Teaching Greek philosophers to 5th and 6th graders can feel like a challenge. How do you take the abstract ideas of Socrates, Plato, or Hypatia and make them meaningful for students who might still struggle to remember what they had for lunch? If you’ve ever seen eyes glaze over at
Why are introductions so important? We all know that introducing something new in the classroom – whether it’s a routine, a concept, or a way of thinking – can make or break how well it works. It’s just like being invited to a party. The more attention someone paid to
Avoiding “Just Another Workshop-itis” After professional development on the Depth and Complexity Framework, it’s common for teachers to feel inspired and eager to apply their new learning. But as the weeks roll on and the daily pressures of school build, enthusiasm can wane, competing priorities arise, and the Depth and
Why Gifted Students Have Unique Needs Let’s start this discussion with why gifted kids often have a different social and emotional journey compared to their classmates. It’s not just about being smart – there’s a whole lot more going on! It’s not just better thinking – it’s different thinking, and
Introduction to Overcoming Perfectionism When I was learning to quilt, the only consistent about my stitching were the mistakes. A friend reassured me that the famous and fabulous Amish quilters always placed a deliberate mistake in their quilts in recognition that only God is perfect. After that, whenever I made a
If you teach littles and have wondered what Depth and Complexity looks like with Kindergarten, First, or Second Grades, I’ve got a list of question stems to get you started. Depth and Complexity is about what students are thinking, not what they’re doing, so focusing on questions is the best
Recently, a teacher emailed me if the nine Marzano instructional strategies integrate with the Depth and Complexity framework. As co-author of the book on Depth and Complexity, she assumed I would know. The short answer is yes, they do. Before I explain exactly how they connect and how teachers can
I’ve got fifteen fabulous picture books about families to share with you. As the author of the Children’s Guide to the National Book Festival for several years, I have spent countless hours reading the best books for children available. I love helping families and teachers connect with great books. This
The Depth and Complexity icons are a set of eleven visual prompts corresponding the the eleven fundamental thinking prompts of the Depth & Complexity framework. The icons were designed by Sheila Madsen to accompany the Depth and Complexity thinking prompts created by Dr. Sandra Kaplan and Bette Gould in the
Haiku in the Classroom How can you use haiku do in your classroom? A quick list includes: It’s no secret that I love poetry. I love teaching it, reading it, and even writing it. In second grade, my classmates accused me of cheating when I wrote my first haiku. Their
Recently, I was a guest on the They’ll be Fine podcast, a fabulous podcast for those interested in gifted education done by the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented. The super cool and sparkly Stephanie Higgs, better known on the ‘Gram as her alter ego, Little Miss Gifted,
In this article: Find out how to optimize the back-to-school time for your class to get your year off to an amazing start. Get practical tips and a free download! Back-to-School time is a time of great opportunity, and that means it’s a vulnerable time. A lot is riding on
