2E @ W&M Online Conference Session Descriptions
Thursday, February 27, 2025 Sessions
Friday, February 28, 2025 Sessions
Featured Speakers: Thursday, February 27, 2025
Julie Skolnick
Celebrating the Essence of a Gifted and Distractible Child
When encountering the Gifted and Distractible profile, people tend to concentrate on “what needs to be fixed.” This type of deficit-focus serves to bury the 2e child’s strengths and passions beneath a mountain of “skill-building” techniques and inappropriate expectations that further frustrate the child. The child’s self confidence and self concept are negatively impacted and their resilience is compromised. This keynote presentation will address how the strength-based approach and focusing on relationship development better serve the 2e child. We will debunk external motivation tactics and demonstrate why telling someone they “aren’t reaching their potential” actually backfires on reaching one’s goals. Through anecdotes participants will learn that when we utilize a child’s strengths to address their struggles - that’s when the magic happens.
Dr. Susan Baum
The Metaphor of Green: A Reconceptualization of Twice Exceptionality
The term of twice exceptionality is gaining in popularity and used to describe a population of learners who have advanced cognitive potential within one or more domains and simultaneously experiences some challenges of neurodiversity such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Specific Learning Disabilities, and or Autism Spectrum Disorder. While acceptance of the idea that one can be both gifted and challenged bodes well for a growing number of students whose needs have not been met, misunderstanding of the complex profile of these youngsters may result in insufficient programing. In this session, I present the metaphor of green to explaining the complex profile of 2e students supported by the literature and suggest a strength-based model that is dually differentiated in ways that both gifted and deficit needs are met simultaneously.
Featured Speakers: Friday, February 28, 2025
Dr. Julia Roberts
Advocacy and Policy Matter for 2e Students to Thrive
Policy for appropriate services for 2e students is key to having twice-exceptional students thrive in school and beyond. Effective advocacy can result in policy that ensures best practices are in place. This presentation will provide up-to-date information on policy (law and regulations) regarding twice-exceptional students and share best practices for advocating for policy.
Emily Kircher-Morris
For the Love of Learning
Teachers and parents have been searching for a way to ignite passion and motivation in kids for years. How is it that neurodivergent kids, many who have incredible strengths and abilities, struggle with basic motivation? The secret to motivation is deeper than a growth mindset, and drive isn't as black-and-white as intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Through this presentation, Emily shares the three ingredients needed for self-regulated motivation. Implementing these steps helps our learners harness their motivation, leaving us on the sideline to watch them soar.
