Best Practices in Professional Learning and Teacher Preparation

The National Association for Gifted Children’s mission is to support those who enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, and research. NAGC aims to help parents and families, K–12 education professionals including support service personnel, and members of the research and higher education community who work to help gifted and talented children as they strive to achieve their personal best and contribute to their communities. Christine L. Weber, Ph.D., is a professor of Childhood Education, Literacy, and TESOL at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville. She instructs teachers in strategies for conceptual teaching and learning, assessment tools, and meeting the needs of gifted learners. She has been a member of the Editorial Review Board for Gifted Child Today since 1998. Under her leadership, the Florida's Frameworks for K-12 Gifted Learners was developed in 2007 and disseminated to all school districts in the state. Dr. Weber has published numerous articles and presented at state, national, and international conferences. She currently serves as the Representative Assembly for CEC-TAG and Chair-elect for the NAGC Professional Development Network. She previously served as Cochair of Awards for the NAGC Research & Evaluation Network.

INTRODUCTION SECTION 1: SPECIAL POPULATIONS CHAPTER 1: Targeted Professional Learning for Twice-Exceptional Students: A Double Target CHAPTER 2: Professional Learning Standards and Practices for Educators of Gifted GLBTQ Youth CHAPTER 3: Reframing Professional Learning to Meet the Needs of Teachers Working With Culturally Diverse Gifted Learners CHAPTER 4: Professional Learning Strategies to Develop Creativity Among Attention Divergent Hyperactive Gifted Students CHAPTER 5: Professional Learning Strategies for Teachers of Underachieving Gifted Students CHAPTER 6: Professional Learning for the Parent: How Educators Can Support Parents SECTION 2: PROGRAMMATIC TOPICS CHAPTER 7: Identifying and Supporting Culturally, Linguistically, and Economically Diverse Gifted Learners: Guiding Teachers Through the Four Zones of Professional Learning.. CHAPTER 8: Empowering Educators to Implement Acceleration: Professional Learning Is Essential CHAPTER 9: Designing Professional Learning Centered on Social and Emotional Issues for the Gifted CHAPTER 10: Finding Gifted English Language Learners: Professional Learning Designed to Change the Lens ABOUT THE AUTHORS