If you’ve never heard of KENNINGS, let me introduce you! A kenning is a literary device in which TWO WORDS are used to describe or name something. A compound word or pair of words is used as a poetic substitution for a noun. Here are some examples of KENNINGS: There is an interesting history behind … Read more
For even more inspiration and encouragement, read “this related post, Teachers With a Design Mindset, and join the SHARE and TELL conversations in our Facebook group! Thank you for all you do for students! January is an ideal time to get your kids excited about a meaningful project that contributes to the school or community, something they … Read more
A few years back, around this time of year, I saw the tweet below. I felt so validated because Lisa Van Gemert is an icon in gifted education, and I couldn’t agree more with her on this! “I’m concerned by the tweets and posts I’m seeing about how teachers are spending a couple of weeks … Read more
Tiffany O’Connell teaches elementary GT students in Hutto, Texas. She and I have corresponded for years, and last December, I finally met Tiffany and her wonderful team at the TAGT Conference. I’ve been so impressed by her dedication to students and with the questions and feedback she sends my way. In her last email to … Read more
In her years as a teacher in Houston, Texas, Joellle Trayers has made valuable contributions to gifted education, most notably in her work with younger scholars (K-1). A few years ago, her blog, Not Just Child’s Play, caught the attention of Ian Byrd and Lisa Van Gemert, authors of The Gifted Guild’s Guide to Depth … Read more
I cannot wait to introduce this to you! If this combo puzzle is new to you, get ready! It is possibly my favorite variation of Sudoku, and I know kids will love it. Don’t let the look fool you. You and your students can totally solve these, and I can’t think of a better time … Read more
My puzzling adventure continues! I’m excited to introduce the Meta-Puzzle Mystery Hunt, a new kind of team challenge inspired by the MIT Mystery Hunt, the largest and most complex puzzle challenge in the world, attracting thousands of puzzle enthusiasts. My goal was to develop a puzzle “experience” for younger puzzlers that would incorporate some of … Read more
Kids love to put on shows, and the best productions allow all students to showcase their unique talents. These production ideas come together quickly! And they’re for any classroom, any time. They can be a fun way to end the year, engaging students while reinforcing creative writing and presentation skills! The special sauce is that … Read more
As part of our studies of STRUCTURES in my 2nd grade GT class, we learned about the largest living structure on Earth: the Great Barrier Reef. One of the students’ favorite projects was creating their own “coral reefs.” Students grew crystals in their own containers,, coloring them to look like the coral in the GBF. … Read more
My Texas friend and colleague, Stefanie Schropp, is a Gifted, Talented, and Enrichment Coordinator (PreK-8th) and she’s been a generous contributor to this blog. In this post, she shares a cross-curricular mini-unit that is perfect for October, and the culmination is a media project that your students will love. Her previous posts can be found … Read more
