They'll Be Fine: The Premier Podcast for Gifted Education

Dr. Emily King is a Child Psychologist and former School Psychologist who has worked with neurodivergent children and teens for over 20 years. She received a Ph. D. in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she worked at Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. She began her career as a School P...

You might know Todd Stanley from his YouTube channel “Todd Talks” or his website “The Gifted Guy” which has a ton of free resources! Todd served as classroom teacher for 18 years and then, has the gifted coordinator for Pickerington Schools the past 10 years. In this episode we discuss the power of project based learning, something he has a lot of experience in and wrote a few books. He shares som...

Monica Simonds, M.Ed., is a Strategist for K-12 Assessments at Riverside Insights. In this role, she works closely with educators across the U.S. to help them gain greater insight and utility from their assessment data with a specific focus on best practices for identifying and serving gifted and talented students. Monica is the 2017 recipient of the NAGC Gifted Coordinator award and the 2019 TAGT...

Gia Kaul combines her rich background of teaching elementary and middle school to impactful roles at Pearson Education, the National Math and Science Initiative, and the College Board. Currently, she serves in the Schools Development position at Cambridge International Education. Her expertise lies in fostering strong connections with state, district, and school stakeholders to drive educational o...

In this episode of They’ll Be Fine , we're chatting with Brian Housand and Stephanie Higgs! With a Ph. D. in Gifted Education from University of Connecticut, Brian has written books and given numerous presentations focused on gifted education. As the coordinator of gifted programs at UNC Wilmington, he educates and inspires teachers to bring more creativity to the classroom for their gifted studen...

Erik M. Francis, M.Ed., M.S., is an international author, educator, presenter, and professional development provider with 30 years of experience in education. He is the author of Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posing Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry (Solution Tree), Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning (Solution Tree), Now That’s a Good Qu...

In this episode of They’ll Be Fine , we speak with Crawford Leavoy, National Speech & Debate Tournament Champion coach. For the past 12 years as Director of Speech & Debate at Durham Academy, he's built a program that consistently dominates the national stage: 12 straight years of Top 20 finishes at the National Speech & Debate Tournament, with multiple Top 10 placements. He's a three-...

Welcome back to They’ll Be Fine , the podcast where we dive into the most impactful practices in gifted education and beyond. In this episode, we’re exploring an instructional approach that transforms classrooms into vibrant spaces for critical thinking, inquiry, and meaningful dialogue—the Paideia approach . We recently had the privilege of sitting down with two incredible school leaders in Charl...

In this episode of They'll Be Fine , Kim Tredick, a seasoned educator with 36 years in public education, discusses her journey and passion for gifted education. She details her professional background from being an elementary school teacher to an assistant superintendent, emphasizing the need for differentiation. Kim introduces the Depth and Complexity framework, developed in the early 1990s by Dr...

“They're smart. Why would they need additional services? They’ll be fine!” Sound Familiar? Time and time again we hear “they’ll be fine, they’re smart," when people refer to gifted learners. Because of this sad misconception, too many students fail to reach their potential because they do not receive appropriately challenging curriculum and services. The National Association for Gifted Children (N...

Welcome back to They'll Be Fine! This week, we're tackling a complex and often misunderstood topic: intelligence testing. But we're not just scratching the surface. We're going straight to the source, speaking with Dr. Jack Naglieri . Dr. Naglieri, an Emeritus professor at George Mason University and senior research scientist at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children, has dedicated his career...

Dr. Dina Brulles is a true leader in the field of gifted education. She is the Gifted Program Coordinator at Arizona State University, a former Director of Gifted Education, and a co-author of the Naglieri General Abilities Test. She's also served in key leadership roles at the National Association for Gifted Children and has actively supported and served as a mentor for the Javits Frasier Scholar...

Welcome to They'll Be Fine! We are Kim Hackman and Lisa Pagano,  and we're the new hosts of this podcast. We're really looking forward to connecting with all of you about the needs of our academically and intellectually gifted. But first, we want to introduce ourselves. Starting next Friday, new episodes will be released every other week, so be sure to follow us! Whether you're deeply involved in...

In this episode, Julia, a former teacher turned school counselor, shares how her experience in the classroom led her to write 126 children's books focused on positive parenting, teaching strategies, and emotional growth. She discusses her new website, Cookie Bites , offering resources for parents and educators to help children manage anxiety, build self-esteem, and navigate social-emotional challe...

In this engaging and informative episode of Back Pocket Strategies, join hosts Alexia, Hannah, and Katharine as they discuss practical and adaptable teaching strategies that educators can use in diverse classroom settings. From the transformative Socratic Seminar to creative math and language games, the trio shares their experiences and tips to help students build essential skills such as critical...

In this episode, we explore creative and engaging activities that help students develop critical thinking, reasoning, and persuasive communication skills. From making unexpected connections between everyday items to practicing persuasive speaking and crafting logical rebuttals, these activities are designed to challenge and inspire gifted learners. Whether you're looking for fun ways to encourage...

Join us for an insightful episode with Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP, a renowned expert in executive function with over 25 years of experience. Sarah, along with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen, developed the award-winning 360 Thinking Executive Function Program, celebrated for its innovative approach to addressing executive dysfunction. Their work has reached over 2,000 schools and organizations wor...

Today’s episode features UCPS AIG TOY Brooke Kramb. Brooke has taught multiple grade levels, AIG, worked as a Literacy Facilitator and Curriculum Support/Interventionist, authored two children’s books, and so much more. We discussed a few engaging and memorable projects and activities that she has used in her classroom over the years to engage her gifted students in reading and math. If you want t...

Today’s episode features an interview with speech-language pathologist and social-emotional expert, Elizabeth Sautter. Elizabeth is the author of Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick! Practical activities to help your child manage emotions, navigate social situations & reduce anxiety, along with many other resources, including an online course and community for parents. Elizabeth speaks ab...

This episode features Ann Jacob, an AIG teacher, who incorporates art, creativity, and adventure into her reading lessons with students. During her teaching career, Ann has taught art (K-8), grades 2-5, gifted grades 3-5, and has served as a resource teacher and specialist. She has presented at local, state, national and international conferences and conventions. Throughout her career, Ann has rec...

In this episode of They’ll Be Fine , we speak with Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, an expert in childhood trauma and fortitude, about the unique challenges gifted learners face. Dr. K shares her insights on how trauma can impact gifted children and offers practical strategies for building emotional resilience at home and in the classroom. Whether you're a parent, educator, or advocate, this conversation is f...

Join us on "They'll Be Fine" for an enlightening conversation with award-winning author Gina Prosch as we explore the world of gifted education. In her latest book, Hope! More Than Wishful Thinking, Gina delves deep into the themes of resilience and perseverance, offering invaluable insights for supporting the emotional well-being of gifted and talented students. This episode is more than just a d...

In the season finale of NCAGT’s podcast, “They’ll Be Fine,” we take a nostalgic and insightful walk down memory lane, revisiting the most compelling conversations from season two. Join us for a captivating collection of highlights that include unique teaching strategies and a deep dive into the enriching experiences. Engage in enlightening discussions about the academic and social challenges faced...

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Kayla, a foster care parent and an inspiring educator. Kayla shares her journey, from attending her first conference in 2015 to becoming a speaker and a passionate advocate for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Together with hosts Alexiaa and Katharine, they delve into the intricacies of teaching, the importance of creating an inclusive an...

The NCAGT 2024 conference was filled with exciting vendors from all over. From Lego Education to the PBL Project, attendees were exposed to so many valuable resources and we want to share those with all of you! Listen to hear a snippet from some of the vendors including the PBL Project, Odyssey of the Mind, Cambridge Assessment, Riverside Insights, Lego Education, Renzulli, and Diffy-Q. https://ww...