Lost Prizes: Developing the Talents of At-Risk Students

This program will provide training for individuals who wish to teach in Lost Prizes Centres, Schools, or other programs serving at-risk students.   Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• use research to guide and inform planning, and employ best practices in the gifted education and at-risk domains;

• establish innovative academic and social programs to identify and develop the talents of high-ability, at-risk young people;

• help the students learn more effective coping and problem solving strategies;

• take a strength-based rather than a deficit approach for vulnerable youth;

• embrace and respond to a diverse set of student needs and challenges;

• encourage colleagues and others to become “talent spotters,” who look for positives in their students on a daily basis (Young, 1995);

• develop skills in working with marginalized young people including those involved in youth gang activity;

• utilize a variety of assessment strategies to gauge and improve student academic and social progress in tangible and specific ways;

• share lessons learned with the field through professional development sessions, courses, and publications.