WAETAG 2023 Annual Conference
Speaking Opportunity
Call for proposals will be open from April 17-June 23, 2023
Each year, we seek quality presentations that will provide practical value and inspiration to the educational community in attendance at our conference. We strongly encourage sessions that will apply to all types of service models, from the general education classroom setting to those in a self-contained classroom. We welcome first-time submissions!
Selected speakers will receive a discounted conference registration.
Submission deadline: June 23, 2023
Submission Guidelines
We will have two distinct conference days:
Friday, October 20 – Friday will have three 90 minute breakout sessions.
Saturday, October 21 – Saturday will have four 60 minute breakout sessions.
Proposal Checklist:
To aid in your submission process we’ve created a list of what you will need to complete your proposal submission.
- Basic contact information
- Short Bio and CV/Resume
- Speaker photo
- Title of presentation
- Brief session description (not to exceed 75 words, for conference program)
- Desired length of presentation (select from 60 or 90 minutes)
- Three session objectives
- Session theme (select from list)
- List research/theoretical citations OR a statement of justification supporting the relevance and importance of your topic
- Session audience (i.e., Elementary, Secondary, Admin)
- Audience knowledge/experience level (i.e., Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
- List takeaways participants can expect to leave with ready to use or immediately incorporate into their practice
- Explain how you plan to facilitate the creation of the materials listed above
- Explain how you plan to incorporate interactive elements into your presentation
- Will your session contain STEM content? If so, be prepared to explain how.
- Co-presenter information (if any)
- Speaker agreements
Selection Tips:
We are looking for presentations that:
- Incorporate interactive elements (i.e., movement, videos, small group work, brainstorming/discussion components)
- Provide practical materials and resources that can be used/implemented immediately
- Support timely issues in the state and nation in gifted education
- Facilitate understanding of the field to those new to gifted education
- Will target a key audience, such as administrators, secondary teachers, etc. to provide something for a variety of conference attendees
- Are especially meaningful and useful for teachers
- Provide a balance of theory and practice
Acceptance or Rejection?
If your proposal is not accepted – try, try again. Many of us (including members of our conference team) have had proposals rejected. Please feel free to reach out to our team if you would like support in refining your proposal for our conference. You can reach us at support@waetag.com.
Session Themes:
Here are themes we are looking to find good speakers for:
- Connecting General Education & Gifted Education
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as it relates to gifted education
- Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
- Co-teaching
- Cluster grouping
- Talent development
- Depth & Complexity
- Other ideas welcome
- Project-Based Learning
- Independent Innovator Challenge
- Cross-curricular units of study
- Parallel Curriculum Model
- STEM/STEAM connected to humanities, civic engagement
- Social Emotional Learning and Development
- Self-discovery, self-regulation, and self-advocacy
- Trauma support
- School, family, and community supports
- Engaging stakeholders
- Community connections (mentors, business partners, internships, etc.)
- Clubs and advisories
- 2E / 3E
- Gifted and dyslexic (new state requirements for screening for dyslexia)
- Gifted and ADHD
- Gifted and ASD
- Gifted and anxiety
- Law & Advocacy
- Advocacy 101 – How to become an advocate, make your elevator speech
- How to advocate for teachers and/or students in your district
- Forming advisory groups
- “Gifted 101” special strand for general education teachers and those new to gifted
Nature and Needs of Gifted Students
Instructional strategies for gifted learners
Collaboration with Parents
Creating quality learning menus/choice boards with rigor
- Access and Equity
- Equitable identification
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Nurturing talent in underrepresented populations
- Talent development
- Supports for BIPOC/LGBTQ
