Andrea Calvin and Sara Smith are excited to join the Georgia Association for Gifted Children Conference on Monday, March 6, 2023 to run two breakout sessions. Check the program guide for times for each session.

Session 1: Start With A Story: Tools to Introduce STEAM/SEL Concepts Through Picture Books

Join Andrea Calvin & Sara Smith from FableVision Learning for a collaborative, hands-on, STEAM-powered SEL session. This workshop will focus on the power of picture books to build the head and heart connection as we explore "Start With A Story," a unique program that ties the works of New York Times best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds to hands-on and technology-based activities/projects. Participants will receive a one-month classroom demo of the web-based tools used during the workshop and lessons to use in the classroom/library space.     

Each lesson pack focuses on one book and includes five lessons designed for students in grades k-5. Lessons are typically 1-2 hours in length. While teachers can begin with any lesson, we encourage instructors to start with a book reading and an SEL activity and/or the team-building activity before moving onto animation, engineering, and/or journaling. 

The current program includes projects for: Going Places, Word Collector, Say Something, Our Table, I am Peace, Be You, The North Star, Rose’s Garden, The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color. 

Participants will receive an annual single-user demo of the web-based tools used during the workshop and lessons to use in the classroom/library space.   

Session 2: Unboxing Creativity: The Gift of Meaningful Learning

Note: This is a two part session

Creativity is an essential skill in education and beyond, but it can sometimes feel elusive. In this workshop, we will start by answering the big question “What is creativity?” Then, with researched-based tools to help us, we will “take our creative temperatures” and explore what creativity looks like in the classroom. Participants will engage in deliberate creativity through games, activities, and stories while making connections to apply creative principles to teaching practice. Teachers will walk away inspired by three truths: Creativity is essential. We are all creative. We have the power to infuse creativity into our classrooms. Teachers will leave with strategies and tools that help establish a creative classroom climate in which students can learn deeply, create bravely, and flourish!