Although it’s great to allow students to use their imaginations, they will generally feel overwhelmed if you give them infinite choices. For example, if you say, “Build something out of Legos,” many students will either spend most of their time figuring out what to build or attempt to build something they have already done in … Read more
A few years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season. I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually on every … Read more
A few years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season. I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually on every … Read more
I am a recovering control freak/perfectionist. So, when my students work on projects for #cardboardchallenge, it takes every ounce of restraint to not turn into a raving lunatic. Nothing goes as planned; in fact plans are pretty much a waste of time. My classroom looks like an episode of “Hoarders,” and I find duct tape … Read more
One of my favorite podcasts is “TED Radio Hour” on NPR, on which each episode examines TED talks that address a particular theme. Last week, the theme was, “The Power of Design,” and I found many parts applicable to education. The show includes Tony Fadell, who speaks about the thought processes that went into the … Read more
When introducing Design Thinking to children, it’s important to include the “empathy” part of the process. Sometimes, it is easier for students to practice this with fictional characters before they begin applying it to real people. I’ve curated a collection of both free (green) and paid (purple) resources that offer character cards you can print … Read more