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K-12 Gifted Education

The Nature and Needs of Gifted Learners

 This Academy in Gifted Education is designed to introduce the historical and theoretical foundations of the field of gifted education as well as current research and relevant policy and law at various levels.  Advanced abilities, aptitudes, and theories of intelligence will be discussed, including impact on the varying conceptions of giftedness.  One primary focus of the course is the knowledge of the specific cognitive and socio-emotional developmental nature of gifted learners, and their resulting characteristics and related needs.  The unique characteristics of special populations of traditionally underserved populations of gifted learners are discussed.  A second essential component of the Academy is on the development of appropriate environments at home, school, and the community that leads to the realization of gifted learners’ full potential.  The understanding of specific techniques to identify student potential for differentiated educational services will be emphasized, including data collection and analysis by case study.  Finally, the development and evaluation of appropriate educational services available in public and private school, as well as alternative settings will be presented along with the necessary support of school services through parental and community advocacy.  The Academy will address the content from the perspective of classroom teachers at all grade levels, gifted education teachers, AP and Honors courses teachers, administrators, counselors, and other school support staff.  Participants who enroll in graduate credit for the Academy can count this course toward the JMU K-12 Endorsement in Gifted Education.

Mary Slade,

Academy Chair

Dr. Mary Slade is a Professor in the Department of Exceptional Education at the College of Education at James Madison University. Mary resides in the Exceptional Education Department, Mary directs the gifted education coursework and the Pre-K-12 Add-On Gifted Education Endorsement Program at JMU, including the online coursework in this area. Mary’s primary teaching interests are in curriculum, differentiation, and gifted education.