Adventures in Being Gifted Jill Hartsock & Jessica Mullen

In our season finale of AIBG, we're excited to welcome two renowned experts for an insightful discussion on test-taking and visual-spatial thinking. 

We delve into the complexities of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) with Dr. Joni Lakin, the esteemed lead author of the test itself. We'll explore critical themes like test equity and effective preparation strategies. Additionally, Professor Anne Flick joins the conversation, bringing groundbreaking research on visual-spatial intelligence to the forefront.  Don't miss this captivating end to a fantastic season!

Discussing race in the classroom is a topic that often makes us uneasy, yet it's crucial. We engage in an open and enlightening discussion about this with Dr. Joy Lawson Davis. She brings over four decades of educational experience and is the acclaimed author of 'Bright, Talented & Black: A Guide for Families of African American Gifted Learners' and 'Gifted Children of Color Around the World: Diverse Needs, Exemplary Practices, and Directions for the Future'.

"I haven’t had a teacher since the fourth grade!"

We talk with Kate Liemandt, known as Austin Scholar online, a high school student in Austin, Texas, who stands out for her exceptional academic performance, consistently scoring in the 99th percentile in nationwide tests despite not having a traditional teacher since fourth grade. 

Her secret? Online learning through adaptive educational apps vastly differs from the often ineffective "Zoom-school." Austin attends Alpha, an innovative school where students learn at their own pace using educational software, allowing them to grasp academic concepts twice as fast and consistently score in the 90th percentile.
Austin's concern about the state of education in the U.S. is highlighted by the startling results of the nationwide Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Test: 50th percent of high school graduates have similar language skills as 98th percentile second graders and similar math skills as top-performing fourth graders. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for a systemic change in the educational system, a change Austin is determined to be a part of.

You can read her newsletter HERE.

In this episode of our podcast, we're embracing the spirit of student empowerment by handing over the reins to our young learners. Join Daisy and Maren, two curious 5th graders, who delved deep into the workings of the brain in their recent unit. Their journey of discovery led them to Dr. Lisa Mannix, a renowned local neurologist. 

Tune in as they engage in an insightful conversation with Dr. Mannix, exploring the intriguing questions that emerged from their research.

We chat with Brian Housand, Ph.D. about how learning and technology have the potential to supercharge students’ innate curiosity and propel them toward a lifetime of inquiry and investigation. Brian talks about tapping into students’ interests and purposefully constructing experiences that promote creative, productive giftedness. 

We are joined by Debbie Reber, founder of Tilt Parenting, for a fantastic conversation about 2E kids. More than 20 percent of today’s children are in some way neurodivergent, or what Debbie calls, “differently wired.”  She talks about how to help them thrive in their schools, their families, and their lives.