I’m going to write the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever read. Ready? Exhaling is an essential part of breathing. If you’ve ever gone on a run, taken a yoga class, meditated, or just tried to control your temper, you know that you need to focus actively on breathing out. Done right, you might spend twice […]
All AboutDo You Run A Gifted Program?
Thoughts for administrators, directors, and other leaders of gifted and talented programs.
Leaders Absorb Complexity and Pass on Simplicity
Head over to a gifted department or a state association’s website and look for the “Resources” page. Scroll down the list. Click a few links. Now ask yourself: Is this information immediately helpful to the teachers using this page? Or does every single teacher who clicks that link have to spend time figuring the page […]
Talk To Your Past Students
Are you ignoring the most cost-effective feedback about your program’s effectiveness? Talk to some past students!
“Priority” is Singular
You can only have one priority. Anything else is a cop-out.
How Clear Is Your Program’s Purpose?
If someone asked you why your gifted program even exists, how well could you explain its purpose? Could you do it in 30 seconds? How about one sentence? Do me a favor. Open up the homepage for your district’s gifted program. This is the first place that parents, teachers, community leaders, and even students would […]
Running A Gifted Program: Parent Nights
I’ve been to over a hundred parent nights and my main takeaway is this: use the time to build a community and get to know your parents’ needs. And stay away from PowerPoint!
The Many Problems With That “Rethinking Giftedness” Video
In this “Rethinking Giftedness” video the filmmakers make a claim that gifted programs cause fixed mindsets. The three questions I immediately wondered were: Where is the research? How were the students in this video selected? Did they visit any great gifted programs? Let’s dig into it. Where Is The Research? The video and its accompanying […]
Stand Up to Jargon
Clear communication is simple, succinct, and relies on words that people understand. Jargon is the opposite. Journey with me as I attempt to define some edu-jargon…
Making The Case For A Gifted Program
A common question I get is folks asking how to make the case for a gifted program. Usually someone is pitted against an administrator who doesn’t see the value in a gifted program. How do we change minds?
Giving Better Presentations
It’s conference season, and that means we’ll all be settling in for a few sessions. I’ve put together a free resource to try to make those sessions more enjoyable for both presenter and attendee.
