Meeting the Needs of Gifted English Learners

Description

In this course you will explore:

• How language and culture influence they way English Learners demonstrate their giftedness
• What unique considerations you should take during the gifted identification process for English Learners
• Practical strategies for adapting lessons for English Learners
• How to apply both critical and creative thinking for English Learners 

Presenter Bio

Debra Gill has worked for the past 21 years in the Columbus City School district, one of Ohio’s
largest urban public school systems, which services approximately sixty thousand students from
diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Debra’s diverse teaching experience includes
both elementary and middle school assignments. As a Math and Science Leadership Specialist,
Ms. Gill created project-based educational units and mentored several pre-service teachers
from local colleges and universities. Debra routinely taught full-inclusion science classes,
collaborating on a daily basis with Special Education and Gifted and Talented teachers. She also
recognized a need for and initiated an after school tutoring program to address the academic
and social needs of English Language Learners. Ms. Gill later became a Curriculum Coach and
Academic Interventionist in which she modeled lessons, co-planned interdisciplinary
instructional units, and provided colleagues with support necessary to deliver effective,
research-based instructional practices. As a Curriculum Coach, Ms. Gill networked with both
district and national facilitators to collaboratively plan and facilitate professional development
sessions designed for the advancement of school goals. Debra currently works in the Gifted and
Talented Department as a Primary Enrichment Specialist where she not only provides
instruction through enrichment activities that promote the development of complex critical-
thinking skills, but she also helps identify academically gifted and talented students from
underrepresented student populations within the school district. Debra has completed all
required courses necessary for her TESOL endorsement. 

Cathy Mast has worked in Columbus City Schools in Ohio for over 20 years and has been part of
the Gifted & Talented Division for the past 12 years. She has worked as a gifted intervention
specialist, gifted coordinator, self-contained gifted classroom teacher, and as a specialist in the
primary talent development program. She completed a TESOL program through Ohio State
University in order to better serve the growing number of English Learners in Central Ohio.