Q3 Supporting Gifted Students in the Classroom

This week on the blog, I would like to focus on the world of gifted education.  While I am in no way an expert on this topic, I definitely encountered these types of students in my classrooms.  

Did you know that it is estimated that students who are gifted and highly talented encompass 5 to 15% of the school-age population? These advanced students can have increased capabilities in academics, creativity, music, dance, art, and/or leadership. 
(www.education.udel.edu)

I have had several teachers this year searching for resources for students in their current classrooms so I thought this would be a great way to put a collection of resources together for all of you.  

The Difference between BRIGHT and GIFTED?

We are Teachers has some awesome tips, tricks, and ideas for supporting the gifted learner in your classroom. Check their post out below!

50 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Gifted Learners

Miss Giraffe's Class has a great post about differentiating work for our gifted learners.  I love the part about allowing them to learn new and funky things like sign language! 

I really like the idea of using an interest survey with students.  This is a simple way to extend learning in your classroom for all your students. Check out a few free surveys below! Fun for Kinders & Hardcore Teacher Resouces!

   

 Our Patriot Block is a great time to check in with students on their interest surveys and allow them to have some choice and voice in a research project or creative piece! 

Q3 More ways to teach SCHEMA!

Welcome to Q3!  Thank you to all that spent the morning with me yesterday talking about SCHEMA!  I can't wait to see your Schema Sticks and One Minute Schema Determiners in your classrooms!

I wanted to share some more ideas to get even more explicit instruction about schema into your classrooms and lessons.  I LOVE this little idea below.  Such a great way for a student to show what they already know about a topic.  

This could be done simply with a generic head cutout and some crayons.  Students could draw the images instead of cutting. 

I would use one color for their schema before they read and then another after reading.  

Then they could analyze their illustrations and see how much knowledge on a topic they gained from reading.  

I created a template for to use in your classroom.  Just click the image to download!

If you read farther into the book Comprehension Connections on page 37 you will run across the idea of Concentric Circles of Connections.  This is simply teaching students to make connections to texts using their schema.  Check out the anchor chart below! 

Here is a great video from Pow Toons about those different types of connections that students make to text. 

Oh MY!   If you haven't jumped on the SCHEMA train yet this blog post from Miss Decarbo will get you on board!  It is filled with tons!!!!! of great information about why we need to start teaching young learners about how to activate their schema!

Happy Planning!

Q3 Book Clubs

Welcome to Q3!  I can't believe we are this far into the school year.  As testing comes to an end, we have a great opportunity to look at our NEW data and make changes in our instruction.  

I have had some questions about Book Clubs and how they can benefit some of our high flyers.  I have compiled several resources for you to check out.  I have novel study sets in my classroom you are welcome to borrow if needed.  

Benefits of Book Clubs: 

• Expose students to different types of text
• Promote a love for literature
• Foster interaction and collaboration
• Help students gain new friends and interact with different students. 
• Gain new perspectives
• Practice teamwork
• Problem Solve
• Presenting Skills
• Support writing skills
• Nurture reflection and self-evaluation

                                                 
The Teacher Trap has a great post on how to get Book Clubs up and running in your classroom!

I love the focus on real reading!

This is an AWESOME post about creating a reading culture in your classroom!

The idea of Jot Spots from Two Little Birds Teaching would be fantastic for students in book clubs to jot down their thinking and then have their post its to share during a group discussion time. 

Grab this FREE rubric from Rocking Teacher Materials on TPT! Hilary's book club resources are amazing!

Kristine Nannini at the Young Teacher Love blog has a great resource that includes assigned jobs for the students to use during the book club. 

Here are some ideas for novels for ages 9-12 from Mom to 2 Posh Divas.  If you decide to read The City of Ember,  let me know.  It is my FAVORITE!

I would love to plan a book club with you!  

Q2 Number Talks

Hi Park View!  This week, our math coach visited our BTNT meeting and shared all about number talks.  It really got me thinking about how mental math is such an important part of growing our student's mathematical toolkit.  

Consistent Number Talks give students the confidence to manipulate numbers/math in a way that makes sense to them. 

Here are some tips from her presentation:

She shared an AWESOME website that had tons of quick-ready to use number talks. It is called, Which One Doesn't Below.  Check it out below!

I also found these FREE printable posters to add to your number talks from Primary Bliss!  I love the "I would like to defend my answer"poster-HELLO PEAK!

The Routty Math Teacher also has a great FREE file on getting started with number talks.  

A NUMBER Talk in K:

A NUMBER TALK in 1st Grade:

A NUMBER TALK in 2nd Grade:

A NUMBER TALK in 3rd Grade: 

This video really stresses the importance of number talks.  It digs into how number talks level the playing field for students who think differently about math. Allowing students to have the opportunity to use trial and error is essential in building confidence in math. 

So in just 15 minutes a day, you can start improving your students' feelings about math and increase their number sense while also providing a safe place to share and learn. 

Happy Planning!