Think Gifted

NOOK Tablet Kids Summer Reading Program

2012-06-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

EW YORK, NY – June 18, 2012 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced the NOOK Kids Summer Reading Program (www.nook.com/kids-summer-reading), a free in-store kids and teens summer reading offer for customers who purchase an award-winning NOOK Tablet at one of Barnes & Noble’s nearly 700 stores nationwide. The NOOK Tablet Kids Summer Reading Program is available from June 18 through September 2 and includes three different free collections of select bestselling kids’ and teen eBooks designed to keep children reading and learning all summer long.This limited time offer applies to new purchases of both NOOK Tablet 16GB ($249) and NOOK Tablet 8GB ($199).

Each collection will be offered for a limited time and is divided into three age-appropriate groups:

June 18 through July 15: Summer Reading Collection for Ages 7-12
July 16 through August 5: Summer Reading Collection for Teens
August 6 through September 2: Picture books for young readers

“We are excited to bring together our award-winning NOOK Tablet and this fantastic free collection of bestselling titles so children can start building their summer reading library,” said Jim Hilt, Vice President of eBooks for Barnes & Noble. “With this offer, we will create lifetime readers by delivering great content into the hands of young readers through an engaging and interactive digital experience.”

The first collection of titles, available June 18 through July 15, is specially designed for readers ages seven through 12 and features the following perennial favorites and bestsellers by popular authors:

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus series No. 1) by Jonathan Stroud
Disney after Dark (Kingdom Keepers series No. 1) by Ridley Pearson
Judy Moody & Stink: Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt by Megan McDonald
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper

Once customers purchase their new NOOK Tablet, young readers can choose to enjoy one title or the entire collection of free summer reading eBooks, which can be instantly downloaded and added to their free digital locker via access codes they will receive at the time of their NOOK purchase. For more information, ask a bookseller or go to: www.nook.com/kids-summer-reading.

With all NOOK products, customers can shop Barnes & Noble's expansive NOOK Store^™ of more than 2.5 million digital titles. In addition, Barnes & Noble offers always free in-store NOOK support for customers to set up and learn how to use their new device face-to-face with friendly neighborhood NOOKsellers^™.

Barnes & Noble to Host New Hands-On Learning Event Series

2012-06-04T06:04:00.001-07:00

Barnes & Noble to Host New Hands-On Learning Event Series

Activities Will Take Place in Expanded Toys & Games Department as Part of Annual Summer Reading Program, Imagination’s Destination

New York, NY– June 4, 2012 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced that stores nationwide will host a new Hands-On Learning event series, for children ages four and up, designed to help promote cognitive development, literacy, creativity, social skills and scientific thinking. The Hands-On Learning events will take place in June, July and August and mark the expansion of the company’s Summer Reading Program, “Imagination’s Destination,” to its Toys & Games Department.

Kicking off the program this month is a Lego® Building Event designed to help children develop fine motor skills, while having fun with ever-popular Lego micro bricks. Customers are encouraged to visit www.bn.com for more information on Hands-On Learning events at their neighborhood Barnes & Noble location.

“We are thrilled to provide children with fun, engaging activities that foster critical thinking skills and spatial relationships with our new Hands-On Learning events,” says Kathleen Campisano, Vice President, Toys & Games. “Through this exciting new program, Barnes & Noble is both the ultimate resource for families’ educational needs and a great destination for summer fun.”

The Barnes & Noble’s Toys & Games Department features 3,000-square-feet of play space incorporating interactive displays, creativity and learning through activities, scientific discoveries, and favorite children’s characters. Through unique strategic partnerships with world renowned toy and games manufacturers, Barnes & Noble has five interactive play areas – Building, Learning, Imagining, Creating and Playing – that offer children hands-on learning experiences in a fun, engaging and comfortable environment.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Barnes & Noble Launches 16th Annual Summer Reading Program: Imagination's Destination

2012-05-27T15:09:00.002-07:00

Barnes & Noble Launches 16th Annual Summer Reading Program:
Imagination's Destination

Special Promotion with New Scholastic “Discover More™” Series Allows Children to Further Explore Their Imaginations

NEW YORK, NY - May 22, 2012 - Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced the launch of its 2012 Summer Reading program: Imagination's Destination. Children in grades 1-6 can earn a free book just by reading eight books and turning in a completed reading journal sheet about the books they read. This year, Imagination’s Destination features the exciting new Scholastic Discover More series along with two special promotions to encourage young readers to explore their imaginations all summer long.

Scholastic Discover More is an innovative new book series that makes learning a fun and immersive journey of discovery at a variety of reading levels, through vivid color photos and in-depth diagrams. Each title in the series comes with a free digital companion book which offers even more illuminating insight. Young explorers can download a digital sample of the Scholastic Discover More experience to read on Barnes and Noble’s award-winning NOOK Color™ or NOOK Tablet™.

From May 22 through July 9, participating families can take home a free 3-D Shark Poster, a $6.95 value, with the purchase of any Scholastic Discover More book. From July 9 through September 4, customers can take home a free Projector Flashlight of the Constellations, a $5.95 value, with the purchase of any Scholastic Discover More book. The 3-D Shark Poster and the Projector Flashlight are available in stores while supplies last.

“We’re proud to offer young readers even more creative ways to explore their imaginations through the dynamic power of books with our 16th annual Summer Reading program,” said Mary Amicucci, Vice President of Children's Books for Barnes & Noble, Inc. “As the premier destination for the best summer reading experience, we are excited to help children continue to discover the bright world of reading over their summer vacations.”

The free Summer Reading program kicks off in Barnes & Noble stores across the country May 22 and continues through September 4, 2012. Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com) will feature the reading journal, summer reading kit, and book recommendations for summer reading fun at www.bn.com/summerreading.

This year, the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading program includes seven fun activities for kids in our summer reading kit that can be downloaded from www.bn.com/summerreading.

Find Your Favorites- Encourage children to identify their favorite authors and illustrators. This is an important part of exploring the world of books. Ask questions such as: What makes this author your favorite? Can you always identify this person's art or writing style? Is there a subject that you would like this person to explore?

Fiction & Non-Fiction- Encourage children to explore different genres of literature. It's important that they know the difference between fiction and non-fiction. Ask children if adventure, biography, fantasy, mystery, sports and science books can be fiction, non-fiction or both.

Playing Roles- Reading allows us to imagine ourselves in the roles played by other people. These people can be historical figures or fictional characters. Ask children to list five characters who have captured their imagination and describe ways in which they are similar and different from themselves.

Realms of Imagination- Our imaginations shape our sense of what is possible. Encourage children to plan their ideal summer vacation, mixing elements of real life with places they'd like to visit - maybe even a fictional destination from their favorite book.

Face to Face with History- Learning about people, places, and events that changed the world we live in can be fun. The Face to Face with History activity from Scholastic encourages kids to think about a famous person in history they would like to know more about and use research to answer questions about this person.

Steps in Order- Kids get the chance to be the expert in this fun activity from Scholastic. Steps in Order encourages kids to learn how to write instructions about how to do something of their choosing and the materials needed to do it.
Packed with Facts- Knowing how to use encyclopedias is an important part of learning for kids. Scholastic’s Packed with Facts activity encourages kids to write an encyclopedia article about something that interests them.
The Reading Journal- Choose eight books to read over the summer. Fill out your reading journal with the books your child has read and discuss who they would recommend each book to and why. Once they've read eight books, bring the completed reading journal to any Barnes & Noble location to receive a free book.
Everything you need to begin your journey to your imagination's destination with the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading program can be found online at www.bn.com/summerreading.

2011-11-23T02:25:00.001-08:00

I love it when parents donate games to our class library. Games are great for reward days. If you are shopping on Black Friday, there are good deals for games for kids, and there are some that gifted kids tend to love. Risk, anyone? Black Friday 2011 offers shopping bargains for parents and teachers that want to find games to entertain and engage gifted and talented children and teens. Read more at Suite101: Black Friday 2011: Great Shopping Deals on Games for Gifted Kids | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/news/black-friday-2011-great-shopping-deals-on-games-for-gifted-kids-a397171#ixzz1eWTazDiP

NEA Email Info

2011-11-11T20:35:00.001-08:00

American Education Week will be celebrated across the nation the week of November 13. As we highlight the importance of public education, we must also take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on the deplorable school and campus conditions faced by far too many students and educators. On average, the buildings that house our public schools are more than 40 years old. Our schools need an estimated $500 billion in repairs and upgrades. We are shortchanging an entire generation of students by sending them to school in old, crumbling, overcrowded, and often unsafe buildings. They deserve better.

Investment in school and campus infrastructure provides a win-win scenario – it improves teaching and learning environments, helps maximize student achievement, and creates jobs that help stimulate local economies while putting more money into the hands of working families. We can’t afford to wait any longer!

Take Action Today:

Tell your Members of Congress to put Americans back to work and ensure our children the education they deserve by supporting school and campus modernization. Tell Congress to support the the Fix America’s Schools Today Act (S. 1597/H.R.2948), which would provide needed funds to ensure students the learning environments so essential to their success.
Share your story -- Keep the stories coming. We are using your stories to help put pressure on Members of Congress to do the right thing and focus on creating a great public school for every student.
Other Ways You Can Help Celebrate American Education Week:

Help fund a teacher’s classroom project. Educators spend on average $350 a year out of their own pockets on classroom materials. To help them, the NEA Foundation is partnering with DonorsChoose.org to fulfill their wish lists for their students. Search NEA members’ project requests for classroom learning needs. Select those you like, donate what you can, and the NEA Foundation will match it, up to $250 per request.
Take the Priority Schools Pledge. How do we expose and close the education gaps that deny our students the basics and keep opportunity always a zip code or two away? By showing that our communities will no longer sit quietly at the back of the line for quality teachers and adequate resources. Students succeed if adults intercede, working together and standing for nothing less than excellence. Take the Priority Schools Pledge and NEA will show you a way you can be involved.
Nominate a Classroom Superhero! NEA’s Classroom Superheroes campaign allows parents, students, and community members to show educators the support they deserve. Find out more and then nominate your classroom superheroes.
Back to Top

EDUCATION FUNDING AT RISK AGAIN: BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT VOTE IMMINENT

The House is set to vote the week of November 14 on a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would require a balanced budget. Overall, a balanced budget amendment would result in the largest cuts in federal spending in modern history. It simply will not be possible to achieve the spending levels required under any balanced budget amendment without massive cuts in education, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs that meet crucial national needs.

Educators understand that Congress must work to ensure America’s long-term economic prosperity and that we must address the nation’s serious fiscal challenges. However, cutting education funding and slashing programs that serve children, seniors, and working families is not the answer. Claims that families and states balance their budgets are erroneous. Most families have mortgages and car loans, and take on other debt to provide for their children’s futures. In addition, while many states must balance their operating budgets, they take on debt for capital costs and job-creating projects such as building roads, bridges, and schools.

Take Action Today: As educators, NEA members have a unique perspective on the importance of investing in education and protecting the most vulnerable in our nation. The stories you can share with policymakers about the impact of spending cuts on your students, colleagues, and communities can be very powerful. Tell Congress to oppose a balanced budget amendment.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Steve Spangler Coupon Code

2011-11-04T19:31:00.001-07:00

Hands-On Science = Hands-On Learning…
Steve Spangler's Science in the Rockies conference is guaranteed to change your perspective on teaching science. Steve has specifically designed this three-day conference for early childhood and elementary teachers who need creative ways to integrate science into their everyday teaching. You will leave with everything you need, tools and mindset, to make sure the science you teach will make it to the dinner table.

Save $100 on Your Science in the Rockies Registration!

School and personal budgets are tight, but we don't want diminishing funds to keep anyone from experiencing Science in the Rockies. So to help with the registration fee, we'll knock $100 off if you register before January 31st, 2012. That's right, just registering for Science in the Rockies in the next three months get's you in for $795 instead of $895!

Discount Code: SITR2012EM

- Be of Good Cheer!

Discovery Ed and Six Flags Rewards Readers with Amusement Park Tickets

2011-10-20T19:25:00.001-07:00

From an email today:

Reward Reading with Six Flags Tickets
Six Flags and Discovery Education are excited to announce the launch of Read to Succeed 2011-2012. We share your commitment to inspiring a lifelong love of learning in students and now, K-6 students who complete six hours of recreational reading can earn a free Six Flags ticket. Best of all, teachers win too!

To participate, please take a moment to register today:
It's easy and only takes a few minutes! View our Program FAQ for details.
For step-by-step guides, easy tips on how to register for the program and information on how to log your students' reading hours, view our Registration and Submission Guides.

To get started, download our parent letter and student reading log.
Then, check out the wide range of free classroom resources and fun family activities to build your students' excitement for reading.

Read to Succeed is hosting a free webinar on Thursday, October 27 at 7pm EST to share what's new this year and answer any questions you may have. The webinar will be archived on the Read to Succeed website if you would like to refer to it later. Register now.

Spread the word to your colleagues . Don't miss this chance to encourage and celebrate your students' love of reading!

Visit DiscoveryEducation.com/ReadtoSucceed to get started today.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Kindle Daily Deal, October 17

2011-10-17T20:04:00.001-07:00

Kindle Daily Deal, October 17

Today only, James Patterson's young-adult fantasy/thriller is just $2.99 (63% off yesterday's price).

Each day, we unveil one Kindle book at a specially discounted price. Bookmark amazon.com/kindledailydeal and check back daily to see what's next. Deals go live at approximately 12:00 a.m. Pacific time and run for 24 hours.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Barnes & Noble Announces National "Teacher of the Year" Winner in Its First-Ever "My Favorite Teacher Contest"

2011-05-02T11:28:00.001-07:00

Barnes & Noble Announces National "Teacher of the Year" Winner in Its First-Ever "My Favorite Teacher Contest"

Debbie Davis From Christian Heritage School in Riverdale, Utah Named Winner

New York, NY - May 2, 2011 - Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller, today announced that Debbie Davis from Christian Heritage School in Riverdale, Utah, has been named the national winner and "Teacher of the Year" in the "Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest." Davis was chosen from more than 18,250 entries at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. Davis was nominated by Emily Burns.

Students were invited to nominate their favorite teacher by writing essays, poems or thank you letters that share how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire their teacher. Entries were accepted at Barnes & Noble stores and online at Tikatok.com. Entries were judged on the compelling nature of the teacher's qualities, the sincerity of the student's appreciation and the quality of expression and writing.

"Educators have always been a tremendous partner for Barnes & Noble and we are thrilled to be able to name our first-ever Teacher of the Year," said Sarah DiFrancesco, director of community relations. "Debbie Davis truly embodies the qualities of a fantastic educator, which is clear through the glowing essay we received from Emily Burns. This award is well-deserved and we're so pleased to present it."

Along with the title of "Teacher of the Year," Davis will receive $5,000 and will be recognized at a special community celebration at her local Barnes & Noble store. Davis's school will receive $5,000 and a free author visit from Laurie Halse Anderson, a New York Times bestselling author who writes for children of all ages. Davis will also receive five copies of the winning essay published in hardcover by Tikatok.com, the website where students create and publish their own books, and a $250 Tikatok Gift Card, which will allow her to publish stories written by students in her class.

The Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher program provides students with the opportunity to tell their communities how much they appreciate their teachers. Teachers from Kindergarten through Grade 12 were eligible for nomination. Awards for local and regional winners included prizes for the teachers and schools, NOOK(TM) eBook Readers and more.

Only students enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 12 and teachers employed in elementary, middle or high schools in the United States were eligible to win. More details on the contest rules can be found at www.bn.com/myfavoriteteacher.

ABOUT BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS), the world's largest bookseller and a Fortune 500 company, operates 705 bookstores in 50 states. Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, also operates 636 college bookstores serving nearly 4 million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble conducts its online business through Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com), one of the Web's largest e-commerce sites, which also features more than two million titles in its NOOK Bookstore(TM) (www.bn.com/ebooks). Through Barnes & Noble's NOOK(TM) eReading product offering, customers can buy and read eBooks on the widest range of platforms, including NOOK eBook Readers, devices from partner companies, and hundreds of the most popular mobile and computing devices using free NOOK software.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Why were the 17th century metaphysical poets so called? - by Alex Sharp - Helium

2011-04-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

Why were the 17th century metaphysical poets so called? - by Alex Sharp - Helium: "The metaphysical poets of the 17th century used metaphors to make abstractions seem more concrete. This group of poets included John Donne, Andrew Marvell, and John Wilmot, the naughty Earl of Rochester."

Best free educational worksheets online - by Alex Sharp - Helium

2011-04-29T04:17:00.000-07:00

Best free educational worksheets online - by Alex Sharp - Helium: "There are some free classroom worksheet websites that every teacher should bookmark because they consistently offer a wide selection of high quality, interesting worksheets and fun sheets. Each of these sites offers free, printable worksheets; they are not mere previews that you then have to buy to access."

Royal Wedding Resources for Teachers to Use in Enrichment Lessons

2011-04-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

Royal Wedding Resources for Teachers to Use in Enrichment Lessons: "Scholastic.com and Junior Scholastic offer a lot of resources available for teachers who want to use the excitement about the royal wedding to generate some thought provoking discussions about the monarchy"

Barnes and Noble nook free Friday book 4-22

2011-04-22T07:30:00.001-07:00

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. Remember, Amazon matches the price. Usually.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

2011-04-05T15:02:00.001-07:00

Barnes & Noble Selects Children's Novel for the Barnes & Noble Recommends Program "Main Selection": Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

First Time That a Children's Novel Has Been Chosen Since the Program Launched Over Four Years Ago

New York, NY - April 5, 2011 - Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest bookseller, today announced that Gary D. Schmidt's new novel, Okay for Now (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is the latest "Main Selection" and the first-ever children's novel chosen for the Barnes & Noble Recommends program since it was launched more than four years ago. The book is on sale now and can be purchased at any Barnes & Noble store, online at Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com/recommends), or instantly downloaded on the NOOK(TM) family of eBook Readers (www.nook.com).

Out of the thousands of books considered for Recommends, Okay for Now was chosen because it is a stirring novel with an artistic touch that transcends age. The Barnes & Noble Recommends program celebrates books that are "unputdownable" and sure to be unforgettable.

"This is a powerful story that will stay with the reader. It transcends time in the same way as The Outsiders and The Giver," said Mary Amicucci, vice president of children's books at Barnes & Noble. "It's about people learning how to care for each other by seeing beyond what's on the surface. Through incredible characters and a compelling story, everyone can relate to and connect with Okay for Now."

Doug Swieteck tells the reader, "Joe Pepitone once gave me his New York Yankees baseball cap. I'm not lying. He gave it to me. To me, Doug Swieteck. To me." And so begins Okay for Now. When Doug's older brother steals his prized possession - a baseball cap signed by Doug's favorite baseball player, Yankees first baseman Joe Pepitone - Doug is convinced things can't get worse. But they do. Instead of tickets to a Yankees game, Doug's father brings home a black eye, a pink slip, and the news that the Swietecks are leaving Long Island and moving to a small town in upstate New York. Though it's 1968 and NASA's getting closer to putting a man on the moon, Doug is anxious about his family's move to a 'dump' of a house in the boondocks, and facing eighth grade at a new school with no friends. Without Joe Pepitone, he's convinced the odds are stacked against him - until he meets a girl on a bike named Lil, and a flock of colorful birds from the plates in John James Audubon's Birds of America.

Schmidt masterfully weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery, art and inventiveness, truth and lies, in a story filled with distinctive characters and a narrative told through Audubon's bird drawings.

- Be of Good Cheer!

25% off ebook coupon

2011-03-28T08:08:00.001-07:00

25% Off Your Next Purchase
Use promo code SAVE25 at checkout

Take advantage of this week's deal at LibraryBIN! Save 25% off your next purchase of these, or any other great titles, by using promo code SAVE25.

Promo code offer expires April 4, 2011. One use per customer. Maximum discount on all purchases will not exceed promo code offer.

- Be of Good Cheer!

Download Plays and Poems about Purim for Kids from Google Books

2011-03-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

Download Plays and Poems about Purim for Kids from Google Books: "The Book of Esther is traditionally read during Purim celebrations, but in the late 19th and early 20th centuries some books were written to make reading about the history of Purim more interesting for children."

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure From the U.S. Library of Congress

2011-03-06T05:21:00.000-08:00

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure From the U.S. Library of Congress: "Part of the thrill of reading the 39 Clues books is that the series is written by different authors. Readers have an idea of what to expect, but a new author has a different approach to the story. This is also the philosophy of 'The Exquisite Corpse Adventure' podcast series from the Library of Congress"

How to Teach Creativity - Fluency

2011-03-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

In creative problem solving, a fluent student is one who can list many potential solutions to a problem. Some potential solutions may just be idea fragments, or they may be too "out there" to be practical. In fluency, quantity is more important than quality, because students will later reflect on their responses and decide which ideas are worth keeping.

In creative problem solving, impractical ideas are valued just as much as practical ideas. Solutions come from unexpected sources, and students should be encouraged to look at all possible sources in the initial stages of solving problems.

Students are ready to understand fluency and use it in basic problem solving in elementary school, but they need to be able to write or type for 10-15 minute stretches. For this reason, fluency may be a good activity for 4th and 5th graders rather than earlier elementary, but like so many things in gifted education, it depends on the student. It is important that students understand why they are being asked to write in such great quantities... teaching fluency might be as simple as giving students a topic and asking them to list possibilities.

For example, ask students to list things that are green. One word answers are fine. The students should give as many answers as possible in the given amount of time, perhaps 10-15 minutes. It is important that teachers tell students spelling is not an issue. They are simply recording their ideas and writing them to avoid repetition.

Middle school students love the game Scattergories, and it is an excellent introduction to the concept of fluency. To understand how fluency relates to problem solving (as opposed to idea-generation for brainstorming), students should be given a simple problem and asked to fluently list all the possible answers.

Spelling, grammar, and mechanics are not priorities at this stage, because the goal is idea generation, and pausing will hinder progress toward the goal. Middle school students tend to be competitive and this is a good activity for competition if the question provides a level playing field.

A question such as "Why do cats have claws" will generate a lot of ideas and it is a topic on which everyone can contribute answers. Sometimes students are tempted to hide behind repetition, because those words will fill lines on the paper. For example, using the cat-claw question, a student taking refuge in repetition might write:

1. The cat can climb an oak tree.
2. The cat can climb an elm tree.
3. The cat can climb a tree in the backyard.

These lists are really just one answer - the cat can climb a tree. These answers are common in gifted classrooms because gifted students like to be playful. Unless it seems like the listing of repetitive answers is keeping students from making real progress, it is all right to allow students to make such lists at first.
Grading Fluency

Being able to provide a coherent answer to the question is one strategy for evaluating answers, but it is not the goal in the first stage of learning fluent thinking. Students should be able to say, "Cats have claws in case they need to climb trees." It is a coherent answer to a simple question based on idea generation.

It is tempting to have a partner just check off answers as they are said instead of writing them down. Unfortunately, that makes it tricky to avoid repeating ideas and the work is then unable to be re-used to teach flexibility and frequency. However, if students have ideas listed, the lists can be used later in other creative problem solving activities.

When teachers move on to the next step in teaching creative problem solving, flexibility, the students will see that their fluent answers did were inflexible and could not fit into many groups. In fact, the student was being fluent in generating types of trees, not generating reasons why cats have claws.

How to Have a Mock Election for Students in Your Classroom

2011-03-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

From yard signs and headlines to dinner conversation and news, students are aware of elements of the elections, and every four years, teachers are given a chance to instill a sense of patriotic duty in students by holding mock presidential elections.

It is tempting to wait until the actual election day and hold a mere paper-pencil ballot with two names, but a true mock election takes more time. Students need to be aware of issues, backgrounds of candidates, and have a chance to discuss and ask questions. Even younger students will benefit from mock elections, if a teacher takes time to prepare and communicate.

The first step in any election is deciding who is allowed to vote. In a classroom, it is easy; students who are in the class are allowed to vote. However, teachers and classes can consider national issues with voters. What if someone is home sick? How will that person get to vote. In official elections, there are mail-in ballots. What if someone is suspended? In official elections, felons are not allowed to vote until they have served their sentence. What if someone from another class wants to vote? Mock elections generate a lot of interest, and people might want to stop in during lunch or recess and vote.

Next, decide who will count and certify the vote. With younger grades it might be the teacher, but in older grades, it might be another class that counts and certifies the vote.

Go over the ballot and process in advance with students. They should be able to see a sample ballot. They should know the candidates and the issues. They should understand where the ballot box will be and the procedures for voting.
Understanding Political Issues

It is important that teachers do not accidentally put their own biases into issues. It is best to go to a neutral sources, such as Google Election Tools for teachers, USA Today Election Issues, or Government Guide for Elections to get kid-friendly, balanced ballot information. It is important and ethical to make sure that every party and candidate who will be on the state ballot gets equal attention in classroom issue discussions.

Ballots can be simple tick boxes on a form, and students can place them in a box. They should cross their names off of lists when they pick up a ballot, and receive a hand stamp or a sticker when they are done to indicate that they voted.

"I voted" stickers are often available through the various election offices, organizations such as The League of Women Voters, or they are for sale. Students can also make stickers in advance on small file label tabs.More advanced ballots are available. The National Student/Parent Mock Election site has printable ballots and web-based ballots, and they have steps in place for making sure votes are secure.

After the votes are tallied, teachers have another teachable moment because, just as in the national arena, there will be students who are thrilled, students who are angry, students who are disappointed, and students who are simply glad it is all over. Mock elections mirror society in more than just the voting process. Teachers should not end the activity with a mere announcement of a winner; rather, teachers should have a discussion about who won, why, and how the other candidates can participate in government and contribute to society.

All About American Education Week

2011-03-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

Just as the Emmys give Hollywood a chance to honor their own, public school employees have AEW as a chance to recognize all hard-working public school employees.

NEA, the National Education Association, encourages schools and communities to set aside one week in November to honor the people who make schools run smoothly. One way to increase a sense of appreciation within the public schools is to have students recognize the importance of the cogs in the wheel.
A Week of Celebration

By breaking up the celebrations into moments across the week, students will have the benefits of thanking those who serve them without a loss of instructional time. Schools can divide up the week so that each day highlights a special contribution or a special group.

Some of the groups to be honored include: school board members, administrators, teachers, librarians, counselors, parents, substitutes, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and staff members. There are more groups to recognize than days of the week, so some clever scheduling is required.

Honoring School Board Members and Administrators

Most districts have more schools than school board members, so including school board members in daily activities seamlessly integrates them into American Education Week. For example, a school board member could lead the Pledge of Allegiance at a different school every day, and eat school lunch in the cafeteria of different schools each day.
Read on

* Grants for Gifted and Talented Teachers from the NEA Foundation
* What Is the National Endowment for the Arts?
* Resume Tips for Teachers

At the board building level and the school building level, administrators deserve recognition and appreciation. Rather than ask the PTA to spend money on mugs or other token gifts, thank you notes from parents, teachers, and students are meaningful gifts that will be truly appreciated. Asking students to write one idea or fact that was learned in school and one activity or event that was enjoyed in school will help administrators see that they are, in fact, succeeding with every child.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation

Having students write letters to teachers from previous years is a fun way to help teachers feel appreciated. A happy voice from the past is always welcome. Supply donations are a useful way to recognize the importance of teachers and their classroom needs. It is important to remember special service teachers, such as speech path teachers, because they greatly impact education.

All staff members, from the friendly face in the office to the bus driver who waves goodbye at the end of the day, deserve recognition and appreciation. Thank you notes are appreciated by everyone, and specifically mentioning how that person's job contributes makes the message personal and touching. School office staff and cafeteria staff are often responsible for decorating their areas for the holidays, so some holiday decorations might be useful.
Students Need Appreciation, Too

It is important to include students as a group needing appreciation, and they are an easy group to thank because students are generally very willing to share ideas of how to add some magic to the school days. Having a school game hour or a movie during lunch adds fun without taking too much time away from instruction.

Because American Education Week was originally organized by the teacher's union, it makes sense that it is a resource for all participants, whether they are union members or not. The NEA has a long list of suggestions, from "cutesy" ideas of giving ice cream bars to people with the message "you're cool" to more involved community ideas in a week of grateful living.

Constitution Day: How to Meet Federal Requirements for September 17

2011-03-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

Constitution Day is an opportunity for schools to help students increase awareness of and appreciation for the United States Constitution. While the goals of Constitution Day are admirable, it is an unusual holiday because schools are required to have activities on a specific date, which can be tricky to do in smaller districts that share resources such as guest speakers and assembly centers.

West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd helped change Citizenship Day to Constitution Day in 2004. In 2005, the Department of Education required that all educational institutions receiving federal funding commemorate September 17, 1787, which is the date of the signing of the United States Constitution. If September 17 falls on a weekend or holiday, schools must hold Constitution Day programs the preceding or following week.
Constitution Day Programming

While Congress legislated Constitution Day, there is not funding for Constitution Day activities. According to its notice, the Department of Education, "is aware that there may be other public and private resources available that may be helpful to educational institutions in implementing Constitution Day." Whatever activities schools decide on, they need to be done on September 17th.

The federal government has provided a Constitution Day activities that provides Constitution Day activities, and even if districts do not use these activities, they may help answer the potentially overwhelming question of, "What do we do if we can't get a guest speaker?".

Based on the government website, schools may want to provide activities that allow students to:

* learn about the original signers of the Constitution
* examine the motivations of the writing and signers of the Constitution
* understand the evolution of the Bill of Rights and Constitution
* discover how the Constitution provides unity for the states
* explore the boundaries and flexibilities of the Constitution.

To make the Constitution more accessible, schools might want to offer simplified versions of the Constitution, word-searches, crossword puzzles, games, and create classroom constitutions to help students understand significant concepts relating to the Constitution.
Read on

* The Controversial Fourteenth Amendment
* Homeschooling and the UN Rights of the Child
* The US Senate and the Vision of the Constitution

Additional Resources

Communities have a number of guest speakers that may be available to discuss how the Constitution impacts them professionally. Professionals involved in the legal system may be of particular interest to middle school, junior high, and high school students.

For schools that are not able to host guest speakers, Constitution Center has excellent resources that schools can purchase for their students, including pocket Constitutions, but be advised that they do not accept purchase orders, so it may be more difficult to order materials. As Constitution Day becomes more popular, more resources will sprout up online and be available to schools.

Despite the difficulties presented by having to hold Constitution Day on a specific date, honoring the Constitution is a valuable experience for students. They recognize Independence Day, President's Day, and Memorial Day, so it makes sense that they should learn about and appreciate the document that started it all.

Is My Child Gifted? How Schools Decide if a Student is Officially "Gifted"

2011-03-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

Every child works a bit of magic, and every parent has had those breath-taking moments when a child says, does, or creates something brilliant. When a parent says, "My child is gifted," that parent is absolutely accurate. Children are gifted and talented, and the parents and teachers who witness these glorious moments know one definition of "gifted". However, there is another definition of "gifted", and that is the definition used by state departments of education when they are determining standards for placement in public school gifted programs.
Steps For Placement in Gifted Education Programs

Although all states have different specifics, most districts follow similar procedures. Contacting the school district is the best way to determine specific requirements and placement procedures. Most districts follow a version of these steps:

1. A student is referred to services by a teacher, a parent, or an administrator.
2. The student is evaluated with an assessment of intelligence (an I.Q. test).
3. The student is evaluated with additional assessments, such as a portfolio of work, classroom observation, and standardized test information.
4. The gifted teacher and the regular classroom teacher discuss placement, and parents input is usually considered during this discussion.
5. Parents are then given the results of the evaluation and the recommendations of the school's placement team.
6. Parents give permission for the child to participate in the gifted ed. program, because it involves leaving the regular classroom.

In general, students are given an assessment of intelligence (I.Q. test) by a qualified person, such as a trained gifted teacher or guidance counselor, a district psychometric tester, a psychologist, or a contracted tester from a university. School districts offer these services, but many accept recent private test results if the district uses the test. It is important to check with specific districts to see what tests are accepted before contracting private testing, because most children need to wait a specific amount of time before re-testing.
Common Intelligence Tests Used for Gifted Education

While I.Q. testing is not the only method of placement, it is usually an important factor in the evaluation of the assessment team. While different schools accept different tests, these are the most commonly used tests. They are given to a child individually (as opposed to a group of students testing) by a qualified tester.

* CTONI (Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence) tests children aged 6 and up. It tests non-verbal cognitive ability.
* KBIT-2 (Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, 2nd Edition) tests children aged 4 and up. It tests verbal and non-verbal cognitive ability.
* NNAT-I (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test - Individual) tests children aged 5 and up. It tests non-verbal reasoning ability.
* SBIS-V or SB-5 (Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, 5th Edition) tests children aged 2 and up. It is a test of cognitive ability.
* SPM (Raven Standard Progressive Matrices) tests children aged 6 and up. It is a test of reasoning and perception. It is sometimes given if confidence intervals on a previously given test are low, of if a child has limited English skills.
* WISC-IV (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th Edition) tests children aged 6 and up. It is a test of general and specific cognitive abilities. There is also an integrated WISC-IV that is more specific.
* WJ-III (Woodcock-Johnson III NU Tests of Cognitive Abilities) tests children aged 2 and up. It is a test of general intelligence and cognitive ability.
* UNIT (Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test) tests children aged 5 and up. It is used for general intelligence and sometimes given if other tests had questionable confidence intervals.

Parents should not let a test or a school district be the sole definition of "giftedness", because all children have some special gifts to offer. However, for academic placement and optimal services, school districts should not let parent and teacher compliments be the sole definition of "giftedness". Using testing and team evaluations, schools can offer students placement in programs that allow them to work with teachers who are trained in working with students who are, for lack of a better word, "gifted".

How to Write Questions for Quiz Bowl, Academic Team, and Scholastic Bowl Competitions

2011-03-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

In scholastic quiz bowl competitions, the questions are as important than the answers, because a player can't answer a muddled question. Good questions equal good games.

Nothing frustrates quiz bowl players as much as a confusing question. Players look at their coaches, wondering if they should risk an answer on a poorly worded question. Coaches frown at each other, wondering if the poor word choice is worth tossing the question. Soon someone buzzes in and gives a possible answer, only to find that the question was misleading. The question is tossed, time is wasted, and everyone wonders, "Who wrote these questions?".

Even though any question that has limited answers is technically a closed question, in the world of quiz bowl, a closed question has two answers, such as yes/no or true/false. These questions should be avoided because if one team answers incorrectly, the other team will automatically get it correct. This is frustrating because it amounts to gaining an unearned point.

In a classroom quiz bowl competition, teachers have more flexibility with questions. It is good practice for students to follow standardized rules so they are not confused during official play on an scholastic quiz bowl team.

Questions need to be short and pointed. Long questions or questions that include unnecessary detail are harder to understand. An example of differences in phrasing can be found in these two questions: "George Washington is famous for having wooden teeth. However, his false teeth were not actually made of wood. What were his teeth actually made from?" and "What were George Washington's false teeth made of?".

Players might buzz in with the incorrect answer of "wood", but they also might buzz in with the correct answer of "bone". Quiz bowls are competitions of knowledge, not competitions of focus.
Questions Should Require One Answer

Embedding questions is akin to asking trick questions. Consider the above question regarding George Washington. If the question was, "What were America's First President's false teeth made of?", it is short, but actually requires players to answer two questions: "Who was America's first president", and "What were the false teeth made of?".

In the case of America's first president, the answer is obvious and looks like it is enlivening the game, but it is hard to draw the line on what is obvious in embedded questions. It is best to stick with one question per question.

Competitions can go more quickly if the players are able to predict the line of questioning. Having questions on specific themes, like "American Presidents" and "Rivers", helps players focus and feel more confident about their question-attack strategies.

Themes can be playful, such as "Words Starting With M" or "Places on The Globe That Are Not America". If there must be a general knowledge category, warn players with a theme name such as "Anything Goes" or "Potpourri". With enough well-written questions, it is possible to avoid catch-all categories.

Once a teacher develops a library of good questions, it is easy to recycle them every few years. Other teachers, coaches, even teams are excellent sources for questions that are written with quiz bowl games in mind. Questions help set the tone of the game. Easy questions make for an easy games, challenging questions make for challenging games, and a well-done questions make for well-done games.

How to Create Rules and Guidelines in Gifted and Talented Classrooms

2011-03-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

Students who leave the regular classroom for gifted classroom often discover they are in a distinctly different learning environment.

Creating and maintaining a positive learning environment in the gifted classroom is essential for student success. Gifted classrooms are often a haven for g/t kids; they are able to reveal sides of their personalities in the increased comfort that is borne of being in a homogeneous group. However, the group is only homogeneous to a degree, and soon conflicts abound. It is important to establish rules and visit them frequently, as new students are often identified and placed mid-year.

Because many gifted students stay with the same teacher for several years, it is to the students' benefit if the teacher makes broad rules that can be adjusted as time goes by. Some teachers like to involve students in creating classroom rules, but because gifted education involves frequent additions after the start of school, it seems unfair to create rules without some of the participants. It may be better to have student input on procedures related to rules, and revisit those procedures on a regular basis. For example, if one rule is that students must bring supplies to class, the class may vote on procedures to deal with students that do not bring supplies. Should the students bring extra supplies to loan out to one another? Should the empty-handed student have to return to his or her locker to get supplies?

Having rules established when students walk in, and posting rules on the wall, helps establish boundaries for students. The rules of the gifted classroom can be discussed with parents during placement into the program. To create rules, the teacher should consider the duration of the program and activities in the classroom.

If students are coming to a pull-out classroom once or twice a week, the classroom rules need to be easy to remember. A lot of rules will lead to a lot of overwhelmed students. If they are allowed to use their pencils in their other classes but only pens in the gifted classroom, the teacher should have a supply of pens. It is not easy for children to remember rules of a class they attend infrequently. Classes that meet daily are able to have more rules, but again, any rules that are atypical for the student's general experience should be highlighted on a regular basis.
Activities Impact Classroom Rules

Preserving student safety and teacher sanity should be the primary goal of rules. If students are not safe, they will not learn. If teachers are uncomfortable with the amount of movement and noise in a room, the quality of their teaching may reflect their discomfort. It is best to have a rules that everyone can understand and follow. Rules should be given with situations and procedures to help students understand the how to follow the rule. For example:

Rule: Students will respect their classroom materials.

Situation: If a student is working in a center, he or she will leave the center clean and ready to be used by the next person.

Procedure: When a student is done at a center, look at the checklist and make sure all of the supplies are returned to their original areas.

Gifted classrooms have more flexibility than regular classrooms, but students need rules to take advantage of the opportunities a flexible classroom offers. A supportive classroom has boundaries, and boundaries designed with g/t kids in mind will actually increase the sense of flexibility in the classroom.

Parents andTeachers as Partners: Parent Involvement in the Classroom

2011-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Most parents want to be supportive participants in their children's classes, but they want the classroom teacher to provide opportunities to be involved.

Teachers who involve parents in their class activities will find that they have increased parent support at home, because parents have a deeper understanding of what their children are experiencing in the classroom. Even as students get older, teachers can find meaningful ways for parents to be involved in their classes.

In early elementary, parent volunteers are eager and plentiful. As students get older, parents often become less involved. Perhaps they have younger children in other classes, perhaps their children are less enthusiastic about seeing their parents at school, and perhaps schools offer fewer opportunities to be involved in school. Teachers can create a parent community in upper-grades by reaching parents in new ways and involving them in the classroom on different levels.
Reaching Parents

Depending on a tween to bring home letters to parents is risky if the child is reluctant to have his or her parents in the classroom. Mailing newsletters, updating classroom websites, and using email lists are excellent ways to "eliminate the middleman" and reach parents directly.

Many schools have webpages available for teachers, but if that is not an option, there are free internet resources for teachers. Many of the blog-hosting sites are free, and a blog is an easy way to update parents on classroom needs and opportunities. Blogger.com and Wordpress.com are free, popular, and easy to use. For a more comprehensive page, education World also offers a list of free websites that allow teachers to create homepages for their classrooms.

Putting all these well-intentioned parents to use is easy with a little brainstorming. Many parents enjoy helping with classroom displays, decorating desks, creating bulletin boards, and hanging up work samples and student art. This gives them a chance to be in the classroom and enjoy the atmosphere without having to be in charge of any children. Parents also like coming up and reading with students, guest speaking, and helping make class run more smoothly. If teachers are playing games to prepare for a big test, parents can come help monitor activities and be leaders. Teachers can also depend on parents to help judge classroom contests, be an audience for students presentations, and take pictures of classroom activities in action.

Everyone wins when parents increase involvement in the classroom. Students who see their parents and teachers working together and feeling supported will realize that classrooms are communities that extend beyond school boundaries.