Literacy for Gifted and Talented Learners

Differentiation is a struggle that we as educators face but needs to be faced if we are to meet the needs for all children in our classes. Often we are more adept at meeting the needs of the struggling children but truth is our able children need rigour and their unique needs to be met as well.

Issues to Consider

• Identification: Who are these children? Have they arrived already reading independently?
• Challenge: How can we help our gifted readers become more discerning readers?
• Interaction: How can these children share their reading with others? 
• Goals:Ensure we are setting realistic goals for these children.
• Reading skills: Are we teaching to read smartly, utilising features of text and to understand deeper concepts of print?
• Problems: Do we recognise that some of our gifted students may have reading problems and respond to these accordingly.

Brooke Trenwith from Cognition Education has provided these links to resources that primary schools are using to extend their gifted students.

Writing

Reading

A magazine created by kids for kids

 Reading lists can be found here

Resources to consider for purchase

Gail Loane's Book, 'I've Got Something to Say'.

Resources to Use

Search for Sandra Kaplan's 'Depth and Complexity Framework', via Google and you will find many examples that others have created that you might modify.

Experts to Contact

Robert Seney's reading lists and literacy tips are worth a look

• Books to inspire the gifted reading
• Wikispace with some links and resources from Robert Seney
• Gifted Readers and Young Adult Literature Reading
• Seney handout to read

Modern Practice

There is a lot of conversation about modern practice and future focused learning. I am all for after working smartly so if you have limited time check out this graphic which explains things in a nutshell. To read the article in it's entirety head to teachthought.com.

Deep and Powerful Learning

I have been reading a lot lately about powerful learning. I particularly like this Ted talk as it brings together many truths and resonates with core beliefs about aligning vision and practice.

Children need to have a say in their learning, it needs to be relevant and real. This relates to Fullan's ideas of the needs to connect, create and help humanity.


Well worth taking the time to view.

Innovation

I Just Sued the School System!

Similar content to Ken Robinson's talk about killing creativity but very easy to watch and a strong message.

Engaging Learners to Make Learning Powerful

What is powerful learning? When is learning powerful?

Student voice and agency is one way of answering both these questions.

Definitely worth checking out the full article here.

Managing a Classroom

Great ideas to remember and consider...

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