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
Triptico is one of the most user-friendly teacher tools I’ve come across in a long time. Designed by a teacher named David Riley to use with interactive whiteboards, this is free software that you download to your computer. Don’t despair if you don’t have an IWB, however. If you can project your computer to a screen in the classroom, the activities (over … 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 short (less than 3 minutes) TED talk by Derek Sivers would make a nice follow-up to any discussions you may have had recently with your students about Steve Jobs and the Apple “Think Different” campaign. It reminds us to think globally and to try to look at things from other perspectives. Before showing the … 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