Professional Development:

Gifted Education eTips: Inquiry Request Below
Gifted Education eTips is a service project of the Colorado Academy of Educators for the Gifted, Talented, and Creative (CAEGTC).  It involves series of email messages to classroom teachers and other educators who have any role in the education of exceptionally able students,  providing information and practical tips relating to teaching and working with gifted children in general and special educational programs . 
 
Every teacher has the responsibility to work effectively with all students in every classroom, including gifted and talented students.  This means being able to recognize what makes gifted students different from other students and being able to respond to these differences through appropriate instructional and curriculum modifications and strategies.  Gifted Education eTips provide short, clear, and do-able strategies that teachers can use to recognize gifted learners and to respond to their educational needs in the classroom setting.

A gifted education coordinator for a school or school district requests an eTips package -- primary, intermediate, middle level, or secondary -- from CAEGTC.  The series of eTips are then sent via email by a school or district coordinator on a weekly basis over a 10-12 week period to selected school or district faculty and staff.  Every eTips message includes information about specific ways to recognize gifted students’ needs and a specific strategy to address these needs.  Messages are short and to the point, and can be printed or saved for future reference and application.  Included with every message is a list of resources for further information.

Using a series of messages sent regularly over time provides better opportunity for producing growth and change in professional teachers’ classroom instruction and planning than a single article, larger publication, or presentation.  eTips give more exposures to information and ideas spaced over a period of time, with opportunity for reflection and action on the part of recipients.  Feedback from users shows that Gifted Education eTips can produce a positive impact on educators’ attitudes, professional knowledge and skill, confidence, and on-the-job behavior in working with gifted children as a consequence of the 10-12 week project.
Topics for eTips Packages: