Reflections from Dwayne Reed’s NAGC25 Keynote
I share my reflections on Dwayne Reed’s opening keynote remarks at #NAGC25!
Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted and Advanced Children and Teens- Creative Activity-Based Gifts
Open-ended, creative gift ideas for gifted and advanced learners: musical instruments, domino creations, coding toys, art kits, and blank books to inspire curiosity and talent development.
Holiday 2025 Shopping Guide for Gifted & Advanced Children and Teens — Toy Ideas
In Part Three of a holiday gift-giving guide, the focus is on selecting toys that engage and challenge gifted children. Key preferences include open-ended toys fostering creativity and problem-solving. Suggestions include LEGO, Marble Runs, Snap Circuits, Rubik’s Cubes, and handheld microscopes, all fostering inquiry-based learning and deep thinking.
Teaching for Talent 