G/T Teacher Labs is an interactive webinar series created specifically for gifted and talented (G/T) educators. Each session delivers practical tools, ready-to-use strategies, and classroom-tested approaches you can implement immediately, so you leave with next-step ideas, not just inspiration. Join us to learn, try strategies in real time, and walk away with resources you can use right away with your G/T learners.
This programming is available exclusively to TAGT Educator and TAGT Leader members at no cost.
Upcoming G/T Teacher Labs
Chances for Challenge
Using Children’s Literature to Promote Pondering
April 9, 4:00-4:45 p.m. (Central)
Chances for challenge are not planned out ahead of time, but rather are those teachable moments when a student shows an interest, asks a question, or exhibits a passion. This requires teachers to be on the lookout for these and have a bag of tricks to use when the moment presents itself. Some of these tricks involve probing questions, igniting the spark of curiosity, and providing space and guidance for the plunge.
Learn More About the Facilitator
Todd Stanley (a.k.a. The Gifted Guy) is a dedicated educator, author, and speaker renowned for his nearly 30 years in gifted education. He began his career as a classroom teacher, instructing gifted learners across varying grade levels, using service models like pull-out, push-in, magnet, and cluster settings.
Using Children’s Literature to Promote Pondering
Using Children’s Literature to Promote Pondering
May 7, 4:00-4:45 p.m. (Central)
Participants will be exposed to the importance of incorporating pondering activities into their lesson planning to promote creative and critical thinking skills. Attendees will be shown a variety of books and activities which promote deep thinking. Reflection time will occur to incorporate ideas learned in this session into their classroom.
Facilitator: Johnna LaRoque, G/T Program Teacher, Ector County ISD
Gifted Teacher’s Toolbox
September 10, 4:00-4:45 p.m. (Central)
There is more than one way to challenge a gifted student. It is best for teachers to develop a toolbox of strategies that both fits the need of the student and the capability of the teacher. What are some of these strategies and when is the best situation to use these? Teachers will be able to find the right tool for the right job.
Learn More About the Facilitator
Todd Stanley (a.k.a. The Gifted Guy) is a dedicated educator, author, and speaker renowned for his nearly 30 years in gifted education. He began his career as a classroom teacher, instructing gifted learners across varying grade levels, using service models like pull-out, push-in, magnet, and cluster settings.
Differentiating Up
October 7, 4:00-4:45 p.m. (Central)
When we hear the term differentiate, we often think this means going down to support kids who are struggling. Differentiation is a two-way street. It goes up as well. But how does one do that in a classroom with mixed ability students? Ideas and specific strategies will be shared to show this very thing.
Learn More About the Faciliator
Todd Stanley (a.k.a. The Gifted Guy) is a dedicated educator, author, and speaker renowned for his nearly 30 years in gifted education. He began his career as a classroom teacher, instructing gifted learners across varying grade levels, using service models like pull-out, push-in, magnet, and cluster settings.
AI-Powered Differentiation: Practical Tools to Challenge Gifted Learners When Only the Teacher Uses AI
November 12, 4:00-4:45 p.m. (Central)
Discover how to leverage free and accessible AI tools to create richer, deeper, and more complex learning experiences for your gifted students—without ever putting devices in students’ hands. In this fast-paced 45-minute G/T Teacher Lab, you’ll see live demonstrations and walk away with ready-to-use prompts and workflows for generating tiered tasks, research questions at multiple depths, Socratic discussion prompts, interdisciplinary extensions, novel project ideas, authentic performance assessments, and more. Leave with a digital toolkit of copy-and-paste prompts and templates you can implement the very next day to accelerate and enrich learning for your most advanced students.
Learn More About the Faciliator
Dr. Bruce Ellis is the Director of Professional Development for TCEA, where he supports educators across Texas and beyond in strengthening instruction through effective use of technology and sound pedagogy. With more than 20 years of experience in public education, Bruce has served as a classroom teacher, instructional specialist, and Director of Instructional Technology in a large urban district. His work focuses on practical classroom strategies, instructional design, AI in education, and meaningful technology integration. Bruce holds a doctorate in curriculum, instruction, and assessment and enjoys helping educators apply ideas they can use right away.
Previous G/T Teacher Labs
Opportunities for Challenge
Facilitator: Todd Stanley (a.k.a. The Gifted Guy)
Opportunities for challenge are deliberate, pre-planned activities where students can engage in challenging work baked into lessons to help them to grow as learners. Some of these activities fall under bonus opportunities, expansion, and scaffolding.
Please note: you must be logged into your TAGT account to view.
What You’ll Gain
Practical ways to create more opportunities for challenge in everyday lessons
Strategies for using children’s literature to spark deeper thinking and discussion
Go-to tools and instructional moves from the gifted teacher’s toolbox
Clear approaches for differentiating up to meet advanced learner needs
Practical guidance on using AI to support differentiation and challenge gifted learners