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Evaluation

Concurrent 45 min

Do Our Worlds Align? Bridging Student and Teacher Perceptions of Gifted Learners

Saturday, November 15, 2025
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM ET
Location: Convention Center, 407
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Short Description: Are you truly meeting the needs of your gifted students? This presentation explores the critical disconnect between teacher and student perceptions of giftedness, using firsthand data from both groups, including current high school students from the National Gifted and Talented Student Advisory Board. Together we'll examine the struggle to define "gifted," the diverse needs of gifted learners, and how educators can cultivate greater empathy to better understand these students.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to describe the differences in perceptions of giftedness between students and their teachers including what students wished their teachers understood about the social and emotional needs.
  • Participants will learn practical strategies for creating more inclusive and supportive classrooms and approaching gifted learners when they struggle by identifying their specific social-emotional and academic needs.
  • Participants will be able to identify common misconceptions about gifted students, including the flawed assumption that strong academic performance indicates positive mental health, addressing errors in traditional philosophies.