As a teacher, do you ever have a moment when no one needs your help, and you are standing in the middle of your classroom wondering what you should be doing? In my twenty years of teaching, I think that’s happened twice: when I was student teaching and had no idea what I was supposed … Read more
This is a great resource for differentiating. Many teachers use graphic organizers, but there are a few here that I’ve never seen – such as the jigsaw puzzle. Changing things up always grabs the students’ attention. To apply this to different abilities in your classroom you could try the following levels, in order from least … Read more
A couple of years ago, a fellow Gifted and Talented teacher, Michelle A., introduced me to these brief biographies by showing me the book Not Quite What I Was Planning. I was immediately intrigued, and went out to buy my own copy. There is something deeply moving about the power of six words to tell … Read more
Apparently, I really like this site. I keep coming across it in my Bookmarks and Favorites on several different computers, as well as my online bookmarking site. One reason I like this site is because my students like it. They enjoy the different comic templates and the choices of characters and scenes. Another reason that … Read more
According to its website, “The Learning Network provides teaching and learning materials and ideas based on New York Times content.” Although the site is designed for students who are 13 or over, I have found many lessons that can be adapted to my elementary level Gifted and Talented students. The site includes lesson plans with links to … Read more
This site offers resources for teachers and parents, as well as games, activities, and contests for kids who like challenges. I like the “Living Poetically” challenge, as well as the “Excellence in Reading Award”. In the games section, there is a neat “Family Crossword” that is updated twice a week. It includes clues for kids … Read more