The key to excellent lesson plans is deceptively simple. It is a single question every teacher must ask when planning. The question is this: What will happen in the life of the learner as a result of this lesson? The role of objectives. Do you see that this is bigger
You should label kids as gifted if the label fits. This is a shockingly controversial statement, and I think it is because of three reasons: Bias against giftedness. The ambiguity of identification. Misunderstanding of or bias against the idea of “labels.” I don’t find these reasons compelling, and I will
Finding good books for middle school readers can be tricky (and if those readers are gifted, it’s doubly so). A parent recently asked me for suggestions, so I’ve curated this list. The list has two things: titles of books I recommend, and also places to find lists of good books
I love meeting people in real life who I know from this site at speaking events or conferences, yet I know that I will never have the opportunity to meet most of you in “real life.” I also have people I follow online who I feel are my “friends,” even
Ending the school year right is critical to enjoying your summer and getting next year off to a good start. Thinking about my own years of teaching, I know that the idea of “Well begun is half done” really means that beginning the next year starts much earlier than we
Reading Buddies can improve reading fluency, decrease anxiety in reluctant or stressed readers, and add a bit of cuddly fun to reading, making it even more pleasurable than it usually is! A Reading Buddy can be another student, or, as I’m going to talk about here, a stuffed animal or
Teachers can differentiate the classroom environment with magazines, and it’s very easy! If you’ve been put off of the idea of differentiation because it seems really hard and that it will take a long time, you can start here with this simple idea. This works great for homeschools, too! What
I understand that there is a large contingent of people who think that best practices for testing in schools involves no testing whatsoever. Testing is a reality, however, so I’m sharing some best practices for testing in schools with the disclaimer that I’m not a fan of over testing. Best
Gifted kids often finish first, even on high stakes tests, and that gets on people’s nerves, especially concerned teachers. I’m going to explore some of the reasons why gifted kids test quickly and why that is okay. (This applies to gifted adults as well, actually.) Test taking is complex, isn’t
I’m sharing seven things not to do while studying as a companion to my post on 6 Strategies for Effective Studying. The truth is that some things don’t work, even though they’re popular. Here are some tips for what NOT to do. Just a spoiler: you’re not going to like this
I’ve compiled this list of 6 strategies for effective studying just for you. You know who you are. You don’t like studying. In fact, when people suggest that you study, you’re not completely sure what they mean. Study? Isn’t that the room where Colonel Mustard was with the candlestick in Clue? As
How to prepare for a test is something that can challenge anyone at any time. I’m 49, and I’m still taking tests! In fact, I have to take a big test very soon, and I thought I’d share the strategies and plan I use for how to prepare for a
