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Are they having "fun"?

by Facilitator

May 30, 2011

I would agree with both teachers who posted earlier about the importance of students enjoying themselves and feeling fulfilled. It takes a talented teacher to integrate gifts and talents in ways that enrich students meaningfully and with great reward. I believe that the dedicated teachers on this discussion board do that.

However, there a...See More

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My thoughts When I became a gifted teacher at my schools, the initial transition was tough b/c the previous teacher focused on the fun but not necessarily the challenge.

Over the years, I have come up with a way to help the students understand what we are trying to achieve. Fun is a side-effect. I explain to them that while we certainly will strive t...See More

Jun 11, 2011

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Bill T NC science/social studies I've worked with gifted and advanced learners for some years now.

6th grade is challenge enough, as it is the beginning of "secondary" education in my school district, and is particularly so for the advanced student.

Many of these students come to us having never really been challenged in elementary school as our district is ver...See MoreI've worked with gifted and advanced learners for some years now.

6th grade is challenge enough, as it is the beginning of "secondary" education in my school district, and is particularly so for the advanced student.

Many of these students come to us having never really been challenged in elementary school as our district is very "inclusion" driven and so elementary classes are very heterogenous. True, there are gifted "pull out" programs, and the teachers in these programs do the best they can, but it isn't the same as having the students in a "gifted" class, where they can be challenged all day instead for an hour or two. Add to this that some regular ed teacher are somewhat territorial and some even resent the "interference" of that gifted ed specialist and...well...one can see that possible complications involved.

So when I up the stakes, making these students work for their grades, making them think, insisting they use their innate abilities, two things happen...and neither is particularly good:

First, the students who are not really gifted at all but in the program solely because their parents are pushy and have political pull (it happens in our rural district) find they cannot keep pace and cannot do well in a higher level class. Our middle school did, this year, tend to put higher level students together, for the most part, a deviation from the usual thing.

second, for the first time in their academic life, gifted and above average students find they have to stretch and work to get the kinds of grades they did in elementary school. They've been accustomed to gliding through, getting top grades with little effort. Now, suddenly, things have changed.

I get a lot of heat, every year for it. This year I had a little group of parents, most of them with gifted children, who found every little thing they could to fault me (and made up some other ones) in order to discredit me, going over my head to our new principal to complain. I refused to back down. Most of the students finally rose to the challenge. Those that didn't really don't belong in a gifted ed program, in my opinion. They lack the drive and the work ethic to be successful.

Having said all of this, I seek to make my classroom experience "meaningful," not merely fun or academically demanding. Yes, many of the things we do are interesting and "fun," but they also involve some serious effort and critical thinking. Just this past week, the parents of one of my "highly" gifted students told me that this year was her son's most rewarding year, yet. Yes, he had to work hard, but he loved it and learned a lot. More than this (this is me speaking now), I think he developed somewhat of a passion for the disciplines I teach. To me, that is more important than anything else.

Jun 12, 2011

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I need to interview a NYC G&T teacher.

by Christine

Jun 17, 2011

Hi! I need a volunteer (NYC Elementary DOE G&T teacher) to answer a few questions about how your school determines eligibility for the G&T program and how curriculum is developed, who is involved, etc. If you are able to answer these questions, I would truly appreciate it!!!! Also, please let me know the name and location of your school and...See More

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Interview Questions

by Christine

Jun 17, 2011

These are the questions, if you are interested in giving me a hand! Thank you so much in advance!!!

Does the school identify gifted children? If yes - what procedures do they use? Is there a program for the gifted? Is there a philosophy that concerns educating the gifted child? Have any of your staff received training in gifted eduction? ...See More

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Summer Reading List for Gifted Elementary

by Nan

Jun 19, 2011

Can you recommend a summer reading list for gifted elementary students that I can pass onto my students' parents?

I have recommended the reading lists on the Hoagies' Gifted Reader web page. I've also recommended they read award winning novels (Caldecott, Newberry, etc.).

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kk Sorry the link didn't work--I'll try one more time.

[link removed]

On 6/21/11, kk wrote: > This site [link removed].).

Jun 21, 2011

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dfadsfsd On 6/21/11, kk wrote: > Sorry the link didn't work--I'll try one more time. > > [link removed].).

Jun 28, 2011

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G/T

by rim waterson

Jun 24, 2011

What do you think about a G/T state leader that comes to help a super revamp a G/T program, esp when their is a direct link to said parties.

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Debbie On 6/24/11, rim waterson wrote: > What do you think about a G/T state leader that comes to > help a super revamp a G/T program, esp when their is a > direct link to said parties. such as family, friends, romantics?

Jun 25, 2011

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itouch in the classroom

by Froggybee

Jul 11, 2011

Hi, I am looking for ways (apps) to incorporate itouch/iphone/ipad/smartphones into my middle school classes. I teach a variety of topics, incorporating different curriculum including science, math, and writing. Thanks for any help you can give! Katie

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Jamie in MO Hi, We used iPod Touches with iMovie this past spring to create original documentary films. Previously, we had used Flip cameras with MovieMaker.

iMovie was better software for movie filming and editing, but our district has PCs and no Macs. We had a special cable to view the movies from the iPod Touch to the screen, bypassing the computer...See More

Jul 11, 2011

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Check out Itunes University... On 7/11/11, Jamie in MO wrote: > Hi, > We used iPod Touches with iMovie this past spring to create > original documentary films. Previously, we had used Flip > cameras with MovieMaker. > > iMovie was better software for movie filming and editing, but > our district has PCs and no Macs. We had a special cable to > view the mo...See MoreOn 7/11/11, Jamie in MO wrote: > Hi, > We used iPod Touches with iMovie this past spring to create > original documentary films. Previously, we had used Flip > cameras with MovieMaker. > > iMovie was better software for movie filming and editing, but > our district has PCs and no Macs. We had a special cable to > view the movies from the iPod Touch to the screen, bypassing > the computer to share the films when we were finished. > Although the clips were backed up in the iTunes library on the > PC, we were careful to keep all the same clips on the same > devices, and each small group used the same iTouch each time. > If we had had even one Mac laptop, it would probably have been > easier to manage in terms of having usable back-up files. > > We used a couple of free apps to add photo effects. > > On 7/11/11, Froggybee wrote: >> Hi, >> I am looking for ways (apps) to incorporate >> itouch/iphone/ipad/smartphones into my middle school >> classes. I teach a variety of topics, incorporating >> different curriculum including science, math, and writing. >> Thanks for any help you can give! >> Katie

Check out I-Tunes University on I-Tunes... They have free resources for teachers to view and use in the classroom. Also, I- Tunes often has free children's book selections to download... Like I downloaded a free copy of Nelson Mandela reading his favorite African Folktale... I didn't get the whole book, but the selections are very good and free!

Also, Teacher Tube has some videos I download for classroom use.

I also use my I-Phone timer, music for transitions to clean up or finish up an activity... I play instrumental music to help students write... For reading, I play instrumental music from various movie soundtracks to show how music plays a role in establishing a setting.... Lyrics as poetry... Songs to help remember key concepts like "The Water Cycle", etc.

I love my voice recorder application.... I use it for my reluctant writers.... I ask them to tell me about their story and they really can put a lot of detail into their descriptions, but when it comes to writing, they say they don't have anything to write about or can't. Then I play back their recording and their faces light up, like, "Wow! That's a great idea! And it's mine! I can write a good story!" They develop much more confidence in their ideas.

For my struggling readers, I record their first attempt at reading a selection, then, after about 10 minutes of re-reading the same selection, I have them record their latest attempt. Then I replay the first selection, then the first, they are amazed at how practicing reading can dramatically improve their fluency.

There are even key apps you can get like Teacher's Pick (electronic popsicle sticks) to help out in the classroom.

Hope you have as much phone using your I-Touch as I have using my I-Phone!

Jul 17, 2011

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Please help!

by abateacher

Jul 13, 2011

Hi, I am currently taking a class on co-teaching and collaboration. For this class, I need to conduct a quick survey (9 questions) on co-teaching and would appreciate your help. It's completely anonymous. Thanks!!! [link removed]

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need help using Promethean Board

by deanie

Jul 18, 2011

Would love to know how other gifted teachers are using a Promethean Board/smartboard in the classroom.

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Gifted wiki is up at giftedwiki.org

by Gifted Wiki Admin

Jul 19, 2011

Hi. Please check out our recently created wiki when you get a chance. You can add content or make suggestions; all are welcome. Thanks.

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Mock trial course

by Froggybee

Jul 27, 2011

Hi, I am teaching a mock trial course to a group of gifted 8th graders this year and would like to incorporate a novel with the class. I was planning on having them read To Kill a Mockingbird, but as I read it this summer, it's not quite what I was looking for. Does anyone have any ideas of appropriate, high level trial novels for this age group? T...See More

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Ginny We are also giving our fifth graders fairy tales. They are looking at both the original story and a flipped version (e.g., "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs") where the story is told from the point of view of the antagonist. There are lots of mock trial resources online (check YouTube) about Wile E. Coyote vs. Acme corporation. Since you hav...See More

Nov 1, 2011

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M The Bar Association has some resources. Older students I have taught did trials based on historical events. Prufrock has some really good resources.

Nov 9, 2011

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