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August 6th -Teacher Focused Sessions:

9:00 am – 10:00am 

  • Is it Compliance or is it Best Practice?
    • Is there a difference between Best Practices and Compliance? This session is designed to define each concept through an audience participation model of sharing multiple examples of both with the audience determining…is it compliance or best practices? This session will be offered for both teachers and parents. Some information may be similar, but will be tailored for greater relevance for the focused audience each day. 
  • Presenters:
    • Shirley Moyer, M.Ed. BSE Special Education Adviser Gifted – PDE Best Practices Professional Development/Technical Assistance
    • Amy Davis, AIU 3/PDE Gifted Liaison -West/Central
    • Patrice Semicek, MCIU 23/ PDE Gifted Liaison – East/Central

10:00am – 10:10am (Break)

10:15am – 11:15am 

  • Escape the Zoom!
    • Have you and your gifted students felt trapped by online learning?  Have gifted services and programming suffered from the restrictions imposed by the current COVID-19 crisis?  Have you been relegated to the virtual world of Google Meet or Zoom?  The learn how to Escape the Zoom and bring offerings to your gifted students in clever and interesting ways.  Explore interdisciplinary approaches that foster creativity, problem solving skills and inquiry-based learning.
  • Presenter:
    • Scott Stickney

11:15am – 11:25am (Break)

11:30am – 12:30pm

  • Our New Normal:  Meaningful Continuity of GIFTED Education
    • During the course of this one hour professional learning opportunity, participants are invited to learn about strategies and resources that may be implemented to provide quality gifted education.  In recognition that LEAs must address Continuity of Education via multiple delivery modes, the strategies and resources will be reviewed across the digital learning systems, teacher created content, and internet disconnection.
  • Presenter: 
    • Diane McGaffic – Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV Educational Consultant

12:30pm – 12:40pm (Break)

12:45pm – 1:45pm

  • Renzulli Learning and Access to Enrichment for All
    • Did you know that your membership to PAGE now provides you with one year of Free Trial of Renzulli Learning and access to Enrichment for All, which summarizes Renzulli pedagogy and includes 9 contact hours from the University of Connecticut and is valued at $500? This is now available to all of our teacher members through our new Partnership with Renzulli. So, come learn and explore with Rita Mauro and Toni Kubosek all about what resources and tools await you within this online system that can help you plan more effective instruction both in person, online, or during a hybrid teaching model this fall.
  • Presenters:
    • Rita Mauro and Toni Kubousek

August 7th – Parent Focused Sessions:

9:00 am – 10:00am 

  • Is it Compliance or is it Best Practice?
    • Is there a difference between Best Practices and Compliance? This session is designed to define each concept through an audience participation model of sharing multiple examples of both with the audience determining…is it compliance or best practices? This session will be offered for both teachers and parents. Some information may be similar, but will be tailored for greater relevance for the focused audience each day. 
  • Presenters:
    • Shirley Moyer, M.Ed. BSE Special Education Adviser Gifted – PDE Best Practices Professional Development/Technical Assistance
    • Amy Davis, AIU 3/PDE Gifted Liaison -West/Central
    • Patrice Semicek, MCIU 23/ PDE Gifted Liaison – East/Central

10:00am – 10:10am (Break)

10:15am – 11:15am 

  • Alpha Kids
    • Description: Our students/children/teens can often be innately alpha, the leader of the pride. But when they are young and don’t understand the nuances of interpersonal relationships, this can be challenging for those around them. So what do you do when students/children/teens lead no matter what? This class will provide insights as to why that is, how to understand it, how to harness it, and how to guide it to successful outcomes at home and at school.
  • Presenter:
    • Mary Grace Stewart, Ed.D.
      • Massachusetts Association for Gifted Education (MAGE) President, Service Network Coordinator, and Parent Liaison
      • Gifted Education and Enrichment Specialist

11:15am – 11:25am (Break)

11:30am – 12:30pm – 

  • Best Curricular Practices for Gifted Students from the Parent Lens
    • With the upcoming school year on the horizon, this session will inform attendees about some of the many best practices that teachers and parents can implement to support gifted students in the classroom. We will look at these ideas from the parent lens to better provide families with the language able to support the needs of their gifted children during a school year beginning like none other. We will focus on discussions in curriculum compacting and telescoping including the importance of pre-assessment. This session will benefit teachers and parents alike. 
  • Presenter: Jonathan Klingeman
    • Director of Gifted, Learning Enrichment, and Title 1 Services
    • Department of Pupil Services
    • State College Area School District

12:30pm – 12:40pm (Break)

12:45pm – 1:45pm

  • Renzulli Learning Home Edition for Parents
    • Did you know that your membership to PAGE now provides you with one year of Free access to the Renzulli Learning Home Edition for parents through our new Partnership with Renzulli? Come learn and explore with Rita Mauro and Toni Kubosek all about what resources and tools await you within this online system that can help you during the upcoming school year to support your gifted child.
  • Presenters:
    • Rita Mauro and Toni Kubousek