I’ve always made it a point to find practical ways to help my gifted students develop creativity. It’s not enough to say “Oh, you’re really creative,” or to just settle for believing that your current curriculum is sufficient in...
When discussing perspective, I like to use the old tale about the blind men and the elephant. Essentially, the blind men learn that an elephant has been brought to the village. The men have no concept of an elephant but want to touch it. As each...
Artist Salvador Dali conceived a method for waking himself up right at the moment he fell asleep. Composer Igor Stravinsky stood on his head in the mornings while Beethoven favored long walks. Society’s highly creative thinkers have unique and...
If you really want to challenge your gifted kids, have them come up with a truly original idea or new perspective. A solution, a new invention, a new argument. This is indeed a challenge.
That is the whole premise behind the popular TED Talks...
Want a full-proof lesson for gifted students?
Read on.
I learned this lesson from a colleague, and it works really well with a variety of subjects. First, I need to refer to Bloom’s taxonomy (revised version), which features six levels of thinking...
I work with one elementary student, who performs high or higher than most of my gifted students. During English/language arts, she masters research, reads grade levels above her peers, and exhibits creativity, innovation, and initiative. And yes,...
I finally found the tool I have been looking for when it comes to having students create Total Talent Portfolios.
Total Talent Portfolios, or TTPs, are based on the work of Dr. Joseph Renzulli at the University of Connecticut and involve...
As a classroom teacher, you probably know the feeling. You have that student in class that finishes his or her work early, asks lots of questions, gets bored easily and maybe even points out mistakes that others make, including yourself. As you...
Throughout the years, warriors of various cultures considered the sword merely an extension of the arm.
In other words, the two blended together, enhanced each other.
I think the same advice holds true for curriculum and technology. Rather than...
Have you ever sat through a professional development training, in which you were familiar with all the information being presented? Remember the intense feelings of boredom and/or frustration (come on, be honest here), the yearning to learn...