Identifying and Enhancing the Strengths of Gifted Learners, K-8 » (1st Edition)

Ann Maccagnano is a gifted and talented specialist in the Kenmore Town of Tonawanda School District in New York. A teacher of gifted students for the past 11 years, Maccagnano has a master's degree in elementary education with a Gifted Education Extension Certificate and has received the Outstanding Undergraduate in Elementary Education (OUEE) Finalist Award.

Helping teachers informally assess gifted learners' areas of strength and weakness, this book provides hundreds of challenging activities to improve students' academic and social skills.

Acknowledgments     ix
About the Author     xi
Developing and Nurturing Gifted Students' Strengths     1
The Challenge of Challenging Curriculum     2
Addressing Both Weaknesses and Strengths     2
What This Book Offers     3
How the Book Is Organized     3
Using Analysis Activities     4
Selecting and Administering the Activities     4
Grading     5
What to Do After Areas of Strength Are Identified     5
Language Arts     7
Analysis Activities     8
Verbal Sequencing     8
Written Communication     9
Mystery Box     9
Book Writing     9
Enhancing Reading and Writing Skills     10
Greek Mythology Unit     10
Cosmic Comic Writing     10
Poetry     11
Fables and Folktales     13
Free Writing     14
Word Play     15
Root Words     16
Similes and Metaphors     17
The Dynamite Dictionary Game     17
Enhancing Oral Communication Skills     17
Structure Conversation     17
Mighty Monologues     18
Debates     18
Drama     19
Foreign Language     19
Socratic Seminars     20
Pantomime Activity     20
Miscellaneous Ideas for Developing Oral Communication Skills     20
Creative Thinking     23
Analysis Activities     24
Create a Product     24
A Creative Box     25
What If...?     26
How Are These Alike?     26
Enhancing Creative-Thinking Skills     26
Brainstorming     27
Scamper     28
ABC Alliteration Book     30
Creative People Unit     30
Inventions and Inventors     30
Problems to Pose     31
In True Jeopardy Style     31
Creative Designing     32
Detailed Improvement Activity     32
Line Design     32
Character Elaboration     33
Circle Story Starter     33
Imagination Galore     33
Critical Thinking     35
Analysis Activities     36
What Doesn't Belong?     36
Attribute Recognition     37
Enhancing Critical-Thinking Skills      38
Six Thinking Hats     39
Analogies     40
Logic Puzzles     42
Cryptology     44
Sudoku Puzzles     49
Critical-Thinking Resources and Web Sites     49
Games That Enhance Problem-Solving Skills     50
Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Intelligence     51
Interpersonal Analysis Activities     52
Social Situation Number 1     52
Social Situation Number 2     52
Enhancing Interpersonal Skills     53
Interviews     53
Share What You Learn     53
Role-Play Characters     54
Create a Game     54
Turn to a Partner     54
Advice Column     54
Moving Writing     55
Community Service Projects or Events     55
Intrapersonal Analysis Activities     56
Self-Portrait     56
Special Space     57
I Am Like...     57
Enhancing Intrapersonal Skills     57
Interest Survey and Comparison     57
Interest Comparison Activity     58
If I Could Be...     58
My Autobiography     58
T-Chart Diagram      59
Me Box     59
One-Minute Thinking Period     59
Miscellaneous Intrapersonal Ideas     59
Mathematics     61
Analysis Activities     62
Mental Math     62
Place Value     62
Creative Problem Solving     63
Longest Number Card Game     63
Enhancing Mathematical Skills     64
Follow Alongs     64
Study of Different Number Systems     65
Patterns and Sequencing     68
Set Pattern Game     69
Other Pattern Information     69
Mystery Numbers     69
M. C. Escher     70
Mathematical Games     71
Overhead Number Game     72
Miscellaneous Mathematical Activities     72
Visual/Spatial Awareness     75
Analysis Activities     76
Pentominoes     76
Pentomino Cards     78
Enhancing Visual/Spatial Skills     78
Tangram Puzzles     78
Mind Mapping     96
Droodles     97
Memory Glance Game     97
Idea Drawing     98
Miscellaneous Visual/Spatial Ideas      98
Cross-Curricular Projects     101
Design Your Own Dream Room     101
Project Dream Room     102
Create a Company and an Advertisement     104
Create a Company That Sells a Product or Provides a Service     104
Design a WebQuest     105
Create a Slideshow Presentation     106
Independent Study     107
Create Interactive Computer Games Using Hyperlinks     107
Design a Piece of Artwork     108
All About Me Project     108
Create a Database     108
Design a Travel Brochure     108
Create a Squiggle Drawing     109
Hero Unit     109
The Superior Superhero     110
The Radio Show     111
My Creative State     111
Conclusion     113
References     115
Additional Reading     119