Unwrapping the Gifted
Tamara Fisher was a K-12 gifted education specialist for a school district located on an Indian reservation in northwestern Montana and past president of the Montana Association of Gifted and Talented Education. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: gifted education.
Education
Opinion
In Their Own Voices
So what do the KIDS think?
This year I am President-Elect of Montana AGATE, our state’s gifted & talented assocation. In that capacity, I’m in charge this year of organzing our annual conference, which will take place in a couple of weeks. The past few weeks I have been putting together the program and schedule, and decided to use the opportunity to give voice to gifted children. Actually, my first idea was to “sprinkle” some thought-provoking quotations (like the ones I included in a post a while back) throughout the program, but then I thought, “why not include some statements from the kids, too…” A couple hundred teachers will be reading the program as they select which sessions they want to attend, and I figured this might be a great opportunity to prompt some thinking…
This year I am President-Elect of Montana AGATE, our state’s gifted & talented assocation. In that capacity, I’m in charge this year of organzing our annual conference, which will take place in a couple of weeks. The past few weeks I have been putting together the program and schedule, and decided to use the opportunity to give voice to gifted children. Actually, my first idea was to “sprinkle” some thought-provoking quotations (like the ones I included in a post a while back) throughout the program, but then I thought, “why not include some statements from the kids, too…” A couple hundred teachers will be reading the program as they select which sessions they want to attend, and I figured this might be a great opportunity to prompt some thinking…
Education
Opinion
Gifted Resources
So you’ve begun to learn more about those gifted kiddos in your classroom and you’re wondering where to go for more resources... What will work in your classroom? What resources are available for you as a parent of a gifted child? “Help! What do I do with these kids and where can I learn more‽” Don’t worry… You’re not alone. I cross paths all the time with teachers who have begun to learn about gifted students, realized how little they were prepared for these unusual students, and desire to seek out resources that will help them understand and reach these kids. In my last post I offered up a variety of web resources, and today I’d like to mention some of the great companies out there that offer books, games, curricular materials, and other items that can be helpful.
Education
Opinion
Gifted Links
My goal today is to provide all of you with some tips about excellent websites that have information about gifted students and gifted education resources. While some of you who frequent this blog are likely already aware of most or all of these links, a significant number of readers here are new to learning about gifted students and I want to help equip you with additional (and high quality) resources. I know there are a lot of you out there who are regular classroom teachers (or future teachers) who want to know what to do for (and about!) the gifted students in your classrooms. I hope that some of these links will be helpful in your search for ideas, answers, and enlightenment.
Education
Opinion
Chase the Challenge
I heard a fable once about a boy who caught a bee and kept it in a glass box for quite some time. The air holes in the lid allowed the little bee its necessary oxygen but not its freedom. The bee raged against the box’s glass walls, trying mightily to fly on its way, but, of course, it was unable to escape. After many, many days of flying into the walls, the bee began to give up. It had learned the limits of its new home. It now flew within the box’s contained space and ceased to angrily crash into the walls. Days more later, the boy lost interest in his little hostage and took the box’s lid off so the bee could fly away. But it didn’t. Although now having the option of roving as it was able, the bee unknowingly restricted itself to the same space that had once been its cage.
Education
Opinion
Identifying and Teaching Gifted Native American Students
A few of you here have requested that I write about my experiences teaching gifted Native American children. An article that I wrote on the topic is in the Fall 2007 issue of "Understanding Our Gifted." (That whole issue has a theme of cultural diversity.) Most of today's post is pulled from my article in that issue. (That's why I've waited to cover this topic… Almost everything I wanted to say I had already written, but I needed to wait for it to come out in UOG first.)
Education
Opinion
FaScIn8iNg
I of course love many things about my job as a K-12 Gifted Education Specialist, but definitely high on the list would have to be the fascinating tidbits I learn from my students, coupled with the thought-provoking ideas they kick around in their heads and let me in on sometimes.
Special Education
Opinion
A Gifted Child's Bill of Rights
The National Association for Gifted Children published its newly created “Gifted Children’s Bill of Rights”. Included beneath each item are some of my thoughts on it along with comments that my students had about each one.
Education
Opinion
More Than Meets the Eye
Last week and this week have found me spending late nights sitting at tables in cold gymnasiums (note to self: wear long johns tomorrow night!), meeting with parents for Parent/Teacher Conferences. The parents come around to each teacher on their child's schedule to "conference." I put out the word to the parents of my elementary students that they could meet with me at the middle school (last week) or high school (this week) if they wanted to chat with me about their child(ren) whom I work with in our District's GT program. The middle & high school parents are already here for the same purpose.
Education
Opinion
Curriculum Compacting
Professional development – What thoughts and feelings do those words conjure up for you? Excitement? Boredom? A chance to improve your skills and learn new, interesting teaching strategies? A painful time of listening to someone talk about a topic you already have a handle on?
Education
Opinion
Be a Filter
Last week I was at our state Teacher’s Convention, where I presented four times. I always enjoy learning from others and sharing ideas. For today’s post, I’d like to share a few excerpts from textbooks that highlight the importance of being a good filter when choosing educational materials for students. I often use these examples in my presentations because they are a simple way to illustrate the complex issues districts and teachers face when selecting curricular materials.
Education
Opinion
Hardware on the Shelf
Fifty years ago tonight (I’m writing this on October 4th, although most of you won’t read it until a later date), the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite, into orbit. Aside from the obvious and relatively well-known fact that Sputnik unleashed the Space Race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., you might like to know that it also launched efforts to increase academic challenge for American students.
Education
Opinion
Tips for Parents of the Gifted
In my last post (The Wheel Still Turns), Jane commented:
Education
Opinion
The Wheel Still Turns
The availability of appropriate academic accommodations for gifted students in our country is rather hit and miss. While it is true that the situation varies on a grand scale between states (diverse policies, laws, etc. – or even non-existent policies/laws), the nuts and bolts reality is that even within a state, community, district, or school with a uniform policy, differences range wildly. In any school anywhere, a gifted child could be receiving excellent accommodations within one classroom and a gifted child in the classroom next door could be re-“learning” the same material for the fifth year in a row – yet she had it mastered the first time.