Exciting News: I’ll Be Presenting at the 2025 WATG Conference on Gifted Education

For Homeschool FamiliesFor TeachersFor ParentsGifted Education

Jul 28

This October, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be presenting at the 2025 Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted (WATG) Conference—an event that continues to inspire, challenge, and unite those of us passionate about supporting gifted learners.
My session, titled “Taking a Chance on Flexibility: What Schools Can Learn from Homeschooling Gifted Kids,” ties beautifully into this year’s conference theme, *“Take a Chance on Gifted Education.”*
As a teacher, homeschool mom, author, and educational consultant, I’ve seen gifted education from almost every perspective. However, it was the eight years I spent homeschooling my three gifted daughters that completely transformed my perspective on learning.

Homeschooling gave us room to follow curiosity, to pause when needed and accelerate when ready, to connect ideas across subjects, and to dive deeply into passion-driven projects. It showed me what’s possible when learning is flexible, student-led, and guided by authentic curiosity.

In my upcoming session, I’ll share stories, research, and classroom-ready strategies that show how traditional schools can borrow some of homeschooling’s most effective practices—without losing structure or academic rigor. Together, we’ll explore how flexibility can lead to stronger engagement, deeper thinking, and a greater sense of student agency.

We’ll look at ideas such as:

Encouraging student-led learning through flexible pacing
Using one-on-one questioning to go beyond surface-level thinking
Designing interdisciplinary projects that connect big ideas
Making space for free time and creative play (yes, even in school)
Creating environments that foster voice, agency, and joy

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, GT coordinator, administrator, or parent, I hope you’ll join me. My goal is to offer practical, encouraging takeaways that educators can use right away—because flexibility isn’t just for homeschoolers. It’s for all gifted learners.

You can learn more about the conference and see the full schedule of sessions at WATG.org.

Let’s take a chance on something better for our gifted students—I hope to see you there!

🌿 Laura