My Absence From Blogging

In the past when I would have a long period of time between blogs, I would always say that life just got in the way. Usually this just meant that I didn't take the time to do any blogging. However, this absence has been different. Oh...life or rather death did get in the way. You see, my sweet husband lost his battle with cancer in July. Let me tell you, even though you know its coming....it isn't any easier. You think you are prepared....but you aren't! The past 6 weeks have been extremely tough and I know this process they call grief isn't done.

This post is a tribute to my husband of almost 22 years. We had some good times, we had some not so good times....but we had more times that were absolutely AWESOME!!! I am so happy that we met and fell in love! He was and is the light of my life! My soul mate and I miss him terribly!!!

 

This photo was taken in September 2012 on Chesapeake Bay while he was visiting our daughter. We were a year into the cancer treatments at this time....if you didn't know he was sick....you couldn't look at him and tell.

I love you Sweetie....all the days of my life!!!

Dee

Showing Off My Stuff....well the beginnings of it...anyway!!

Truthfully, I was having a hard time getting going this summer, which is unusual for me. So, I am really late getting started....especially since we head back to school on July 31. Yeah....that soon! I know some of you just got out for summer.

But....now that I've gotten into the swing of things.....Christina, over at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge is having a SHOW OFF YOUR PILES Linky Party and I am joining in on it.

Keep in mind....that I just got my "school" on yesterday....so my "stuff" is in short supply right now....at least what I have physically in my hand.

I made a short trip to ....Dollar Tree today....because I wanted some baskets for my new color scheme to go in my library. I got 4 of the 5 colors that I wanted....that isn't too bad....is it? Here is my color scheme....short one color....the orange.

I know....I know....this isn't nearly enough baskets for the book in the library....but thanks to another friend of ours out here in bloggy land...Sara over at Smiling in Second Grade....I will be taking a trip about 45 minutes away to visit.....you got ....the Big Lots store. Maybe they will have some orange baskets, too!!

 BTW....I also made a stop at the Wal Mart here and picked up these little journals for my student's shared journaling. Now I just have to decide (1) what the journaling topics will be for these books, and (2) how they will get decorated....you know they will be decorated in some fashion.The orange journal will give you an idea of the color orange I want for my color.

Now, I'm thinking I want orange and white chevron curtains for my two windows...but I haven't totally decided on that aspect yet. What do you think???

 

I did purchase one other item today while I was on my shopping spree and I will tell you that it has something to with Tara over at Fourth Grade Frolics and her Monday Made It posts. That is ALL you are getting out of me on this one until Monday. Here is the item.

 

 Can you guess what I might be using them for????

 Dee

My "To Do" List That Needs to be Finished Before July 30

I have been procrastinating doing all the things that need to be done before going back to school. So....I have decided to link up with Lorraine over at Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies for her To Do List Before School linky.

I do have a disclaimer to add before listing my "To Do" List....and that is......this list is only for the items that I need to have done for school. There truly is a larger list for home and then there is my personal list as well. Oh Well....there just isn't enough hours in the day or days in the week to get everything done. Thank goodness for "To Do" lists and Lorraine's Linky party.

So.....here is my list: (Well...actually...it isn't the whole list but what I deem most important right now)

1. Make a Back to School To Do List.  (OK...I really felt the need to have something to mark off)
2. Complete Donors Choose grant for library books.
3. Create PowerPoint and brochure handout for teacher professional development on gifted/talented.
4. Plan Curriculum map and begin lesson plans for units.
5. Make a class schedule.
6. Print and assemble my Teacher's Notebook (I created my own...you can find it in my TpT store)
7. Purchase library baskets in class colors. (as soon as I figure out ...which colors)
8. Make T-shirt pillows for library.
9. Plan room arrangement
10. Create a Reader Biography packet
11. Decide how Reading will be incorporated into my classroom (since I teach Gifted/Talented students.. we don't teach reading, per se...but I have a passion for reading and so it is highly stressed in my classroom.) We did Reading Olympics last year...so I'm thinking....100 Book club or something. Any help with ideas for this would be greatly appreciated.

These are what I consider the most important on my list that is 40+...so I will not bore you with the rest.

Seriously....if you have any ideas for how I can incorporate Reading this next school year....please comment and let me know!!

OK...now that you have seen my list...why not hop on over to Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies and link up with your own list.

Dee

Understanding Gifted/Talented Children Series - Pt III - Social/Emotional Issues

First of all, let's get one thing straight. The needs of a gifted child is the same as those of other children. They go through the same developmental stages, just usually at an earlier age.

There are some unique social and emotional issues that gifted children face. It is important to recognize these issues and help our children deal with any problems they may face as a result of their giftedness.

Generally, gifted children seem to be better adjusted than most children their age, are very independent, and usually know exactly what they want.

However, gifted children are usually very aware of their differences as related to their age-mates, and for some finding real friends can sometimes be a difficult and disappointing task because of the differences.

Gifted children are sometimes introverted and like to spend time alone, but at the same time they are eager to have contact with friends their own age. Becoming active in social interests such as sports, music, art lessons, or some other interest activity outside of school will help the gifted child develop relationships with other children who share their interests and talents.

It is not uncommon for gifted students to relate their self-worth to their success in school. Because of their tendency toward perfectionism, this can result in a feeling of low self-worth. If this should happen, we need to help them set reasonable goals for themselves and create opportunities for them to feel more positive about themselves and their talents.

Children often experience and internal "tug-of-war" between themselves and being what they think everyone wants them to be.

To help your gifted child be sure to:

• nurture and encourage your child's unique talents
• help your child set reasonable goals
• encourage friendships with other children who have common interests and abilities
• accept your child as an individual and openly express that acceptance
• be flexible without being too permissive
• if you notice problems....communicate them with the school/teacher and let's solve the problem together!

You can access the previous posts in this series below:


Understanding Gifted/Talented Children series - Part I - Characteristics of Gifted Children

 Understanding Gifted/Talented Children series - Part II - Encouraging Creativity


Dee

Monday Made It - sort of...and the Winners from Last Week

OK...here is the problem. My dear, sweet hubby hasn't been feeling well the past week so I didn't get my Monday Made It finished. However, I am linking up with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics because I also has a giveaway going in conjunction with my Monday Made It post from last week.

So...after you check out this post...hop on over to Fourth Grade Frolics and check out all the Monday Made It posts that have linked up with Tara.

OK...I am working on something...but it isn't even close enough to being finished for me to give you a sneak peak. But...I will tell you that it is a companion piece to the item I showcased last week. That is right...I am working on the Sub Binder Organizational pack and really hope to have it finished by next Monday along with another project that is floating around in my head.

OK...now let's get on with the winners of the Teacher Binder Organizational pack from last week. I promised to give away 2 of the packs.....and the winners are....................

Gina

&

Cheri

Ladies....be on the lookout....this will be showing up in your email very soon. I hope you enjoy the pack and it helps you stay organized throughout the next school year!

Thanks to everyone that commented and played my little game to try to win the pack.

Dee

  

Understanding Gifted/Talented Children Series - Pt II - Encouraging Creativity

It is time for my second post in the Understanding Gifted/Talented Children series. Today will be all about encouraging creativity in our children. While I am focusing on the Gifted/Talented children, of course, this really goes for all of the children in our lives.

A lot of this post will be focusing more on ways parents can help to encourage their children's creativity. However, much of the information overlaps and is also pertinent to the classroom teacher as well.

Creativity is defined as "the ability to make something new" - this is a characteristic that is often found in the gifted child. As parents, we often see these characteristics long before our children enter school. Some children may exhibit some behaviors at a very early age that indicate they are a highly creative child. The following list is by no means a complete list but rather a sample of behaviors parents might observe.

• adventurous
• attracted to the unknown
• curious
• spontaneous
• open to new ideas
• attention to detail
• rich fantasies/good imagination/daydreams
• loves storytelling

What can a parent or teacher do to encourage and help further develop creativity in a child? There are many things that can be done. Check out this list. Again, this list is not complete, but it is a good start!

• value and encourage expressions of creativity
• stress openness
• share your enthusiasm for life
• be playful and imaginative with the child
• allow relaxation time (Don't have every minute of everyday scheduled with activities.)
• encourage your child's interests
• have a sense of humor
• respect your child's ideas and interests
• have some "family fun"
• put emphasis on achievement, not grades (I know we have to have the grades..don't emphasize all the time.)

Specific Ideas for Encouraging Creativity

All of the following ideas are great for parents to use in the home and some of these carry over to inside the classroom. So teachers, you aren't being "let off the hook" so to speak!

• give your child a place at home where they can have works "in progress"
• provide materials for making things (this can be as simple as tape, scissors, aluminum foil, empty boxes, recyclable materials, etc.)
• provide opportunities for lessons in music, art, drama, dance, etc. - BUT - make sure this is something that your child WANTS to pursue - not you
• take trips to museums, concerts, shows - arrange for your child to meet the artist/performer
• display your child's work proudly
• look for after-school and summer programs
• model and teach that hard work, practice, and perseverance are all part of being creatively successful - BUT please be careful NOT to pressure
• model your problem-solving (think aloud)
• praise your child's creativeness in a genuine manner
• allow your child to have "quiet time" for when he/she needs time to think, write, read, draw, practice, etc.

Again - I know some of these suggestions seem more geared toward parents. But, TEACHERS - you can certainly turn some of these suggestions around and make them work inside the classroom setting as well. Lets be sure to encourage the creativity of our children.

If you would like more information on encouraging creativity:  Growing Up Creative: Nurturing a Lifetime of Creativity by Teresa Amabile.  

You can find the first post in this series located HERE.

Please share your ideas and suggestions about how to encourage creativity in children in the comments section. I am always looking for new ways to help my students.

Dee

Monday Made It and a Giveaway!

Woo Hoo!! I am so excited to be linking up with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It this week.

It seems like summer just began and it will soon be over for me...at least the being off work. The heat won't be going anywhere for quite some time.

I have been working on a project for a while now and thought I would use it as my Monday Made It since I just finished it this past weekend.

I am a HUGE organization NUT! No Seriously....I go NUTS if things aren't organized. So...I decided that I needed to create an Ultimate Teacher Binder pack that will serve my purpose....and maybe help someone else as well.  Now...I admit that I purchased one last year and tried to use it. However, it just didn't work for my purposes. That is how this creation got started.

Take a look at the photos. Everything in the pack is not shown in the previews.

 

 

I am so excited about this new organizational pack, I have decided to give away TWO of them. All you have to do is just comment on this blog post (be sure to include your email so I will have a contact for you.). This giveaway will run until June 23. On Monday, June 24, I will post the winners of the organizational pack with my next week, Monday Made It.

Good Luck!!

Dee

Typical Characteristics of Gifted Children

As a teacher of Gifted/Talented students, I get questions pertaining to giftedness often. One of the questions I hear most often, from parents and other teachers is, how do I know my child/student is gifted?

Today's post will begin a new series on Gifted/Talented children. The purpose of these posts is to help parents and teachers of gifted/talented children assist these children in reaching their fullest potential.

Understand, there is no one test that can determine the giftedness of an individual. As educators, we use a multitude of information to determine a child's giftedness.

Characteristics of Gifted Children

Keep in mind, you most likely will not see all of these characteristics in any child.  These are the typical characteristics that may be seen:

• high level of language/verbal development
• high level of curiosity
• very sensitive
• creative
• often intensely motivated/persistent/ goal-oriented
• many times will resist direction or interruption
• often critical toward others
• dislikes routine and drill work
• prefers individualized work/needs freedom of movement and action
• has difficulty with criticism and is vulnerable to peer rejection
• can see diverse and unusual relationships
• unrealistic self-expectations/ often a perfectionist
• able to generate original and ideas and solutions
• has a keen sense of humor
• displays an increase sense of justice
• shows leadership ability
• has inconsistencies between intellectual maturity and social, emotional, and physical development
• sometimes may show poor test performance and achievement in basic skills areas
• daily work may frequently be incomplete or poorly done
• may have low self-esteem
• inability to focus attention and concentrate efforts on tasks
• difficulty making and keeping friends

Some of these characteristics seem to contradict one another, however, these are typical behaviors of gifted children. Your child or student may exhibit some but not all of these characteristics at one time or another.

Do you have a child or student that exhibits some of these characteristics?

Check back for the next installment in this gifted information series. I will be talking next on Encouraging Creativity.

Dee

Summer is Here!! Now the work begins!

Hi All!! I know I haven't been here as much as I should. But hopefully that is changing. Summer officially started for me on May 28th...but due to all the goings on...daughters wedding and other things...I am claiming today as my official beginning of summer!

I am currently working on a new item item that is turning out to be HUGE for my TpT store. I am really into organization. It just makes my life easier and last school year, I put together a binder to try and keep myself organized. It worked pretty well. But after having used it, I decided it needed some tweeking. So that is what I'm doing now...that and making it all beautiful! Once it is finished I will do a reveal post.

I have a lot of plans for new product that will be going into my store in the next few weeks. So...be on the lookout!

Dee

Aboriginal Art by My Gifted Students

As you know from previous posts, we have been studying all about Australia. Well, my students think they must have art projects for everything...actually I think they may have gotten that idea from me since I totally love ART!! Anyway, we have been planning our paintings and this past week we got around to actually painting. The photos are of my 4th and 5th grades class...but in the background of some of the photos, you can see some of the 3rd grade paintings as well.

Just like with the Aboriginal paintings of Australia, each of these paintings has a story behind it. I will not be posting the stories...I do not want to type that much!! :)

Here they are:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so proud of all my students. They have worked so hard...but at the same time had tons of fun! I have really enjoyed all the stories that go along with each of these paintings.

Now....as an added bonus, my principal has agreed to allow us to have an art show right after MCT2 state testing. We are going to invite parents and the community so everyone can see exactly what these students have been working on the past few weeks.

OK...guess I will leave this for now....Until Next Time.....

 Dee

What Have We been Doing?

I know I haven't posted in a while. This time of year is so very busy for me. First of all, I want to show off the items that I recently received from my DonorsChoose projects...yes I said projects....there were two of them.

I got my kiddos a very nice Kindle Fire HD hoping it would be a huge motivator to read more. Guess what....it is working! They are all so motivated to read....as a matter of fact...they beg to go to the library area and read!! Yahoo!!!!

I also got us quite a bit of paint and stretched canvasses for our Aboriginal art project that we will be doing within the next two weeks.

Now....take a look at my sweet kiddos working on their rock paintings. They were so engrossed in this activity and their rock paintings turned out so good.

Also, I want to show you how a couple of my students used their own ideas to make a 3D picture of The Great Barrier Reef.

 

It never occurred to me to use modeling clay to make their paintings 3D...but these little geniuses thought of it and it turned out so good!

 Dee

Back to it after Spring Break!!!

We had our spring break last week (March 11-15) and it just wasn't long enough. Don't get me wrong. I love all of my kiddos. However, sometimes it is nice to be able to just relax and not constantly be running at top speed all day long every day. It was nice here most of the week and I really enjoyed working in my yard and sitting on the deck.

The good news is that we are on the downhill slide for the school year now. Two and one half months and the 2012-2013 school year will be in our rear view mirrors. I am always so ready for the school year to end about this time of the year....but come July....I'm ready to start back and get into the swing of things again....and we don't begin school until August...so I guess I get ready a little early!!

Do you find that this time of year you are counting down the days until the end of the year? Or am I the only one that does this? Do you also seem to "chomp at the bit" to get back to the school...even a little before school is ready to begin?

I would love to hear from all of you about your thoughts!!

 Dee

Let's Get Acquainted

I am joining up with Mrs. Reed over at Flying into First Grade for her first ever linky party.....the topic this go round is.....Let's Get Acquainted!

Sharing 3 things about yourself that you like or like to do using your initials.

OK...so my initials are.....DAB....so here are the three things I like using my initials.

D - is for DOUGHNUTS more specifically....Shipley's Chocolate filled doughnuts. However, even though I LOVE these things...they do not fit in with my new healthy way of eating. It doesn't stop me from loving them though!!!

A - is for apples and asparagus.....I couldn't choose!! I really do LOVE eating these two things....together separate...it doesn't matter!! Good thing they are healthy foods!!!

Finally... the B - is for Bubbles!!! They are just so much fun!!!

Come on over to Mrs. Reed's Flying into First Grade and join up with us for this linky party!! I just love getting to know people!! I can't wait to get to know more about you!!


 Dee

Inspirational Monday

I am once again hooking up with Dana at Fun in First Grade for her Inspiration Monday. Some Mondays, I need a little more inspiration than others.

I am really happy that we are officially in full spring break mode. I am in Lauderdale, MS at my son and daughter-in-laws house getting some much needed grandbaby time....and I am soooo enjoying it! OK..they aren't really babies...ages 10, 6, and 4.

Back to Inspiration Monday.....here are my inspirations for today! I hope they give you inspiration and help you as much as they help me.

Everyone I know can use some inspiration from time to time!! I hope this Inspiration Monday helps you in some way!!

Come on over to Fun in First Grade and join us in Inspirational Monday.

 Dee

Five for Friday

I have been seeing this Five for Friday linky going on for a few weeks now and decided that this would be the Friday that I link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and join in on the party.

Here goes my Five for Friday:

 1. We have been doing our district benchmark testing all week..well Tuesday through Thursday. It seems that all the teachers and kiddos were wound tight this week. I guess that is what benchmark testing does for everyone. Just wait until the end of this month when we do our comprehensive test...talk about wound tight!!! Anyway...because of this testing, I only got to pull my gifted students on Monday and Friday. Boy...did I miss them!!

2. So....my Monday and Friday groups are the only kiddos that I had in my classroom this week (I had to administer tests to one of the 4th grade classes along with the 5th grade science test). FUN!!! YeaH!!!! Annyhow....we have started a unit on Australia and I decided they would do some aboriginal art painting...........on rocks!! Do you know how difficult it is to find a decent sized rock in the Mississippi Delta? NOT EASY!!!!! However there were a few found and this activity was a huge success. Just take a look at the photos. (These are from my Monday group's rock paintings...they are 6th grade).

Didn't they do a fabulous job on this activity? These kiddos really seemed to get into it!!

3.  I tutor several 3rd grade students in Reading after school two days per week. I still get so excited when a student shows improvement in their reading. This little sweetie started with me reading on a 1.9 grade reading level. I haven't tested her to see where she stands at this particular moment. But she began with me not being able to read a lot of the sight words. We are now using phrase cards..(yes...the ones that I have in my TpT store) and when we started using them she was only getting about 18-20 phrases in a minute. This week my little sweetie has managed to consistently swing 40 phrases per minute!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

OK...I took this photo on Tuesday after the tutoring session...and forgot to take another one after Thursday's session...but she hit that 40 mark on Thursday as well!! I am so proud of her!! She has really been working hard!!

4.  At 3:30 today....I will officially begin my spring break....what am I doing during my spring break you ask? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! Yeah right! I am sure I will be cleaning and decluttering. That seems to be what I do every time I have a little time off from school. But...that is alright with me. I really am not going anywhere.

5. I am putting this one as my #5...because I will enjoy a fabulous dinner with my sweet hubbles tonight to celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary. NO...today is not the actual date...that would be next week on the 14th....However, the hubbles will getting chemo on that day and we have opted to celebrate tonight!

What is your Five for Friday??? Come on over to Doodle Bugs Teaching and link up with yours!!!!

Dee

Using Common Core State Standards with Gifted and Advanced Learners - Part II

Using the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts with Gifted and Advanced Learners by Joyce L. VanTassel-Baska
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The main goal of this book as stated in the first lines of the introduction is to provide classroom teachers and administrators with some examples and strategies to implement the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts for advanced learners at all stages of development in K-12 schools.

The Common Core State Standards illustrate the curriculum emphases that are needed for students to develop the skills and concepts required for the 21st Century. There are currently 45 states that have adopted the CCSS and this gave cause for gifted education as a field to reflect on supporting gifted and advanced learners appropriately in all of the content areas. Some people feel that gifted education is not needed now because these new standards are already at such a high level. However, although these standards are strong, they will not be sufficient to accommodate the needs of many gifted learners. There will be students that have completed all of the CCSS standards prior to reaching the end of high and this will require educators to provide advanced content for them.

The 21st Century skills that receive major emphasis in this book are: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Problem Solving, Technology literacy, Information media literacy, and Cross-Cultural skills.

Differentiation is the key to unlock the potential of the gifted and advanced learners within the CCSS. The book lays out four major strategies for accomplishing this. We must, (1) provide pathways to accelerate the CCSS for gifted learners;(2)provide examples of differentiated tasks to address specific standards; (3) create interdisciplinary products/units to increase the learning for gifted students and to efficiently address multiple standards at once; and (4) create different assessments to demonstrate authentic learning has taken place.

The booklet has provided us with quite a few different specific standards with examples of how to differentiate for gifted and advanced learners. In order to sufficiently address the curricular needs of gifted and advanced learners, teachers will need to differentiate curriculum by posing progressively more complex issues, using texts according to each student's reading level and interest, modification of mathematical processes according to what has previously been mastered, and the pace of instruction.

The contributors to this booklet also gave a chapter devoted to resources to use when implementing the CCSS with gifted and advanced learners.

This is a book that I purchased to help integrate the CCSS into my own classroom while continuing to challenge my gifted students at a level that will help them grow and be ready for college and the workplace.

I am looking forward to digging much deeper and finding out just how challenging these standards can be made for those students that are highly gifted or advanced.


Here is an example of one of the standards with differentiation for gifted learners. This is for:

Grade 3 CCSS RL.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.


Typical Learners: Students will ask and answer student-and teacher created questions regarding the plot of Patricia MacLachlan's Sarah, Plain and Tall, explicitly referring to the text to form the basis of their answers.


Advanced Learners: Advanced students will ask and answer student and teacher created questions regarding what the p lot of Patricia MacLachlan's Sarah, Plain and Tall says about courage and the life of women in the 19th century, using textual references. They will create a multimedia project that characterizes Sarah as a person of courage.


In my part I post, I stated that many times I feel that I haven't challenged my students as much as I should. After reading this book, I am certain that I have fallen far from the mark on most occasions. However, I will pick myself up and dust myself off and read and study more about CCSS to make sure that my future lessons/units are more in line with where they need to be to challenge my students adequately.


Looks like I know what I will be doing this summer.


If you have any comments, suggestions....please leave a comment. I need feedback on this. I need to know what others are doing....and is it working or not?


Toodles for now!!

 Dee

Inspiration Monday

Last week, Dana at Fun in First Grade started doing an Inspiration Monday. Many people need a little extra help on Monday and I am no different. So, I am linking up with her again this week. Be sure to jump over to Fun in First Grade and check out some of the other Inspirations that have linked up.

Here are some little quotes that inspire me. I hope you find one or more that inspire you!

Everyone could use a little Inspiration on Monday. So come on over and check out the Inspiration links and link up with your Inspiration Monday.

Toodles for now!!

 Dee

Using Common Core with Gifted and Advanced Learners - Part I

With all this CCSS flying around everywhere, where does this leave the gifted and talented education? That is a question that has been floating around in my head for a little while now. I went to all the seminars at my state gifted convention to see if I got any answers. All I got was that we have to take the Common Core and stretch it higher for our gifted students. No guidance as to how to do that. At this point, I have to admit that the education I received that has allowed me to teach the Gifted and Talented hasn't really helped. Everything I've learned to do for my students has been hard fought by reading, talking to others, and trial and error. Kind of like the same way I felt when I was a first year teacher in the regular education classroom. Am I the only one that felt that way? I doubt it!

This past week, I was fortunate enough to have a friend attend a leadership meeting and she brought back the names of some books thrown out at the meeting that were good for use with Common Core. One of the books, I had already decided to purchase. So, off to Amazon I went to purchase the book and there right below it is another book, "Using the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts with Gifted and Advanced Learners". I'm thinking....this is what I need. So...I purchased both books. The books arrived yesterday and of course, I read the one for gifted learners, first!!

These are the two books that I purchased:

I am a pretty fast reader, but I don't want to miss anything in these books that might be beneficial for my students. So I am reading and allowing that reading to absorb for further clarification. I really want to do what is right for my gifted and talented students. Even though, I've always felt that I pretty much "flying by the seat of my pants". Oh....I plan and plan quite thoroughly, but I always feel that it wasn't quite enough. I've even voiced these concerns to fellow teachers. They all tell me that is a sign of a good teacher....I hope they are right.

I know that the curriculum that we teach in gifted classes should be qualitatively different from the curriculum that is offered in the regular education classes. The curriculum should be based on the individual students needs in regards to their personal learning rate, depth of content, difficulty of products, and the complexity of their thinking processes. Rarely do I personally feel that I've hit the mark with all of these.

Check back on Tuesday for Part II. I am going to do a book review of sorts on the "Using the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts with Gifted and Advanced Learners". It will not be JUST a book review....I will also be adding some commentary on my thoughts about the book.

Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think about Common Core &/or Gifted education! I love getting and reading the comments.

Toodles for now!!!!

Dee