Paradoxes and illusions are a great area of study to blow students’ minds. I recently discovered an amazing artist, Kokichi Sugihara, who creates and films optical illusions using just paper and balls.
Year: 2014
Gifts for the Gifted Classroom
Some of my favorite games, novels, creativity books, and tools for differentiation.
One Tip to Ease An Overwhelmed Brain
I gave one kid the job of being Mr. Byrd’s Brain.
Going Beyond “Challenge Words” In Spelling
Many students blow past grade-level spelling and vocabulary at a young age. Unfortunately, a common technique to “challenge” them is to find harder and more obscure words for their spelling list. Instead, let’s take advantage of the built-in complexity of common words with multiple-meanings.
Self Control Is A Limited Resource
The wise teacher knows how hard to push her class and when to ease up, because self control is a limited resource for everyone.
Game Recommendation: Qwirkle
Every veteran teacher has a well-stocked board game closet for those special days. Qwirkle is a great addition to your arsenal.
What Influences A Character’s Traits?
To add depth to character analysis, let’s look beyond a character’s traits and dig into what influenced them to have those traits.
Paradox: Does Majority Rule?
A quick, but challenging discussion topic for any age: “Is it always fair to make decisions based on a majority vote?”
Depth and Complexity vs Bloom’s Taxonomy: You Need Both
You can use the prompts of depth and complexity yet still ask very shallow questions. Here’s how to avoid this common pitfall…
Dino Obsession: Intellectual Overexcitability In Action
If you’re wondering what an “intellectual overexcitability” might look like, here’s me in kindergarten…