2010 WATG Fall Conference
October 7-8, 2010
Forging the Future: Leadership for Tomorrow
Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center
Sheboygan, WI
Think LEADERSHIP. What do you envision? George Washington in the bow of the ship crossing the Delaware? JFK giving his “ask not” inaugural address? Neil Armstrong placing the flag on the moon? Or has recent history replaced those images with those of business executives in prison garb, bickering politicians hurling incivilities, celebrities baring their souls on Oprah?
The leaders of tomorrow are our gifted students of today. What image of leadership do we want them to emulate? How do we help them develop the skills and the will to lead our world with wisdom, integrity, and compassion?
Leadership is designated a talent area in our federal and state definitions of gifted students, yet it remains the least discussed of the curricular areas for these students and it is not well defined.
One challenge for us as educators and parents is to figure out how best to encourage and nurture leadership at an early age. Another challenge is to reflect on and then develop our own leadership roles in our jobs, our districts, our communities. And finally we must network with each other so that together we can lead gifted education into the future.
Our 2010 WATG Conference will allow us to step back from our daily busy-ness and consider “leadership” in all its forms. Come to be renewed, energized, and informed.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Start Forging your Future today by downloading your 2010 WATG Fall Conference brochure!
Julia Roberts, Keynote Speaker
 Julia Link Roberts is the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University. She is the Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky. Dr. Roberts is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and a board member of The Association for the Gifted (a division of the Council for Exceptional Children) and the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education. Dr. Roberts received the first David W. Belin NAGC Award for Advocacy. She is co-author with Tracy Inman of Strategies for Differentiating Instruction: Best Practices for the Classroom (2009 Legacy Award for the outstanding book for educators in gifted education by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented) and Assessing Differentiated Student Products: A Protocol for Development and Evaluation. Dr. Roberts directs summer and Saturday programs for children and young people who are gifted and talented.
You will be inspired by Dr. Roberts’ conference presentations on Thursday night called "Advocating for Challenge" and Friday morning's keynote, "Forging the Future: Leadership for Tomorrow."
For more information about Dr. Roberts' work, check out The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky, or click here for her vita.
Conference Strands
 Strand topics have been carefully considered to generate scintillating discussion as well as practical tactics to promptly apply in classrooms. A broad choice of breakout sessions encourages attendees to tailor their conference experience to meet their own particular interests and needs. A detailed listing of individual sessions will be available in late summer. General topics include:
21st Century Skills -- Gifted children, driven by their intense curiosity and love of learning, have propelled us into the 21st century. We’ll examine knowledge, understandings, skills and dispositions that will help us support our gifted learners in this “brave new world.”
Differentiation -- What does the research tell us about the needs of gifted learners? How can we differentiate content, process and product to meet these different needs effectively and efficiently? We’ll examine what works in a truly differentiated learning community.
The Whole Child -- We try to touch the “heart” of gifted children and provide information and skills to nurture and grow strong and resilient gifted children.
Creativity and the Arts -- For many gifted students, the arts are “pure oxygen,” feeding their hearts, souls and minds. We’ll provide creative ways to discover and foster “artistic” talent in its many forms.
Leadership and Advocacy -- Gifted students and their caring adults need these skills to lead full and productive lives. We’ll examine characteristics of leadership and the skills needed to develop self-advocacy. Additionally, we’ll explore advocacy for gifted students in today’s educational settings.
Pre-conference sessions
 Here’s a great opportunity to reflect on our professional practice with morning-long, practical workshops designed specifically for educators. Sessions will inform new or experienced G/T coordinators as well as advance techniques used by classroom teachers. Taking place Thursday morning before the start of the conference, these sessions are a great time and money bargain, but require separate registration.
Technology Tools for Differentiation – Explore a variety of technology tools -- including many that are web-based and FREE -- that you can use to differentiate instruction and that incorporate many of the important skills (like synthesis, collaboration, and creativity) that our children will need to compete in the future.
Basics of Differentiation – Understand the rationale behind differentiation and the methods of tailoring instruction to students’ readiness, interests and learning profiles to engage and stimulate learning.
New G/T Coordinators Training -- Learn about identification, programming options, staff development and parent education and take specific tools back to your classrooms.
Experienced G/T Coordinators Training -- Survival tactics to keep your program effective through budget and staff cutbacks along with strategies to increase parent and public support for gifted programming.
2010 WATG Teen Leadership Conference
Forging YOUR Future: Leadership for Tomorrow
For gifted teens, aged 13-16 or grade 7-10.
Registration fee: $30
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