When you walk into a classroom with gifted kids in it, do you know what to look for?

The signs of effective gifted instruction aren’t always obvious. Learn what to look for and why it matters.

Imagine

Imagine walking into a classroom as an administrator and knowing exactly what to look for…

You see students working independently. Is that meaningful differentiation or simply more work?
You see small groups. Are gifted students being grouped in ways that actually support their learning?
You see students who are busy and engaged. But are they progressing?

Observing gifted instruction can be tricky. Effective strategies don’t always announce themselves, and some things that look good at first glance may not tell you much about whether gifted students are actually being challenged.

What if you knew what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to use what you observe to help teachers grow?

That’s what this course is designed to help you do.

You’re just an hour away from knowing exactly what to look for.

Does this sound familiar?

I know good teaching when I see it, but I’m less sure what I should be looking for specifically with gifted students.
The students are engaged and everything seems to be going well...but are the gifted students actually being challenged?
I see teachers using differentiation strategies, but I’m not always sure how to evaluate whether they’re effective.
I want to give teachers useful feedback about gifted instruction, but I need to know what meaningful implementation looks like first.
Our district has invested in gifted strategies and professional development. How do I know whether those strategies are actually making their way into classrooms?

There's a course for you

Assessing GT Strategies was created specifically for principals and assistant principals who want to feel more confident observing classrooms where gifted students are learning.

In about an hour, you’ll learn what to look for when evaluating gifted instruction, from evidence of appropriate challenge and student progression to differentiation, grouping, and other strategies designed to meet the needs of gifted learners.

You’ll also learn how to make observations more useful by focusing on meaningful, observable practices and using what you see to support teacher growth.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Recognize meaningful gifted strategies when you see them.

ASK BETTER QUESTIONS

Look beyond engagement to consider challenge, growth, and progression.

GIVE MORE USEFUL FEEDBACK

Turn what you observe into support that helps teachers improve.

Kind words from current students.

There are so many PDs where my eyes glaze over within the first 10 minutes, but what you’re doing is the exact opposite. It is so rare that I am willing to do a PD on my own time and be excited about it. I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the amazing resources and for reminding me that there is so much out there that I can still learn. I never want to be the teacher that just does the same thing over and over again. Thank you for making my job easier and more enjoyable.

I wanted to shout out that the PD was refreshingly worthy of my time and further review…I will be implementing some practices to better serve my students. Also, I will be applying what I learned within my Science National Board Certification next school year. The workshop gave me a different focus in my lens of pedagogical practices and giving great ideas to best serve.

I am 1/4th of the way through the course, and I can honestly say that this information makes me feel as if I learned very little in four years of college. (I know that is not true, but this information is GREAT and seems incredibly applicable).

introducing...

Assessing Gifted Strategies: A Course for Administrators

This Assessing GT Strategies course is a focused, one-hour professional development experience designed to help principals and assistant principals know what to look for when observing gifted instruction and use what they see to support teacher growth.

Here's what's included:

Group Coaching

You’ll get access to monthly livestreamed office hours where you can ask questions or get personal help.

Lifetime Access

The course is an asynchronous video course. You’ll have access to the course for the lifetime of the course! Watch again anytime!

Course Guide

You’ll get an amazing course guide full of great information and access to downloads and resources (even a lesson plan!).

here's your sneak peek...

Let's look inside the lessons!

The course has four lessons, a bonus lesson, and an assessment that leads to a certificate for 1.5 hours of professional development credit. Let’s look at the lessons.

LESSON 1

The Leadership Lens

Begin with the big picture: what do we want gifted instruction to look like, and what role does leadership play in making that vision a reality? You’ll explore the connection between effective leadership, meaningful assessment, and strong gifted instruction.

LESSON TWO

Look Very, Very Closely

Learn why gifted instruction can be difficult to evaluate at a glance and how to narrow your focus to what really matters. You’ll explore what to look for, how to start with strengths, and why portfolios can give you a fuller picture of a teacher’s work.

LESSON THREE

What's Worth Looking For?

Get practical about the strategies and practices worth watching for, including acceleration, flexible pacing, student progress, and support for the social and emotional needs of gifted learners. You’ll also consider how to make the assessment process more organic and useful for teachers.

LESSON FOUR

Make Walk-Throughs Work

Bring it all together with purposeful classroom walk-throughs. You’ll consider how to incorporate gifted strategies into existing observation tools and look at what you observe through three lenses: the micro view, snapshot view, and long view.

BONUS LESSON

The Coach Approach

Explore Atul Gawande’s experience of inviting a coach into the operating room and consider what his story can teach school leaders about careful observation, thoughtful questions, and the small details that can lead to meaningful improvement.

The quality you're used to

I’ve spent years helping educators understand what effective gifted instruction looks like, and I know it can be surprisingly difficult to recognize during a quick classroom visit.

And just so I'm clear...
(Because I don't believe in wasting your time)

You're in the right place if:

You want to know what effective gifted strategies actually look like in the classroom, not simply recognize their names.
You want classroom observations and walk-throughs to provide useful information about how well gifted students’ needs are being met.
You want practical ways to support teachers, recognize strengths, and give feedback that leads to growth.

You're in the wrong place if:

You’re looking for an in-depth course on how to teach gifted students or implement specific gifted strategies yourself. I've got other courses for that.
You’re looking for a comprehensive course on gifted identification, programming, or compliance. This is a quick, action-based course
You’re looking for a formal teacher evaluation system or appraisal instrument rather than guidance you can use alongside your existing processes.

I'm Lisa Van Gemert

I know first hand how difficult it can be to find quality professional development that is actionable.

It’s no secret that I have provided professional development to over 50,000 teachers.

What makes my PD different is that it’s real. The strategies are ones I’ve used in a real classroom with my real students.

I also have to have 150 hours of PD every 5 years to renew my own teaching and administrator certifications, so I want PD to amazing.

I’ve created my PD courses for teachers and administrators just like you who want to create great classrooms and schools through the power of great PD.

frequently asked questions

You've got Q's? I've got A's.

Here are some of the questions I get asked a lot (and the answers!).

How long does it take to complete the course

The course is 1.5 hours. That includes the time it takes to watch the videos and take the assessment.

How do I get a certificate?

After you take the assessment and score an 80% or higher, a certificate will be emailed to you.

What if I don't pass the assessment?

You can review the parts that you didn’t remember well and take it again!

Are there discounts?

Yes, if you need 5 or more licenses, there is a group discount price. There is also special pricing for school districts. Send me an email at lisa@giftedguru.com.

Are there refunds?

Because you have instant access to all of the material, refunds are only given for accidental duplicate purchases.

Can I use the course to present PD myself?

Special licenses are available for this. Purchasing the course allows access for one person’s personal use.

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