Kids love to code! But they’re also fascinated by what goes on inside the computer- the circuitry and language that make transmission of so much information happen in the blink of an eye. Here’s an outline of how you might introduce the language of computers and some fun “crack the computer code” activities and other … Read more
Have you ever heard of a question trail or tried one with your students? It can be a high-interest activity and a great way to review content, vocabulary, or get students ready for a test. That’s because it’s really just a multiple-choice test with the questions posted around your classroom room at stations. Students move … 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
One of my 5th-grade GT students shared this challenging riddle with me years ago, and we then shared it with the class. It led to a very interesting discussion! If you’d like to try it out with students, here are some resources you can use. The video below (1) clearly presents the riddle, (2) prompts … Read more
I’ve recommended a number of math and logic puzzles and listed them by grade level on this site. I thought it might be helpful to share specifically about how I’ve used them in my classroom. These puzzles COMBINE math reasoning and critical thinking and even if they make students a bit uncomfortable at first, encouraging … Read more
Our brains love and seek out experiences that are new and different. Learning and retention are enhanced when content is presented in a unique way or is something not encountered before. It’s why we love a good plot twist, magic tricks, and surprise parties (well, some don’t love those!). Novelty is when you experience something … Read more
Pi Day (3/14) is one of many math holidays you can celebrate with students! If you’ve never observed it, this Pi Day website is a great place to start. You will find teacher resources, math help, merchandise, and even a countdown to Pi Day. A simple search online will result in dozens of additional ideas! … Read more
I had no idea it was a thing. In researching the topic of creative constraint, I was led to this Wikipedia article, and proceeded down a rabbit hole! Writing “with limitations” is ubiquitous. Six-word memoirs, seven-word summaries, haiku poetry, and 280-character tweets are all examples of constrained writing. I became interested in exploring more about … Read more
Time and date patterns have gained in popularity in recent years and seem to pop up in my social media feeds almost every month. Every year, for example, on February 22nd at 10:22 p.m.(and 22 seconds), the date and time can be written as 2-22 22:22:22. And in the year 2022, the pattern increased by … Read more
Few language exercises provide as much bang for the buck as analogy challenges do! Students learn to think critically and logically as they evaluate word meanings, connotations, characteristics, parts of speech, and many other possible relationships connecting words and ideas. With more advanced analogies, students engage in verbal reasoning that requires an extensive vocabulary and … Read more
