Easy Ways to Differentiate for the High Ability Learner in your Classroom: Unsure if or how to challenge high ability learners in your regular classroom without a lot of stress or planning on your part? In this session, you will build your understanding of high ability learners, and learn some practical strategies for supporting the gifted students in your classroom that you can implement right away. Blooms Taxonomy, as well as the Depth and Complexity Framework, will also be discussed.
Elementary school teachers (K-7)
Trish Summers is the District Gifted Coordinator in the North Vancouver School District. She received her Diploma in Special Education, as well as a Masters in Special Education, both with a focus in High Ability, from UBC. She has worked with gifted students for more than 25 years in independent schools, as well as in the public system. She has coached many Destination Imagination teams to provincial championships, and has won a world championship in Tennessee. Trish is also a long-standing member of the Lower Mainland Gifted Contacts (LMGC) committee, as well as the Specialist Association of Special Educators in BC (SAGE-BC). When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her two teenagers, who are also gifted!
The word “gifted” prompted Tybie Elenko (BEd and InclusiveEd Diploma) to enter the field of education. For three decades, she has had diverse opportunities in Canada and overseas to be a Classroom Teacher, Gifted Teacher in Specialist Programs as well as a Coordinator for Gifted Services. Gifted Education has always been in the forefront of her educational practices and life. She is currently a Learning Assistance Teacher in the Central Okanagan. Tybie enjoys creating opportunities to bring gifted learners together such as Philosophy Cafes and Debates. She is presently the President of the Specialist Association of Gifted Educators in BC.
Ginaya Peters is a Secondary School-Based Resource Teacher in the Vancouver School District. Prior to this, she was the District Resource Teacher for Gifted Education. This role included collaboration, coaching, and consultation with mainstream classroom teachers and administrators on how to meet the needs of gifted learners. She also works with students and families to identify and advocate for gifted learners. She sits on the executive of the Provincial Specialists Association, SAGE-BC (Specialist Association of Gifted Educators of BC). Ginaya holds an M.Ed. from UBC in Special Education: High Ability and is an Adjunct Professor at UBC in the department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education.
On a personal level, she is an avid reader, movie buff and full-fledged science fiction geek. She is the mother of 3 children including a child who is twice-exceptional (gifted with ASD).