This virus simulation has been part of my 5th graders’ first-day experiences for years, long before the 2020 world pandemic. This post was written on February 4, 2020. This hands-on science and math lesson is an activity my fifth-grade GT students remember and one that seems to always be relevant. As I write this, the … Read more
I always say a little prayer before reading this story to my fourth and fifth-grade gifted students. It’s one that I’ve seen almost drive kids to tears. Fair warning! If you’re familiar with the Sideways Stories series, but unfamiliar with Sideways Arithmetic (affiliate links), you need to know that the latter goes beyond offbeat and … Read more
Because I love etymology, I’ve always introduced philosophy to my gifted students as a “love of wisdom” (Greek ~philos and sophos). We spent some time exploring words related to those roots. My students especially loved the origin of the word “sophomore!” (see also “A Greek Root is Worth 1,000 Words”) If you work with intellectually … Read more
Did you know that if you learn just 14 Greek and Latin roots, you can unlock the meanings of hundreds of words? Clearly, students of all ages benefit from vocabulary instruction that includes an introduction to Greek and Latin roots, and there are so many great resources and methods. I’ve tried different approaches over the … Read more
Of all the BIG IDEAS my students and I have had, there’s one that stands out as the craziest, most fulfilling, most educational, and the most fun! It was the creation of a three-room, hands-on mini-museum for our school, complete with scheduled tours and docents, and inspired by San Antonio’s Doseum. Students always seem to … Read more
