Description
Cosenza & Associates Advanced Academic Director, Judy O’Neal, has created a series of 5 online courses for Texas Gifted / Talented Teachers which were successfully implemented in the summer of 2020. All courses have been aligned to the Texas State Plan for Gifted and Talented Students, and to SBEC Gifted Teacher Standards.
What do the courses include?
All online classes include video lectures, interactive activities, and short quizzes to check for understanding. A live person will monitor each participant’s work and be available to answer any questions. At the conclusion of the course, the monitor will check the work and send each participant a G/T 6-hour certificate.
Which courses are for you?
- If 30 hours of G/T professional development are needed, the following 5 courses are designed to meet the state requirements.
- If 6-hour update courses are needed, any one of these courses can be taken to refresh a G/T foundation. The courses with an * are the ones most often taken as update hours.
- Local districts have final approval for acceptable G/T hours.
Courses will be available for a window of time October 9th-December 14th. Teachers can sign up at any time prior to December 7th. Courses for new enrollees will open every Wednesday.
Course Descriptions
- Nature and Needs of Gifted and Talented Students (Teacher Edition), 6 hours G/T credit
Learn how to recognize and appreciate the unique characteristics of these students. Participants will review the state law and guidelines that are outlined in the Texas State Plan for Gifted and Talented Students. Participants will examine best practices for serving gifted students and analyze different service options that are currently being implemented across the state.
- Assessing and Identifying Gifted and Talented Students- 6 hours G/T credit
Examine the qualitative and quantitative tools and criteria for identifying gifted and talented students. Discuss the barriers to identification in underrepresented populations. Learn the state requirements and timelines for assessment and identification of G/T students. Review current district matrix examples.
- *Differentiating for Gifted Students- 6 hours G/T credit
Participants will learn how to distinguish the difference between differentiation for all students and differentiation for the gifted. Review best practices that are supported by the Principles of a Differentiation for the Gifted, the Texas State Goal for the Gifted, A Nation Deceived and the Texas Performance Standards Project.
Participants will be introduced to the Differentiation Essentials for Advanced Students. (See below Flip Chart Option)
- *Creativity for all Students, Including the Gifted- 6 hours G/T Credit
Explore the facets of creativity and how to nurture creativity in all students, including the gifted. Learn Creative thinking strategies and problem solving strategies to help students nurture their creativity. Teachers will complete courses with strategies and activities to use in the classroom.
- *Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted- 6 hours G/T credit
Examine the unique characteristics gifted students exhibit. Learn how to recognize the at-risk behaviors that gifted learners can develop. Explore what experts in the field have discovered about these at risk behaviors. Participants will leave with classroom strategies to support a gifted student’s strengths and will help prevent at-risk behaviors.
Courses for new enrollees will open every Wednesday.
