Monthly Archives: August 2017
Making Critical Thinking Matter – Prioritizing Higher Order Instruction in a World of Constraints with Featured Guest, Colin Seale of thinkLaw
This week on Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT our featured guest was Colin Seale, Esq. Colin is the Founder and CEO of thinkLaw, which helps educators teach critical thinking to all students through an award-winning, standards-aligned supplemental curriculum based on real-life legal cases and powerful & personalized professional development that helps educators apply critical thinking across grade levels and subject areas. thinkLaw partners with over 60 schools in 11 states as part of its revolutionary agenda to create a world where critical thinking is no longer a luxury good.
Colin and his team provided excellent information on the importance of teaching critical thinking in schools. Critical thinking is considered one of the most important 21st century skills. The days of viewing education as an information delivery service are gone. Students need to learn critical thinking as it is viewed as a ‘life skill’ necessary for success today.
“We are preparing students for entire industries that do not exist yet. Critical thinking cannot be a luxury good! It is the precursor to innovation. STEAM means zip if students can’t find, communicate, and solve real problems.” ~ Colin Seale, Esq.
Innovative educators are realizing that learning ‘how to think’ trumps content every time. The world’s best education systems know that engaging students’ passions can tip the scales for learning. Colin explained, “[There has been a] paradigm shift: content vs. depth is a false choice. Start with powerful questions and motivate content acquisition.”
Why is it so hard to get today’s K-12 students to think deeply? K-12 students’ brains have been numbed by endless test prep and testing. Smart educators are just saying ‘NO’! Many students must endure hours, semesters, or even years of sitting in classes being required to relearn what they already know. Students think deeply about what they are passionate about. It’s time to tap into those passions! As Colin told us, “We rarely encourage risk-taking and too often punish mistakes. Freedom to fail = Freedom to think.”
Engineers tend to struggle analyzing poetry. We need to make critical thinking transferable across subject areas. From the earliest years in school, cross-curricular teaching strategies can achieve a valuable liberal arts education. ‘Critical thinking’ should never rely on a single approach or methodology. Creative teaching is essential. Regarding professional development , Colin said, “it must be personalized and practical so teachers can apply it immediately. Otherwise, it’s just eye candy. Creativity, communication and collaboration must be embedded within all critical thinking activities.”
Content knowledge is much easier to assess than critical thinking skills. Colin suggests, “Just like GT testing, critical thinking assessment is best when it’s authentic and varied. Tie it to meaningful activities!” It should cover problem interpretation, inference, analysis explanation and evaluation skills. Critical thinking assessment tools take time to produce; worksheets and standardized testing need to be replaced.
“The crux of critical thinking assessment is students supporting their thinking with sound reasoning.” ~ Sarah Pfeiler, thinkLaw Team
Finally, we discussed practical methods and tools teachers can use to focus on critical thinking more regularly. Early on, teachers need to impress on students that there can be multiple solutions to problems; seek the best. Even very young students can be taught introspective skills; how does ‘what I know or believe’ affect decisions. Colin added, “Students who care about the problems they solve will persevere through the problem-solving process!” A transcript of this chat may be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at Noon NZST/10 AM AEST/1 AM UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Free Sample Lesson Download for #gtchat Participants
thinkLaw (Twitter)
thinkLaw (Facebook)
Silence is Not an Option: The Educators’ Call to Action #Charlottesville
6 Critical Thinking Questions for Any Situation
3 Tips for Helping All Students Become 21st Century Communicators
Critical Thinking Should Not Be a Luxury: 3 Strategies for Unleashing the Potential of Every Student
Three Tools for Teaching Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
5 Questions Principals Should Ask to Assess Critical Thinking Instruction in Teacher Observations
3 Strategies for Increasing Student Voice in Your Classroom
Thinking Like a Lawyer: Powerful Strategies to Teach Critical Thinking to All Students (webinar)
Cybraryman’s Questioning Techniques Page
Cybraryman’s Critical Thinking Page
FlexFridays Take Learning Beyond the Classroom
Photo and logo courtesy of ThinkLaw.
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
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Resources for Teachers of Gifted and 2E Kids
Please find resources for teachers of gifted students and 2E (twice-exceptional) students in the links below. Many thanks to all who contributed links to resources during the chat. A transcript of this chat can be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at Noon NZST/10 AM AEST/1 AM UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
Resources for Educators from TAGT
GHF Brochures (English and Spanish)
50 Resources for The Parents & Teachers of Gifted & Talented Students
Resources for Educators from NAGC
KY: Useful Websites for Educators of Gifted & Talented Children (pdf)
Resources for Educators at SiG Gifted
WV: Gifted Education Resources for Teachers
Wm & Mary Center for Gifted Education: Resources
U.S. DfEd: Jacob K. Javits Gifted & Talented Students Education Program
ERIC Clearinghouse: Gifted Education (Full Text Docs)
Educator Resources from Belin Blank
Critical Issues – Identification of Gifted Students with Co-Existing Disabilities (2E) (SAGE Open)
Gifted Education Resources for Educators from CTD at Northwestern University
CO: Gifted & Talented Resources for Teachers (pdf)
Serving Gifted Students in General Ed Classrooms from Edutopia
Lesson Plans & Resources for Teaching Gifted & Talented Students
TED Ed: How to Boost Student Access to Gifted & Talented Education Resources
MS (MAGC): Teacher Resources & Links
List: ‘Who to Follow’ on Twitter
List: ‘Texas GT Educators’ on Twitter
List: ‘U.S. Gifted Education Organizations’ on Twitter
List: ‘U.S. Gifted Education’ on Twitter
List: ‘Global Gifted Education on Twitter
Cases on Instructional Technology in Gifted & Talented Education (Amazon)
Begin the Year Differently to Create Success for Your Gifted Students
Understood (website)
UT Austin: UT High School G/T Professional Development
UT Austin: UT High School Credit by Exams
Cybraryman’s Social Emotional Learning Page
Cybraryman’s Gifted and Talented Page
Cybraryman’s Twice Exceptional Children Page
Jade Ann Rivera (blog)
Leslie Sword: Articles and Handouts
Exceptionally Gifted Children: Long-Term Outcomes of Academic Acceleration and Nonacceleration
Courageous Edventures: Navigating Obstacles to Discover Classroom Innovation (Amazon)
Counseling the Gifted and Talented (Amazon)
Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusionment, and Hope (Amazon)
Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual-Spatial Learner (Amazon)
The Cluster Grouping Handbook: A Schoolwide Model (Amazon)
The Curious Classroom: 10 Structures for Teaching with Student-Directed Inquiry (Amazon)
The Underachieving Gifted Child: Recognizing, Understanding, and Reversing Underachievement (Amazon)
Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults (Great Potential Press)
AUS: University of New South Wales – Professional Development Package for Teachers
Hopscotch (App)
Daisy the Dinosaur (App)
Photo courtesy of Pixabay CC0 Public Domain
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
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Resources for Parents of Gifted and 2E Kids
Please find resources for parents of gifted and 2E (twice-exceptional) children in the links below. Many thanks to all who contributed links to resources during the chat. A transcript may be found at Storify.
Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT welcomes, Sheri Hicks, CAE, new Executive Director of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented.
Global #gtchat Powered by the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented is a weekly chat on Twitter. Join us Tuesdays at 8E/7C/6M/5P in the U.S. and Wednesdays at Noon NZST/10 AM AEST/1 AM UK to discuss current topics in the gifted community and meet experts in the field. Transcripts of our weekly chats can be found at Storify. Our Facebook Page provides information on the chat and news & information regarding the gifted community. Also, checkout our Pinterest Page and Playlist on YouTube.
About the author: Lisa Conrad is the Moderator of Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT and Social Media Manager of the Global #gtchat Community. She is a longtime advocate for gifted children and also blogs at Gifted Parenting Support. Lisa can be contacted at: gtchatmod@gmail.com
Links:
National Association for Gifted Children: Parent Resources
Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented: Parents
GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum – Parent Resources
World Council for Gifted & Talented Children
SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted)
Council for Exceptional Children – The Association for the Gifted
Institute for Educational Advancement
Texas Parents of the Profoundly Gifted
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Duke Talent Identification Program
Northwestern Center for Talent Development
University of Denver: Rick Center for Gifted Children
Acceleration Institute – A Nation Empowered
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page
Cybraryman’s Gifted & Talented Page
Cybraryman’s Twice-Exceptional Children Page
48 Essential Links for Parents of Gifted Children
Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education and Talent Development: Websites for Parents
Coppell Gifted Association (TX)
Grapeville-Colleyville SAGE (TX)
Frisco Gifted Association (TX)
2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter (website)
Gifts for Learning (blog)
Gifted Challenges (blog)
Sprite’s Site (blog)
Gifted Guru (blog)
Laughing at Chaos (blog)
Gifted Parenting Support (blog)
Crushing Tall Poppies (blog)
Raising Lifelong Learners (blog)
My Little Poppies (blog)
The Fringy Bit (blog)
The High Flyer (blog)
Supporting Gifted Learners (FB)
NAGC (FB)
Dyslexia Group (FB)
Learning Ally Parent Chat (FB – Closed)
AUS: Gifted Education Research Resource & Information Center (GERRIC)
Gifted Development Center (Dr Linda Silverman)
Understood (website)
Dr. Lynne Kenney (website)
Davidson Academy (NV)
WKU: Center for Gifted Studies (KY)
A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children (Great Potential Press)
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students (Amazon)
#gtchat Blog: Online Programs for Gifted Students
FB: Global #gtchat Powered by TAGT
FB: Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented
FB – GHF: Gifted Homeschoolers Forum
GHF Online (online classes)
Mr. Gelston’s One Room Schoolhouse (online classes)
Online G3 (online classes)
Gifted&Talented.com (online classes)
Shmoop (online classes)
Kahn Academy (online classes)
Background Noise (Amazon)
If This is a Gift, Can I Send it Back? (Amazon)
Smart but Scattered (Amazon)
Giftedness 101 (Amazon)
Parenting Gifted Children (book – NAGC)
Problem Child or Quirky Kid?: A Commonsense Guide for Parents (Amazon)
Your Rainforest Mind (Amazon)
Children with High-Functioning Autism: A Parent’s Guide (Amazon)
Kindling the Spark: Recognizing and Developing Musical Talent (Amazon)
List: Who to Follow on Twitter (Moderator)
Thanks to Leslie Graves, Past President of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, for sharing her extensive links on Livebinders for parents of gifted children.
Art/Art Interactives Livebinder
Codes and Cyphers for Kids Livebinder
Social Sciences and Humanities Livebinder
Gifted and Mental Health Issues Livebinder
Photo courtesy of Pixabay CC0 Public Domain
Graphic courtesy of Lisa Conrad.
