Region 14 ESC - GT
Advanced Academics, Gifted/Talented, and Fine Arts
Start this School Year off Right!
30-Hour GT Foundational Training
Before serving GT students, teachers need to complete the 30-hour foundational training. In the fall, we offer the self-paced, online version and an in-person, face-to-face version. The training consists of five 6-hour trainings (called days 1-5). Day 1 focuses on Nature and Needs of GT Learners. Day 2 is about Identification and Assessment. Day 3 covers Differentiation. Day 4 looks at Creativity, and Day 5 explores Depth & Complexity. Additionally, if it has been over five years since you took the 30-hour training, you can use Days 3, 4, or 5 as an annual 6-hour GT update.
(Online, Self-Paced version)
The "days" are each open for a week and run back to back, so you're able to complete these trainings over the course of 5 weeks on your own schedule from your own location. These courses are housed on Canvas LMS and include a variety of readings, videos, activities, and discussions. There is no need to come to the service center!
(In-Person, Face-to-face version)
If you prefer a more traditional workshop experience, these presentations follow the TEA information in a classroom setting, where each day of the course is offered in person. All five of these trainings will be held from 9:00-4:00 each day.
Day One - Sept 7 - Jones Room, ESC North
Day Two - Sept 20 - Jones Room, ESC North
Day Three - Oct 4 - Jones Room, ESC North
Day Four - Oct 19 - Haskell Room, ESC North
Day Five - Nov 8- Jones Room, ESC North
Administrator and Counselor Training
GT Counselor Training
October 25, 9am-4pm
ESC North
Participants will look at identification and assessment, social emotional needs of the gifted, special populations, and connecting with parents. The responsibilities that you have as counselors to our gifted and talented students is embedded in our State Code. Specifically, it says that “The primary responsibility of a school counselor is to counsel students to fully develop each student’s academic, career, personal, and social abilities.” This is done through the planning, implementation, and evaluation of developmental guidance programs for “gifted and talented, with emphasis on identifying and serving gifted and talented students who are educationally disadvantaged.” Register Here
GT Services & Nature and Needs for Administrators
October 27, 9am-4pm
ESC North
The session will create an awareness of gifted education in Texas and help participants develop a recognition of gifted students’ specific characteristics and emotional needs. Participants will consider district and campus compliance regarding gifted programs through an examination of the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students and examine program options for gifted students. Register Here
GT Updates
These trainings are all approved to give you the annual 6-hour GT update. As other consultants publish their offerings, I might be able to attach the GT Update approval to those workshops, too. You can always search on PITStop and filter for GT or GT Update to get the most recent listings.
Game On: Working with Twice-Exceptional Students in the Classroom
October 13
ESC North
Come learn how to increase success for all students. Practice developing a task that all students can get started with and learn how to scale up for students ready for more (using Ian Byrd's tips and techniques). Register Here
Depth and Complexity: A New Lens
November 4
ESC North
Seeking a way to help students understand content at a deeper level? Wanting to encourage different levels of thinking? Come check out the Depth and Complexity icons. These eleven tools act as lenses for students to look at and think about a topic in a new light. We will look at and explore Ian Byrd’s suggestions of ways to take your students deeper into grade-level material rather than moving them onto a new topic. Register Here
Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) Implementation Training
December 6
ESC North
Looking to meet the State Goal for services for Gifted and Talented (G/T) students? Want to reimagine your GT services? This training will offer an overview of key resources and strategies used in TPSP implementation. Find out reasonable, realistic, and doable options for implementing the TPSP at the district, campus, and classroom level. Register Here
Calling all GT Coordinators
NEW GT Coordinator Meeting & Handbook How To
Anyone who has been recently assigned the GT Coordinator meeting will want to attend this meeting. We will spend the morning reviewing what you are legally and professionally required to do for gifted learners.
Then we will spend the afternoon working on your GT Handbook: updating, discussing, or starting for the very first time. We all know that this can be a time consuming task! So we will set aside this time to work on your local GT plan. Register Here
GT Coordinators Meeting, TEA Updates & KOI: Kingore Observation Inventory and Planned Experiences
GT Coordinators will be made aware of new program updates and current best practices in gifted education. This time is perfect for coordinators to network with districts to see how others are serving their gifted learners. Come ready to share what your district is doing. (3-hour)
The afternoon is optional, but we will spend time looking at the Kingore Observation Inventory (KOI). This is a popular identification tool. This tool provides a standard for teachers' analytical observations, as well as trains how to implement planned experiences to enrich the level of thinking and challenge for all students. Register Here.
GT Coordinator: Test Administrators - "How To" On Testing
December 14
ESC North
If you are a counselor, administrator, teacher, and/or GT Coordinator responsible for administering GT assessments for the first time, you need to attend this training. We will review how to administer the Torrance Test of Creativity and the online tests (CogAT, Iowa, NNAT3). This training is not required for GT coordinators who are already familiar with giving assessments. Register Here
Region 14 ESC - Advanced Academics
Email: acarpenter@esc14.net
Website: https://bit.ly/r14gt
Location: 1850 State Hwy 351, Abilene, TX, USA
Phone: 325-675-8689
Facebook: facebook.com/r14gt
Twitter: @r14gt