Tag Archives: gifted

Slice of Life: Toying Around

Today’s post comes as part of Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life Tuesday. Give them a peek! As a teacher of gifted children, I’ve long used Frayer Models as a way of helping kids organize their thinking about topics. I’m all for ways to help kids visualize their thinking, develop generalizations, and synthesize their knowledge. ToContinue reading “Slice of Life: Toying Around”

Slice of Life: Choice Writing Time

Today, for your reading pleasure, I’m bringing you glimpses of the kinds of kiddos I inevitably see from class to class, the kinds of kids we find in every class when it comes to writing time. Cheers! Let’s make a toast to these loveys…

Slice of Life Tuesday: Dispatches from Fifth Grade

Every year, I ask my departing fifth graders to share what they’ve learned about language arts and about themselves throughout our time together. Every year, I tell them this is the last thing I will remember them by. I only give them two rules: letters need to be written in letter form, and I wantContinue reading “Slice of Life Tuesday: Dispatches from Fifth Grade”

Slice of Life: Writing Challenge

I’ve done a thing. I’ve begun an ambitious, multi-year writing initiative in my district that I think could be really amazing, and I’ve got some colleagues who, quite thankfully, agree. I’ve got administrative support, I’ve got the time to plan and build, and I’m banking on the excitement of tapping into JOY. Because if there’sContinue reading “Slice of Life: Writing Challenge”

Slice of Life Tuesday: On Letting Them Go

Today and yesterday were my last days with my fifth graders. Some of these kids, I’ve worked with for a year or two. Others, we’ve been together for three, four, even five years. There is so much change that happens over the span of that time. Add our shared experiences living through COVID and itsContinue reading “Slice of Life Tuesday: On Letting Them Go”

Slice of Life Tuesday: Book Teaser

It’s been three years since I’ve been able to put together a collection of allegorical fiction with my fifth graders, but this year we’re doing it!

I always love this project so much, because it taps into the wealth of wisdom, perspective and potential these kids carry with them. I mean, I see it in them, and it makes my heart smile when they recognize it within themselves.

Slice of Life Tuesday: Ask Me (almost) Anything

Lately, asking me how I am will reveal…well, really any number of things, depending ontime of daywhat I ate for breakfasthow I’m feelingwhether or not there’s chocolate in the copy room stashwhich way the wind is blowingSo I thought I’d give you a slightly more helpful guide Ask me:How I like the weather latelyHow myContinue reading “Slice of Life Tuesday: Ask Me (almost) Anything”

Slice of Life Tuesday: Word Play

Hello, world. It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. I’ll chart that up to the relative whomping that April often has for me, dust myself off, and get back with it. I’ll also say this: my One Little Word? Shift? Boy oh boy, has that come in handy. Suffice it to say, I’ve learned aContinue reading “Slice of Life Tuesday: Word Play”

Poetry Month Day 6: What it’s Like

Hey kids! In honorof National Poetry Monthlet’s try a little FUN with SIMILES Ever wonderwhat it’s like to teacha group ofeleven-year-oldsa new thingin technology? Forget herding catsor nailing Jell-o to the wall. It’s like putting puppies in a boxcleaning raw egg with your bare handsriding a bike on top of a skateboardplaying checkers with sixContinue reading “Poetry Month Day 6: What it’s Like”