Monday, June 30, 2014

Session IV - Question 2

Session IV - Question 2:  Would you recommend this book to other colleagues?  Why or why not?

41 comments:

  1. I would recommend this book to my colleagues. I like the simple format and the way the strategies are given with examples. Differentiation is needed for all students, not just the ones on the "right" side of the bell curve. This book demonstrates some relatively simple things that teachers can do to accommodate their students.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Response to elizabeth h: One of the things I did like about this book was that the strategies are user friendly. There are concrete, simple strategies for getting through to GT kids, rather than calculations, or anything subjective.

      Delete
    3. In response to elizabeth h on July 16, I agree that all students need and benefit from differentiation. There is not one perfect way that all students learn. I feel that a lot of these strategies could be used with all students because of the differentiation involved.

      Delete
    4. In response to Charlotte McHale on July 23, 2014 at 11:48 AM
      I also love the format and found it very user friendly! It is very concrete and simple, which makes me want to try the strategies in my classroom.

      Delete
    5. The strategies are definitely user friendly. I like the inclusion of examples and visuals. I was given the first edition of this book in about 20 years ago when I took my initial 30 hour class. I have referred to it many times.

      Delete
  2. I would recommend this book to my colleagues, especially those who teach middle school. There are a lot of activities and I like the scenarios that describe a student and how one of the strategies was used for the student. However, it would be nice if a few of the scenarios showed using the strategies and activities in a high school setting. The scenarios are divided between elementary and middle school; a few high school ones would be nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to Valerie from July 16, I agree that teachers of younger students would benefit the most from this book. I think elementary might be the target age here, given how much time a teacher spends with their students. There's a lot more time in the day that a GT student can be given to work on things independently while being brought back into the fold for other subjects.

      Delete
    2. In response to V Harelson on 7/16, I agree that more examples are needed. I think it is a great PD opportunity.

      Delete
  3. reply to Elizabeth h 7/16... I agree differentiation is needed. I think some of the assessment suggestions in chapter 8, such as one-pagers, give me a five (p.202-203), ticket out the door and journaling (p.204) are simple, but effective strategies that can be used at any grade and help us as teachers see what our students know and allow for effective differentiation. This is one reason I would recommend the book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would absolutely recommend this book to my colleagues, because again, I actually think it's useful! It is easy to read and provides strategies that can be instantly implemented into the classroom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to moneyj on July 23rd- I agree that this book is a useful tool and a reminder for teachers that have been in the classroom along time re-visit different strategies.

      Delete
    2. In response to Stacey L. this is full of useful tools for every teacher!

      Delete
    3. In response to moneyj, I agree that the book gives many useful strategies. I think you could use what you are comfortable and plan with these strategies. Also, it gives you additional tools when you aren't able to effectively use a particular strategy.

      Delete
    4. response to moneyjJuly 23, 2014 at 6:19 AM, it is a useful book with a lot of useful tools that can easily be incorporated into any classroom

      Delete
    5. In response to Helen : You are right the fact that this book is easy to read and implement makes it a great book to recommend. I like the resources and visuals that also accompany the book.

      Delete
  5. I'm not sure that I would. There are some great ideas in here, but a few of them sound like things I've heard before. Good for a book study, though- all valuable information.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would recommend this book to other colleagues as there are many good charts and ideas to move along G/T and students in any classroom. The book spells things out very clearly and is an easy read.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, I would recommend this book to other colleagues. The book has a lot of great information and ideas that are easy to understand and set up in a classroom. I like how the book includes the student in the actual planning of the activities and gives them a lot of choice in their projects.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to Kimberly Muske on July 23-
      I agree that the book gave ideas that were clear and easy to understand which makes them easier to implement in the classroom . Including the student in the planning will make each activity a positive experience for the student.

      Delete
  8. For someone just getting started with having GT students in the classroom, I think this is a pretty good resource. Often books will talk about the need to differentiate without ever showing you how it should be done. This book minimizes all the reasoning and gets right to the implementation. If you had no idea where to start, there are some pretty good scripts about how to get started. I wouldn't use the materials in here exactly as written, but they are good for generating ideas that fit your style better.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would definitely recommend this book to another colleague. It is very practical and has great strategies which can be used with a variety of learners, not necessarily gifted kids. Anyone who reads this book would be able to take away more than a handful of ideas to use in their classroom, regardless of the grade level they taught.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catherine Roth:
      In response to Ms. M’s Kinders on July 31st:
      I too like the idea of this book being useful for all teachers of all kids-not just GT teachers of GT kids. This book has many tools for us to add to our toolbox as teachers so that when we encounter a student-gifted or not-identified or not-we have strategies and ways to help that student learn and move forward. I already have ideas for how I am planning on sharing these techniques with all teachers at my school.

      Delete
    2. In response to M's Kinders on July 31st I agree that it is a practical guide that can be used with many different types of students. I feel that it would be a wonderful book to introduce to a new teacher with great and easy ideas to implement.

      Delete
  10. I would recommend this book to all teachers. It is very informative, user friendly, and full of wonderful ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would recommend this book to the district administrators as a model for how small group learning could happen and still have valuable activities for the other students. Small group learning becomes less frequent in higher grades, and teachers need a good model of what to do with the others. This book provides support to help teachers. By having the district help assist teachers at grade levels learn how to do this, it is a win-win for all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In response to SkipppyJohn Jones, I agree that this has lots of good ideas for keeping your students engaged while we are in small group.

      Delete
  12. I think I would like to try some the different ideas and strategies first then I would like to be able to recommend this book with suggestions of what I used and liked.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is a good idea Shauna. I have used some of the examples before I took this study like the menus, but I think seeing works what best first is the way too go that way you can say yes it worked or no not so much.

      Delete
  13. I would definitely recommend the book..The book gave me a lot of new strategies that seem simple to incroporate into my class room . it is an easy to read book packed with tons of ideas and suggestions for any grade level and for all students

    ReplyDelete
  14. I plan to share this book and several of it strategies with our ICoach. I believe this book can help my campus become better at meeting the needs of not only our Gt students, but all of our students.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie B (August 22). That's a great idea. I can only imagine the transformations that could take place if an entire school worked together to share ideas on how to implement some of these strategies.

      Delete
    2. Debbie B - I think this is a great idea to bring in the I coaches. We can start slow and then build up to full implementation.

      Delete
  15. I would and have already recommended this book to several other teachers I work with. I feel that it gives lots of good strategies that do not take a lot of time or planning to implement. I have recommended it to a few teachers who have been teaching GT students for a while. It is great to get some new ideas for working with students.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I will recommend this book to my colleagues because I believe it's a valuable resource for teachers of GT and non GT students. This book has ideas that can transform a classroom and help teachers maximize each student's learning. It can make a difference!

    ReplyDelete
  17. margaret goodwin-grffinAugust 24, 2014 at 1:02 PM

    Response to kibbeek (8/23): I too would recommend this book to my colleagues. Teachers need new ideas and new ways of looking at teaching and students. I found the book a little overwhelming at first- so many details- so many ideas but as I reflect on all the things I've read and new things I have learned, I think the book has made me stop and think about gifted students in a different way. This book has presented me with a lot of new ideas and concrete resources that I can try (and modify if needed)with my students.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would definitely recommend this book to other teachers. There are so may useful ideas that a teacher can use whether they have gifted students or not. This would also be a great book to give new teachers.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have already spoke with my team mates about some of the strategies. I do not have any GT students this year, but I intend to implement several of the strategies discussed such as the Friday Event, Socratic Seminars, and the extension menus.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Recommending this book would depend on the person. I would definitely recommend it to new teachers or people who are just starting out in the world of gifted differentiation. It is easy to read and provides good examples of what the strategy should look like. With this particular edition the CD makes it very useful. I received the first edition of this book when I took my initial 30 hour GT course about 20 years ago. I have referred to it often.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Catherine Roth:
    I would recommend this book to others because it is loaded with useful strategies for teaching gifted students in the regular classroom. Often times gifted students are alone in the regular classroom, or there are only two or three gifted students on a grade-level, so finding strategies that will help the gifted student work within the confines of the regular classroom while still moving forward in their own learning is important and relevant to our work with students. The compacting & learning menus are especially useful when the number of GT students in the regular classroom is small. This book is definitely worth having.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would definitely recommend this book. It has such good ideas in it, not just for GT but the whole class. All the resources and examples they provide are perfect for returning teachers, but also new teachers with GT kids. I have learned a lot from this book and I know other who didn't take this class enjoy using it too.

    ReplyDelete