Blog

When people talk about Genius Hour, the spotlight usually falls on learners, their freedom to explore, the joy of passion projects, the spark of authentic learning. And yes, all of that is true. But here’s the secret no one talks about enough: Genius Hour transforms teachers, too.

We often assume t...

Classrooms are full of conversations, but not all conversations are created equal. Too often, we settle for small talk, quick, polite exchanges that skim the surface. While small talk has its place (it helps us feel comfortable and connected), it rarely leads to the kind of rich dialogue that stretc...

Genius Hour can look very different depending on the age and stage of your learners. The beauty of my structure (the 6 Ps of Genius Hour) is that it’s flexible: it grows with learners as their skills, independence, and curiosity expand. Whether you’re serving gifted learners in elementary, middle, o...

When educators talk about meeting the needs of gifted learners, the focus often lands on doing something different: offering enrichment projects or accelerating through grade-level material. These approaches can be helpful, but they sometimes unintentionally reinforce the idea that learning is about...

The beginning of the school year is one of the most important windows in gifted education. Expectations are forming, routines are taking shape, and the way we welcome students into gifted services can set the tone for the entire year.

That’s why I believe so strongly in gifted onboarding, the inten...

Gifted learners don’t just need more. They need different.

As this school year begins, it’s worth pausing to ask: what do gifted learners truly need in order not just to survive school, but to thrive in it?

Too often, the focus is on acceleration, giving them extra worksheets, harder tests, or mor...

WOW! I had such a great time at TAGT's giftED Conference this week!  While I presented several sessions and was able to spend some time with some amazing educators, I also spent some time learning and growing my own understanding of giftedness and how we can serve gifted learners well.

On the last ...

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about the direction of depth.  In other words, does a learning experience in an advanced classroom or an extension for a gifted learner always have to go in a specific direction.  I think that we often think about extending "up" or "out".  But, the reality is that...

So, this idea, or should I say passion project, has been in the works for a while now. The more I visit with gifted learners and gifted families, the more I realize that many of them have no idea what giftedness, what it isn't, and what to expect from the gifted journey.  I think now is a good tim...

Self-awareness is such an important skill.  CASEL explains that self-awareness is "The abilities to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. This includes capacities to recognize one’s strengths and limitations with a well-grounded sense of...

Parenting gifted learners is not always easy but it can also be so much fun.  As a mom of gifted learners, I have definitely learned that it's a marathon and not a sprint.  I recently asked parents of gifted learners to share the best advice. They were gracious to share some great ideas and a little...