September Gifted & Talented News
Eldorado Elementary 9/5/25
Social Emotional Learning for the Gifted
Beginning Monday, September 8, I will be meeting weekly with each grade level during their WIN time (What I Need) to engage in meaningful discussions around social and emotional learning (SEL) tailored specifically to the needs of our gifted learners in grades 3 through 6.
While I won’t be holding regular sessions for our primary students at this time, I will continue to support them on an as-needed basis.
Focus of Our First Unit: Understanding Giftedness & the ALP
Using The Social and Emotional Curriculum for Gifted Students by Mark Hess as our primary resource, our first unit will center around:
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What it means to be gifted
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Understanding and appreciating one’s Advanced Learning Plan (ALP)
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Recognizing and valuing unique strengths
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Exploring ways to use those strengths meaningfully
Connection to School-Wide Themes: Integrity & Bullying
These discussions will also align with our school-wide SEL focus on integrity and bullying. We’ll explore how giftedness intersects with these themes—for example, how students can use integrity to advocate for themselves or others, and how to navigate social dynamics that gifted learners often face.
I’m looking forward to thoughtful conversations and continued growth with our students as we kick off this year’s gifted SEL journey!
Social Emotional Wellbeing Corner
(repeat from last year)
"The Special Needs of Gifted Children: Dealing with Gifted Children's Intense Behavior" by Barbara Klein, Ph.D, Ed.D
All gifted children and teenagers are special, and naturally they will have specific needs. Fortunately, gifted children and teenagers are the subject of many parenting books. There is a great deal of information on how to raise gifted children, which requires special knowledge and understanding that may not be found in generally focused parenting books.
I have often thought that gifted children could and should be categorized as having special needs because of their passion for enrichment, social-emotional support and sensitivity to life in general. Make sure that you understand what makes your child different from other children with whom they connect and then attend to their curiosity.
To read more of this article, please click HERE.
Twice Exceptional and Executive Functioning Corner
(repeat from last year)
"For Mothers of Neurodivergent Children, Community is Crucial" by Megan Champion
... I had never heard of the word neurodivergent before. Nor had I heard of twice exceptional. What was giftedness, anyway? What about ADHD? SPD? GAD? OCD? ODD?
I needed to first become aware that my son's struggles were actually a thing. No, I wasn't making this up or exaggerating. My son was neurodivergent.
Since it was so hard to find helpful information, a few years back I decided to take matters into my own hands and share candidly about what it was like to raise a neurodivergent child. I created an Instagram account (@on.the.hard.days) and to this day, I make reels, posts, and stories that simply help moms become aware of what's going on with their neurodivergent kids.
To read more of this article, click HERE.
The Gifted Children's Bill of Rights
As we begin a new school year, I want to share this resource with you. I have a poster of it hanging in my office and it will be part of one of my first meetings with kids this year.
Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT) Conference 2025
Right now, October sounds so far away, but it will be here before we know it! One of my favorite events happens in October - the CAGT Annual Conference.Our conference is an incredible event filled with over 900 educators, administrators, mental health personnel, parents, and students all learning, networking, collaborating, and having tons of fun over two amazing days! The synergy is extraordinary! We hope those of you who joined us last year experienced an incredible event and will return this year, and those of you who have not had the opportunity to attend will consider registering this year. CAGT’s annual conference is one of the largest and most revered events focused on gifted students and their education in the nation.
Parents are welcome to attend the conference and you may see many familiar names and faces from Douglas County School District in attendance and as presenters! Visit THIS LINK for more information about the conference and registration.
The 2025 CAGT Student Talent Video Contest is here!
Colorado students, we challenge you to make a short (20-30 second) video showcasing your exceptional, jaw-dropping talent for a chance to be showcased at this year's CAGT Conference in Loveland (October 19-21).
Students, check out this video to get inspired.
(Educators and parents/guardians, see this submission form for details.)
Submissions are open through September 30th.
C'mon, Colorado students, show us what you've got!
Recorded Media and Resources from Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented
“The Emotional Challenges of Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children & How to Help Them Rise Above Them”
(TAGT Webinar)
”Meeting the Needs of Profoundly Gifted Learners with Dr. Marisa Soto-Harrison”
(Exceptionally Speaking Podcast)
“Dr. Jeff Karp on Helping Our Kids Energize Their Brain, Spark Ideas & Ignite Action”
(Full Tilt Parenting Podcast)
“Growing Up Smart, Sensitive & Dyslexic with Dr. Nicole Tetreault”
(Exceptional Girls Podcast)
“Why Do We Still Debate Overexcitabilities?” (Neurodiversity Podcast)
“Out Here Learning With Gifted Legend, Jere Chang!” (Nerding out on Neurodiversity Podcast)
“Unlocking Potential: Rethinking Gifted Education”
(Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast)
“Giving Gifted Education the Main Character Energy It Deserves”
(A Meaningful Mess Blog)
“Too Smart for Their Own Good? Why Emotionally Intelligent Kids Struggle”
(NewsWeek)
September Events for Gifted and Talented Families
Exploring Gifted Neurocomplexity: Virtual Community Group
September 16th through October 21st
Sponsored by Beyond Giftedness and SENG
10:00am every Tuesday
A group specifically designed to explore diagnostic complexity, twice-exceptionalism, masking, non-traditional ways of being, and the purpose of labels. This group is designed for gifted, 2e, autistic, ADHD, highly sensitive, anxious or otherwise neurocomplex adults.
Location: Virtual / Zoom
Cost: $200 for 6 week session
The Creativity Choice: From Having Ideas to Making Them Happen
September 20th
Sponsored by Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education and Talent Development
11:00am-12:00pm (Eastern)
Join this webinar to learn about the modern science behind creativity! Learn how researchers have focused on divergent thinking and idea generation. We will discuss: (1) Why do people sometimes have ideas, but fail to act on them?; (2) What are the self-regulation processes that enable progress and persistence through the creative process?; and (3) What is the role of social processes in shaping creative performance and achievement?
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
"They Started It!!” Raising Gifted and Neurotypical Siblings Together
September 23rd
Sponsored by Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented
6:30-7:30pm (Central)
This presentation will focus on how to manage the relationships between gifted and non-gifted siblings with emphasis on communication, navigating asynchronous development across peers, and setting internal expectations. This presentation will offer concrete, usable strategies for parents to use to help their children feel safe, seen, and supported.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Challenging Minds, Challenging Bans: Protecting Intellectual Freedom for Gifted Learners
September 24th
Sponsored by NAGC
4:00pm (Eastern)
During this session, we will investigate the impact of curricular censorship on gifted students and will explore ways to push back against book bans. Join us for a dynamic discussion about keeping intellectual freedom alive.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $10 for NAGC Members / $20 for Nonmembers
Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners at Home and at School
September 25th
Sponsored by NAGC
7:00pm (Eastern)
This presentation will overview the definitions of giftedness and twice-exceptionality and explore how these students interact with educational and mental health systems.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free to NAGC members / $20 non-members
Byrdseed Resources
Byrdseed Puzzlements (watch as a family and discover/discuss together)
We're into Mr. Byrd's Birthday Month! This year, my age will be two consecutive digits. But, no, I won't be 12. And I'm not quite 89.
Onto the links!
- It’s an Omni-Directional Sidewinder Forklift!
- How to fold a piece of paper to make a tiny, no-staples, photocopy-able book!
- Belgian type designer Clotilde Olyff found a stone for every letter on the beach. What else could we find to make an alphabet?
- Look at this stunning bookstore outside of Chengdu, China!
- Robin Eley remakes Vermeer's The Milkmaid as if it were wrapped in plastic! (But it's not.) Over at Byrdseed.TV, we featured a different Vermeer painting!
