Center for Gifted Education Language Arts Curriculum 

This session will focus on the Center for Gifted Education’s teaching models and how they are interwoven throughout the Center’s language arts units. An important component of the workshop is structured time for participants to examine, work, question, interact, and plan using their individual language arts units. By the end, attendees will be able to provide better delivery and instruction using the Center’s language arts units. Participants are encouraged to bring their own copies of their William & Mary Language Arts teacher editions and student readings, as well as laptops, to the session.

The carefully crafted goals of the units are to develop students’ skills in literary analysis and interpretation, persuasive/argumentative writing, linguistic competency, and oral communication, as well as to strengthen students’ reasoning skills and understanding of overarching concepts. The units feature advanced reading selections that have been chosen for their complexity, depth, relevance to societal issues, and capacity to elicit interpretive responses while cultivating contemplative thought. Challenging works of literature from many eras and cultures, as well as a variety of genres, were specifically chosen to encourage students to reflect on the readings through writing and discussion. Embedded in the units are multiple opportunities to hone critical thinking skills and explore interdisciplinary connections with the language arts. Spark the love and power of literature in your students!

Please note: This session is designed primarily for those instructors with little to no training or experience with the Center models and units. It is an introductory-level session and not intented to be an advanced session for those who have received this training.

Denise Zacherl, who spent the past 10 years as a gifted and talented coordinator, began teaching elementary science at Cross Elementary School in South Carolina in 1988. Denise has found a deep passion for working with gifted students, particularly in schools of poverty. She works with teachers, administrators, and coaches in improving their instructional competency. She has recently authored two new Center for Gifted Education ELA units for the lower grades and participated in problem-based middle school unit field testing through Project ExCEL (grades 7–8). She has been instrumental in participating in primary and elementary gifted mathematics field testing and implementation through Project M2: Mentoring Young Mathematicians (grades K–2) and Project M3: Mentoring Mathematical Minds (grades 3–5). 

Kristen E. Jacksa, M.A., N.B.C.T., an English/ELA educator of 22 years, has taught grades 6–11, working with gifted and talented and Pre-AP populations in grades 8–9. She has served actively as a middle school GT Liaison, has been an instructional coach, and an ELA Department Chair. Currently she teaches Honors/GT Seventh Grade ELA and is the Literacy Team Leader at the top STEM Middle School in the nation. She presents at local and state conferences on latest trends and best practices to meet the needs of gifted students yearly and mentors local college GT cohort master’s degree students. Her passion for protecting and meeting the needs of our most able learners drives her teaching daily.