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

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

Project Based Learning

In my gifted/talented class, we have begun using project based learning. Let me back up a bit...we have mostly been doing units that had some project element to it....but I have been researching Project-Based Learning and decided that this was what my kiddos needed to be doing...at least a part of the day.

So....this week is the first lesson that have been delivered....yes...I know it has only been two days in this week yet....but because I serve a 6th grade class on Monday and 2nd through 6th grade on Tuesday that means I have actually delivered the beginning of both of the lessons that will be taught for my two Project-Based Learning units. My 4th through 6th grade are doing a unit on Heroes (classical & contemporary) and my 2nd and 3rd grade are doing a unit on how we communicate (this is a writing/art unit that requires them learn about vivid language(adjectives, similes, and metaphors). I must say today was an absolute blast. While I worked with the little ones....my older ones read a Greek myth and discussed the character traits of the characters that made them heroes. But that isn't all....I was worried this would be a little boring for them....they were so engaged....I was totally amazed!

So....I figure the rest of the week has to be good. I have only 2nd grade tomorrow....but there are 12 of them...so we will see how that goes. Then I have 3rd grade on Thursday. This one should be a piece of cake. Then Friday I will have 4th and 5th. This should prove to be another day filled with some awesome discussion about Greek myths.

I have to say....I am always amazed when my lessons go over so well....gifted/talented students can be some tough cookies sometimes.

What kind of day/week have you had? I would really like to know!

Dee

Monday Made It - Monthly Edition

OK...I know that Monday has passed....however, I was determined to go ahead and get my Monday Made Its posted and linked over to Tara at 4th Grade Frolics. I just love hopping around looking at all the goodies everyone has made for their classrooms.....don't you?

So snap some photos of your "Made Its" and link up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics. OK...so on to what I've made in the past month. I have to be honest here....I really think I made more things...but I didn't take my photos as I finished them and probably forget some...but oh well....here are the ones I remember. BTW....please forgive the crummy photos...My lights in my classroom are on the blink AGAIN!!!

The first item up for show is my Reading Olympics board...this is where some of  my students projects will be posted. I do have some that were too large for the board and they are also hanging around my room. I got the idea of this project from Stephanie at Teaching in Room 6. I changed up some of the activities that she had for the levels that she had provided and then created activities for the remaining Silver and Gold levels. My students just began doing this in September...so the board has a way to go before it is full. But, here it is......

 

The next item up for show is my calendar. I am so proud of this little critter....ok..it isn't really a critter...nor is it little. But, I am loving it and so are my kiddos!! You see for many years, I have only used a little perpetual calendar....no room for birthdays or anything. So we are just way too excited about this calendar! I purchased the labels from Bridget at Little Lovely Leaders. You can find the calendar set in her TpT store HERE.

 

 I got a wild hair this past month and decided my tables looked crappy and I wasn't going to put up with it anymore. I know you have all seen the "How to make chalkboard paint" floating around Pinterest. Well...there were so many of them....I don't really know who to give credit for this...so I am going to just say....I got the idea from Pinterest!

 

Now my tables don't look crappy any more!! I am so doing the happy dance....as are my kiddos...they are loving being able to write on the tables....and not getting in trouble for it!

This next item...I believe I got the idea from someone who in the past did a Monday Made It....I just can't remember who it was and I can't find my piece of paper that I wrote it on....Oh the horrors of getting old!! Anyway....I digress. You all know all the "READ" letters that are cutified (ok...I know this probably isn't a word...but it is now) up going all around Pinterest and blogs everywhere....well this is sort of that except the person I copied used Glitter foam.....and now so have I. I have 10 inch glitter foam letters that spell "READ" I am so pumped!!! Just take a look!!

YES....they are on top of one of my chalkboard tables at the present...because my short self can't reach where I want them. I will be getting the ladder from the custodian next week.

My last item....I basically only printed and laminated....but I still consider that making it....I had to cut them out and everything.....Right? I got these from Rachel Lynette....and they were FREE!! Now who doesn't like FREE?? You can get them in her TpT store HERE. 

 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my Monday Made It - monthly edition. Come on over to Tara's blog at 4th Grade Frolics and link up with your Monday Made It.

Dee

Blog Hopping Day Oh Yeah...and a Give Away!!

I have been so busy trying to get back into the swing of the new school year, I haven't made a post since August 20....that is crazy...but true!

So this morning, I decided it was "Blog Hopping Day" and I have been hopping around to many of my teacher friend blogs and oh what a terrific time I have had!

I have found so many new crafty items that I need to make for my classroom that surely I will have something to post tomorrow for Tara's "Monday Made It" at Fourth Grade Frolics. So be sure to check back tomorrow to see what I made.

I also would like to announce that I am in the process of writing units for Writer's Workshop for different grade levels that all are aligned to the common core. Within these units will also be anchor charts that can be printed and used along with the unit. Stay tuned....the first ones will be posted soon!

Oh Yeah!! Crystal over at Ms. Jones Junction is having a 100 Follower Giveaway and you don't want to be left out because there are some really AWESOME prizes. Hop on over there and get your entries in.

Okay...it is time for me to go back to my blog hopping. I am not quite finished!

See all of you tomorrow with my Monday Made It!

Happy Blogging!!!

Dee

Monday Made It # 3

Well.....the last few days have gone by in a blur for me. Teachers in our district went back to work on August 1 and I spent all day on August 1 in meetings. August 2-4, I spent many hours getting my room ready for students......and it is still not finished. While the students came to school today for the first day.....it isn't really a problem that my room wasn't really ready. Because I teach Gifted/Talented, the first two weeks of school are spent in the Central Office working on schedules, testing and other paper work. But....we have to hit the ground running after that two weeks....so I still have to put some hours in to have a ready-to-go classroom come August 20.

A few weeks ago.....to my great joy....I found quite a few teacher blogs. One of these teacher blogs...Fourth Grade Frolics....has had this little linky party going on the entire summer...which I wish I had known about. However...I have now found it....so for the third week in a row....I am linking up.

 

Because I spent so much time moving furniture and boxes...as well as emptying the boxes (we have to pack EVERYTHING)...I didn't make a lot this week....but here is what I made.

Now before I get started....I will tell you the door came from.....where????  Pinterest of course!! I just used Photoshop and made my little signs. However....I didn't pin the photo...so I don't really know who to give credit to...so if you know where I might have gotten this inspiration....please let me know...so I can credit them.

 

Now....I also created the 'WELCOME' sign using my Photoshop program, too!

My second thing that I made is my JOB CHART. Every year I have had to write the jobs on the board for this and I decided this year there would be a permanent chart for all the jobs. This is not totally finished....so when it is completely done....I will post a photo.

OK...folks...the weather is getting a little dicey here right now....so I will end this post. I will come back later and check out everyone else's posts that have linked up.

Until Next Time.....Happy Blogging!!

Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop

Janis over at Grade Three is the Place for Me!  is holding a newbie bloggers blog hop.  Since I am new to having an education blog...I thought I would join in on the fun. I hope that you will go and check out some of the other newbie bloggers!  If you are a newbie blogger, link up and tell everyone:

    1.  what state you are in

    2.  your current teaching position

    3.  your teaching experience

    4.  when you started blogging

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource

Here is my list:

    1.  I am in Mississippi..where I have lived most of my life.

    2.  I currently teach 2nd - 6th Gifted/Talented

    3.  I am beginning my 8th year of teaching this school term. I taught 3rd grade for 3 

         years and will begin my 5th year of teaching Gifted/Talented in August.

    4.  I have been blogging for several years....but I just started my education blog 

         yesterday.

    5.  Anything you want to know about blogging...really can be found by using Google...

         Google really is your friend!!