Re: Getting started? New to gifted
Posted by GT Teacher on 7/15/08
I wouldn't dwell on the definition of 'giftedness' with them -
beware what college professors who've never actually taught
children tell you.
I'd call my first unit 'Think Big' -and use it with all the
grades. I'd talk a bit about thinking what others have
already thought, thinking about what we're told to think and
thinking 'out of the box' and not worrying about right and
wrong answers. And then I'd ask - can we think big? What do
you think what the most important invention in all of human
history?" Of course remind them there is no one 'right
answer' to such a question - the thinking is the goal. Can we
think like that? (Gifted children most certainly can)
Some will quickly say 'television' because they like to watch
television. That leads to what does 'great' mean? Does it
helpful to humankind? (yes) What have been the things that
have helped humankind in a positive way? What has made our
lives better?
Guns? Have they made our lives better or worse - rich topic
for discussion. Antibiotics? The wheel? The calendar - the
ability to reckon time? Electricity? The Internet? etc. etc.
I ask my GT kids to think about it, talk it over with their
parents and decide upon one thing - though it's hard. And
then to be able to tell us why they believe that one thing is
the greatest invention.
From that, the other children can consider different points of
view and all of the children need to think through their position.
This unit works for me as a very good introduction to the kind
of thinking that we hope to foster in GT children.
> Hi there! My name is Victoria and I may be about to embark
> on my first gifted position. I currently teach fourth
> grade and I'm finishing up my graduate program this
> summer, so I will be certified by the end of August.
> Because school will start before I am certified,
> the "higher-ups" are still talking it out, but it's
> looking better and better that I will take over our gifted
> program.
>
> If I get hired for this position, I will have only 2 weeks
> before school starts to try to plan out units. So I'm
> trying to get a headstart, but I'm not quite sure where to
> begin.
>
> My position is with a low socio-economic school with a
> small population, so I will serve grades 2nd-5th at the
> elementary and grades 6-8 at the middle school.
> Thankfully, I have taught most of the older students, so
> it's semi-familiar territory there.
>
> Where should I begin? If I get the job, I will need to
> look through the previous teacher's records. A professor
> suggested starting with personal inventories and defining
> giftedness with the kids--work on a personal level, which
> should give me time to work on units.
>
> Any and all help will be greatly appreciated! I'm excited
> but feeling a little overwhelmed too!
>
> Thank you!
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Getting started? New to gifted, 7/14/08, by Victoria.
- Re: Getting started? New to gifted, 7/15/08, by GT Teacher.
- Re: Getting started? New to gifted, 7/17/08, by Raftery.
- Re: Prufrock Press Units--maybe for newbies?, 7/20/08, by Tricia.
- Re: Getting started? New to gifted, 7/25/08, by amy.
- Re: Getting started? New to gifted, 8/06/08, by Michelle Denly.
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