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Differentiation TechniqueThink Big! But Also Small.

Read The Overview: Moving Between the Specific and Abstract

When differentiating, it's helpful to note where on the "spectrum of abstraction" your content lies. Then, see what happens when you move that content to be more abstract or more specific. It often unlocks lots of new opportunities for thinking.

Specific Examples of “Think Big! But Also Small.”

Analyzing Prefixes and Suffixes

Analyzing Prefixes and Suffixes

Instead of just memorizing what a bunch of morphemes mean, we're looking broadly, exploring patterns, finding unexpected similarities and weird differences.

Creating A Class Motto

Creating A Class Motto

Using Hilda Taba's model of inductive thinking, use your students' prior knowledge to develop a statement about expected class behavior.

Encourage Curiosity With Calculators

Encourage Curiosity With Calculators

It's easy to fall in love with chasing the newest technology to use in the classroom. But sometimes, the perfect tool is a plain old calculator. We'll be using this tool to develop curiosity about math.

Universal Themes in Math? With Fractions!?

Universal Themes in Math? With Fractions!?

What if we used a universal theme to guide our study of fractions? These very big ideas get students thinking about fractions in a new way.

Patterns In Writing I: Introduction

Patterns In Writing I: Introduction

Take a break from teaching the details of writing and examine narrative writing from a larger perspective. How can structure increase creativity in writing? Take your gifted writers on a journey through common patterns in narrative writing.

The Surprises Within a Triangle’s Angles

The Surprises Within a Triangle’s Angles

Discovering what is interesting and unexpected about a triangle's angles. What twists have I unintentionally spoiled for my students over the years?

Introducing Universal Themes and Generalizations

Introducing Universal Themes and Generalizations

Generalizations, big ideas, abstractions, universal themes... they are designed to help our gifted students learn. However, what I didn't realize was that they would help me teach!

Concept Formation: A Model for Inductive Thinking

Concept Formation: A Model for Inductive Thinking

Here's are the steps for running an inductive lesson based on Hilda Taba's model of Concept Formation. Plus a sample lesson about the Nile River.

Combining Depth and Complexity Prompts into a Generalization

Let's start with a puzzlement, ask kids to generate an abstract statement, and then find evidence that their statement works across several different areas.