The spread of one-to-one devices in schools has meant that some people believe we’ve waived a magic wand and solved the differentiation problem. It’s easy! Simply plug the kid in and let the computer program pace and level their learning. Mischief managed! This is wrong thinking, and here’s why.
As a teacher, one of the most important skills my students need to develop to have healthy relationships with their peers is to learn how to offer an apology. A mumbled, “Sorry” with the head down and the toe of the shoe scuffing the floor is not what I
Sheridan Speaks This interview with a gifted kid is a series within a series. In it we meet the middle of three generations of a gifted family. In this installment, Sheridan, a young professional with a gifted daughter and gifted mother, shares his thoughts with me (and you). When did
I’m not just saying this because I love Lisa Conrad, although I do. I think #gtchat is a fantastic resource for both parents and teachers of the gifted, and it’s time I gave it a little love. It began as solely a Twitter chat that happened once a week (with
I wrote about creating a tiered lesson plan, and here I’m sharing a template teachers can use themselves. I created this template for myself because none of the ones I found met my needs. Using the Tiered Lesson Plan Template When I’m creating a tiered lesson plan, I begin by
Have I got a mega list of teacher resources and ideas for you today, my friends. On July 16th, 2019, I was in Houston (Katy, to be precise) facilitating a GT professional development for the Houston GT Co-op. There were 300 awesome teachers there. I asked them all to
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a book I’d had recommended to me frequently, and as part of my 101 Goals in 1001 Days, I was plowing through some business books I’ve in my TBR (to be read) pile. The basic premise of Atomic Habits The fundamental idea of the
Look, I get it. We want kids to read. We want to avoid the dreaded “summer slide.” We want kids prepared for the work they’re going to have. But Friends, there’s a better way than packets and assigned tasks that go undone, leading students to start a new year behind
It’s summer vacation where I live right now (shout out to my Southern Hemisphere peeps in the middle of winter), but if you peek over the shoulder of tens of thousands of students theoretically on vacation right now, you’d never know it. All over, instead of being outside climbing
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James Well, Henry clearly did not live in North Texas where I do, but summer is magical, even in when it’s hot. There are some things kids should do to
When a student is struggling in school, a family is struggling in school. I once heard Dr. Phil say, “When you’re a parent, you’re only as happy as your saddest child.” #truth I frequently hear stories of school struggle from readers. Sometimes the stories just break my heart. Sometimes they
In speaking of the efforts of Britain’s Royal Air Force, who were then tirelessly fighting the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill said, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” School isn’t a war, but it sure feels
