The post discusses “Field Trip Friday,” a summer activity where the author, a former Gifted Resource Teacher, took her sons on weekly museum visits to engage their minds and energy. It highlights the value of enrichment activities for gifted kids and mentions programs like Explore Virginia and national park passports that encourage family outings.
Author Archives: Dr. Ann H. Colorado
Bonus Idea #3 for Summer Thinking Activities: In-Home Cake Wars with Gifted Kids
In the summer of 2020, the author discovered the show Cake Wars, sparking a desire to bake creatively with their children. Although plans were derailed by the pandemic, the idea resurfaced years later, emphasizing baking as a fun way to enhance kids’ mathematical and creative skills. The author encourages family baking activities and sharing experiences.
Bonus Idea #2 for Summer Thinking Activities: Postcard Journaling with Gifted Kids
The article explores summer activity ideas for gifted kids, focusing on “Postcard Journaling” as a fun alternative to traditional journaling. The author shares personal experiences, emphasizing the value of writing postcards to capture memories. This approach engages children creatively while maintaining their writing skills and provides a joyful way to commemorate family vacations.
Bonus Idea #1 for Summer Thinking Activities: Scavenger Hunts with Gifted Children
The article introduces a series of six summer activity ideas for gifted children, starting with scavenger hunts. It highlights the fun and challenge of these hunts, which can be themed for extra engagement. The author encourages parents to create and share their own scavenger hunt experiences for collective inspiration.
My Favorite Things: Fun Summertime Challenges for Gifted Kids
We’re just starting summer, and soon 99% of parents will be hearing, “I’m bored!” from their kids who are home from school. Read this post for some sure-fire ways to keep gifted kids- and all kids- THINKING and NOT BORED for the rest of the summer.
Gifted Identification Series #10: Gifted Eligibility- Putting it all Together
To streamline the identification process for gifted students, it is essential to compile all relevant documents into a cohesive reporting document. The Profile Method and Case Study Method are two effective practices for evaluating giftedness, focusing on the collection of performance data. The Identification/Placement Committee assesses this data collectively to determine eligibility.
Gifted Identification Series #9: Additional Data for Gifted Identification
To effectively identify gifted students from underrepresented populations, schools should consider extenuating factors such as disabilities, homelessness, and trauma, along with alternative data like grades and classroom observations. A comprehensive evaluation is essential to accurately assess students’ abilities and needs, ensuring that gifted potential is recognized.
Gifted Identification Series #8: Parent Insights, Part 2
The author reflects on their experience with gifted testing, emphasizing the importance of parental input in accurately assessing a child’s capabilities. The author advocates for school personnel to engage with parents to gather comprehensive information, improving understanding of each child’s academic needs.
Gifted Identification Series #7: The Importance of Parental Insights in Gifted Education
The article discusses the importance of gathering diverse data points for a student’s eligibility in an academic gifted program, including standardized tests, behavioral checklists, and parental input. Parents offer unique insights into their child’s learning and behavior outside school, contributing valuable information that can aid the eligibility assessment.
Gifted Identification Series #6: Key Qualitative Data for Identifying Gifted Students
The post discusses the differences between quantitative and qualitative research in educational contexts, specifically regarding gifted identification. It emphasizes the importance of qualitative data, such as behavioral checklists and performance tasks, despite challenges like scoring and teacher bias. The author advocates for careful selection of qualitative data to form a comprehensive view of students.
Teaching for Talent 