Neurodiversity: Fostering Social, Emotional and Academic Growth of our Gifted/2e Students
This 7 session, pre-recorded teacher training workshop will cover the entire scope and sequence of how to teach the social and emotional foundations for your gifted/2e students. It will also help you better understand the impacts of atypical brain development on social/emotional growth that, in turn, impacts academic success.
Register Now
7 Sessions
The pre-recorded video sessions cover the entire scope and sequence of what educators, administrators and professionals need to know to better serve the comprehensive needs of this exceptional population.
Online & At Your Own Pace
Move through the materials at your own pace or with a group (contact us for group pricing!) using a secure, easy-to-use learning management platform. Log in to any device, anytime, anywhere!
Videos, Guides & More!
Included are effective and proven teaching activities, lesson plans, a curriculum mapping guide and other valuable teaching and learning handouts – all yours to keep!
Led by
Dr. Mike Postma
Dr. Michael Postma, Ed.D. has over two decades of teaching and developing Gifted/2e programs and schools. He has also raised 4 gifted/2e children with his wife, Julie Postma.
Here's What You'll Learn
Gifted/2e children often struggle with issues related to social/emotional growth and/or regulation. As a result, large numbers of these students battle anxiety, stress, emotional regulation, social anxiety, and even have difficulty with executive functioning.
This is due to asynchronous development related to intense sensory integration (epigenetics) that can easily overwhelm an already vulnerable limbic system.
This series will outline the latest neuro research on the gifted/2e brain and how it affects metacognition (or self understanding).
Each session is designed to inform and provide practical strategies to help your gifted/2e student move from a place of simply surviving to thriving in every environment beyond school, but home and life too.
You will learn that developing social and emotional foundations are critical to the success of every gifted/2e child/individual in any life setting whether that be in school, at home or within the greater community. You will also learn why that is and what it takes to get there.
Session 1:
Knowing your Students & Understanding Giftedness
- Defining "Giftedness" - It Comes in All Shapes and Sizes!
- Understand Giftedness and Twice-exceptionality (2e)
- Examine the Many (and often competing) Definitions and Misunderstandings Around the Term
- Explain and Discuss Controversial Issues Around the Bell Curve and Its Implications
- Define the Different Levels of Giftedness
- Know the Characteristics of Giftedness
- A Case Study: What Would You Do?
Session 2:
Neurodiversity and Metaphysical Development of the Gifted/2e Brain
- Explore the latest research around both typical and atypical brain development
- Understand atypical development and what is asynchrony and what does it look like
- Understand what is neurodiversity and its impact on daily living and student learning
- Why Neurodiversity Matters with Gifted and Twice-Exceptional children/individuals/students
- Nature vs. Nurture
- Limbic Impacts
- Sensory Development (Epigenetics)
- Processing Speed/Working Memory (Educational Impacts)
- Learn How to Use the Understanding of neurodiversity to inform your Teaching and Learning Strategies
Session 3:
Identification
- Current Practices
- Types of Identification Procedures
- Potential Issues and Misdiagnosis
- Should you use external assessments? How and if to incorporate them
Session 4:
Why Social/Emotional Foundations
- Metacognition and Social Development
- Metacognition and How it Impacts Social/Emotional Growth
- Simulations/Role Playing Strategies
- Parental Communications
- Differentiation & Thematic Instruction
- Rigor, Pacing, Depth, Breadth, Flexibility, Grouping
- Cultural Relevance
- The Homework Question
Session 5:
Executive Functioning
- What is it?
- Why it needs to be taught
- 21st Century Impacts
- Emotional Regulation
- Schematic Regeneration
- Habits of mind
- Issues (continued)
Session 6:
Assessment
- Reversing the Triangle
- Frontloading Instruction
- Diagnostic and Formative Assessment for the Gifted
- Grading vs. the Standard for the Gifted
- Samples
Session 7:
Strategies
- Compacting Standards
- Compacting Curriculum
- Backwards Design
- Differentiation & Thematic Instruction
- Rigor, Pacing, Depth, Breadth, Flexibility, Grouping
- Cultural Relevance
- The Homework Question
TESTIMONIAL
“Dr. Postma's full day workshop titled, "Understanding the Social / Emotional Needs of Giftedness Through a Lens of Neurodiversity," with its emphasis on understanding how various aspects of the brain impacts students' learning and affect was exactly what my gifted teachers needed. They left the training feeling empowered in their new understandings and put the information to use immediately in their classroom instruction and in their interactions with their students. I highly recommend this training for both veteran and new teachers, as well as for school administrators and school psychologists.”
Dr. Dina Brulles
Director of Gifted Education at Paradise Valley Unified School District
Phoenix, AZ
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Mike Postma
Hello! I'm Dr. Mike Postma, an educator, speaker, author, consultant and coach residing in beautiful Bellingham, WA.
Together with my wife, Julie, we have raised our own 4 gifted/2e children and know how difficult this journey can be. That is one reason I have dedicated my life work to the holistic development of the gifted/2e community.
I've served as a Gifted Teacher in the classroom, as an Administrator of gifted schools, as a professional developer of gifted programming and curriculum and as Executive Director of the SENG organization (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted), and now launching our brand new company Gifted & Thriving, LLC.
I look forward to spending time with you together as we learn how we can best teach and support this exceptional community so we can all move from a place of just surviving to THRIVING! I look forward to the journey with you!
Register today!
