Novelty can increase engagement for all students, but especially for gifted and advanced learners (see Novelty, Surprise, and Twists ~ How to Inject These Into Your Lessons). Here are a few fresh activities to share with younger students! GUS AND GABBY GUESSING GAME (FREE) Inspired by Marcy Cook’s Contrasting Facts and the Who Am I? … Read more
At a gifted conference years ago, I was thrilled to get a seat in a session presented by Ed Zaccaro, author of Challenge Math, Primary Grade Challenge Math, and The 10 Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Should Know But Are Rarely Taught. Much of his experience was at the middle school level, and his … Read more
Here is a poetic tale that can be shared with students of all ages! It became a part of the first-day activities in my 4th-grade GT class every year. The focus of our studies was MYSTERIES, but not in the usual sense. You can find an overview of the year-long unit here, and in this … Read more
Last year, I shared some of my favorite activities for the first days of school in Back to School 2020 ~ A Few Ideas to Surprise and Delight. Many of you asked if I could elaborate on how these activities introduced and connected to the universal themes in 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Find K-2 Thematic … Read more
Here are five of my favorite activities to put students at ease when they walk into GT class on the first day. FIRST DAY TEACHER POEM (K-3) The idea behind this poem is to surprise and have a little fun with students as you introduce yourself and the GT class. Play through these slides in “present” … Read more
Do you like to send a welcome letter to your students before class begins? Here are some mini-projects and unique activities you can include with your letter to give students a preview of what’s ahead! BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE / PAIRED PUZZLE If your students enjoy puzzles as much as mine, this would be a fun … Read more
These activities complement The Primary Education Thinking Skills™ curriculum, in particular the thinking skills associated with Yolanda the Yarnspinner and Isabel the Inventor! If you use P.E.T.S., you might also enjoy the activities found HERE. These language and wordplay activities are perfect for small group instruction and will delight younger students. They also fit in beautifully … Read more
As part of our year-long MYSTERIES unit in 4th-grade GT, we studied various sciences that solve mysteries and one was archaeology. The book Hands-On Archaeology was very helpful, but way too comprehensive for the time we had to devote to this mini-unit, so we focused on big ideas, the language of the discipline, and methods … Read more
If you’re looking for some new ways to showcase your students’ learning, whether on a bulletin board in the hallway, on a display out in the community, through a digital platform, or in a major showcase event, here are some ideas to consider. Posting student work for an audience beyond your classroom encourages students to … Read more
I usually stick to writing about lessons and curriculum. But after the 2020-2021 school year, I felt teachers might appreciate some extra attention and guidance concerning how to recharge after the most grueling year ever! The habits described here have helped me, and so I share them with you. This book caught my eye one … Read more
