Beth Smith, M. Ed. | #smithingifted

I will fully admit it: I am a professional development junkie. 😂

I love learning new strategies, discovering new tools, and finding fresh ways to challenge my gifted students. As a 3rd–5th grade gifted teacher, I am always looking for professional development that goes beyond the basics. I don’t just want “cute activities.” I want ideas that are rigorous, creative, hands-on, and meaningful for gifted learners.

And honestly? I’m usually in the middle of several PD opportunities at once. That is just who I am. 🤓✨

Right now, I’m working through several different professional development experiences because I believe the best teachers never stop learning. Gifted students need teachers who are willing to grow, experiment, and think differently.

Why PD Matters So Much in the Gifted Classroom

Teaching gifted students is not about giving them more work. It is about giving them better thinking opportunities.

Our students need chances to:

• Solve real-world problems
• Create original products
• Explore coding, robotics, and engineering
• Think deeply and critically
• Collaborate with others
• Ask big questions
• Work at their own pace
• Build independence and confidence

That means I need professional development that helps me design learning experiences that are not just engaging, but truly challenging.

For me, great PD should make me think:

How can I use this with my students next week?
How can I make this more rigorous?
How does this fit into #smithingifted?
How can this help students become innovators?

One of My Favorite Places to Find PD: Infosys Pathfinders 💻

One of my favorite places to find professional development is Infosys Pathfinders.

Pathfinders is a free digital learning platform with computer science and maker education resources, which makes it a great fit for a gifted classroom that includes STEM, robotics, coding, engineering, and creativity.

I love that it connects so well with what I am already building in my classroom:

• Coding and robotics pathways
• Maker education
• Engineering challenges
• Technology integration
• Student creativity
• Problem-solving
• Future-ready learning

For 3rd–5th grade gifted students, this kind of PD is gold because it gives teachers the background and confidence to bring more hands-on innovation into the classroom.

What I Look for When Choosing PD

Not every PD is worth your time. Let’s be honest. Some of it sounds great, but then you walk away with nothing you can actually use.

When I am choosing PD, I look for a few things:

1. Does it fit gifted learners?

I want PD that supports depth, complexity, creativity, and student choice. Gifted students need opportunities to move beyond the surface and dig into bigger ideas.

2. Can I use it with 3rd–5th graders?

Some PD is too basic, and some is too advanced. I look for ideas I can adapt for upper elementary students who are ready for more challenge.

3. Does it connect to real-world learning?

My students love learning that feels authentic. I want PD that helps me create projects where students can solve problems, design solutions, and think like engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

4. Will it help me build my curriculum?

I am always thinking about how PD fits into my larger #smithingifted curriculum. I want resources that can become part of my coding, robotics, research, innovation, and problem-solving pathways.

5. Is it something students will actually love?

Rigor matters, but engagement matters too. The best PD gives me ideas that make students say, “Can we keep working on this?”

PD Helps Me Stay Excited About Teaching 🌟

One reason I love professional development is because it keeps me inspired.

Teaching can be exhausting. There are always meetings, paperwork, behavior challenges, schedules, and a million things to manage. But when I find a great PD session, course, or resource, it reminds me why I love this work.

It gives me new energy.

It helps me see new possibilities.

It makes me excited to go back into the classroom and try something different.

My Favorite Kind of PD

My favorite professional development is the kind that sparks ideas immediately.

I love PD that makes me want to open a notebook and start planning:

• A new STEM challenge
• A robotics lesson
• A coding project
• A maker activity
• A gifted extension menu
• A badge pathway
• A Global Innovation Lab connection
• A student portfolio idea

That is the kind of PD that is worth my time.

Final Thoughts

Finding great professional development for the 3rd–5th grade gifted classroom takes time, but it is absolutely worth it.

Gifted students deserve learning experiences that are creative, challenging, and future-focused. As teachers, we have to keep growing so we can keep giving students opportunities to think bigger.

So yes, I am a PD junkie. Proudly. 💛

I will keep searching, learning, saving ideas, and trying new things because every great PD opportunity has the potential to become something amazing for my students.

And if you are looking for professional development in computer science, maker education, robotics, or STEM, Infosys Pathfinders is definitely one place I recommend exploring.

Because in the gifted classroom, professional development is not just about us learning more.

It is about helping our students become more. 🚀