Joan F. Smutny - Böcker

In this handbook, you will find the inspiration and the practical guidance you need to start your own gifted program!Gifted programs have the potential to change lives, but they can be difficult to develop and sustain without the appropriate research and guidance. This book gives you the "nuts and bolts" needed to design and implement a gifted program to maximize the benefits to students, teachers, schools, and parents. In this comprehensive volume, best-selling author Joan Franklin Smutny brings some of the leading gifted educators together under the aegis of the National Association of Gifted Children. Lending editorial guidance and her own contributions, Smutny directs the individual expertise of each contributor, with chapters that include guidelines for: Designing and implementing curriculum for pre-K through middle school Identifying and selecting the best teachers Creating the vital support networks among parents, school, and community Assessing the program′s impact on children, parents, and teachers Developing special programming for the disadvantaged gifted studentsThe book offers several examples of different learning experiences that fall under the definition of a "gifted program," as well as a chapter that outlines all of the essentials for starting a gifted program, including sample forms and letters.

In this handbook, you will find the inspiration and the practical guidance you need to start your own gifted program!Gifted programs have the potential to change lives, but they can be difficult to develop and sustain without the appropriate research and guidance. This book gives you the "nuts and bolts" needed to design and implement a gifted program to maximize the benefits to students, teachers, schools, and parents. In this comprehensive volume, best-selling author Joan Franklin Smutny brings some of the leading gifted educators together under the aegis of the National Association of Gifted Children. Lending editorial guidance and her own contributions, Smutny directs the individual expertise of each contributor, with chapters that include guidelines for: Designing and implementing curriculum for pre-K through middle school Identifying and selecting the best teachers Creating the vital support networks among parents, school, and community Assessing the program′s impact on children, parents, and teachers Developing special programming for the disadvantaged gifted studentsThe book offers several examples of different learning experiences that fall under the definition of a "gifted program," as well as a chapter that outlines all of the essentials for starting a gifted program, including sample forms and letters.

"Smutny has assembled a group of colleagues who bring very practical and useful insights to this issue and suggest practices that will make the use of this important curricular modification justifiable, manageable, and, most of all, normal. Acceleration is not treated as a strategy of last resort but as a logical and reasonable way to acknowledge and provide for the growth and continuous progress of all children. By broadening the idea of acceleration as a way to meet academic, emotional, and social needs, the book turns the concerns about acceleration into strengths."—Barbara Clark, Professor Emeritus, California State University, Los Angeles"A well-written, extremely useful guide for parents and educators who wish to provide gifted students an opportunity to learn at a pace and level appropriate to their abilities. Offers valuable insight on the social and emotional aspects of effective acceleration."—Jan Davidson, President and Cofounder, Davidson Institute for Talent DevelopmentCoauthor, Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds Raise the bar on accelerated learning and discover new possibilities that go beyond minimum proficiency!Written for K–5 teachers, this practical guide corrects misunderstandings in the field of acceleration and provides the tools necessary to effectively determine the most appropriate learning options for gifted students. Through real-life stories, well-known authors in gifted education Joan Franklin Smutny, Sally Y. Walker, and Elizabeth A. Meckstroth, dispel the common myths about acceleration and describe what it is, what forms it takes, and what it can do for gifted learners—intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Presenting nuts-and-bolts guidance, this valuable resource provides:Numerous case studies, helpful checklists, and reproducible forms Prevailing theories and current research Social-emotional aspects of acceleration practicesInstructional strategies for implementation in various school settingsLearning opportunities for underserved groups, such as multicultural and urban studentsBibliographies and helpful Web sites Offering a new perspective on how prevailing attitudes have deprived students of opportunities to develop their talents, Acceleration for Gifted Learners, K–5, directly reflects the 2004 Templeton Report in validating the urgency to meet gifted students′ needs.

"Smutny has assembled a group of colleagues who bring very practical and useful insights to this issue and suggest practices that will make the use of this important curricular modification justifiable, manageable, and, most of all, normal. Acceleration is not treated as a strategy of last resort but as a logical and reasonable way to acknowledge and provide for the growth and continuous progress of all children. By broadening the idea of acceleration as a way to meet academic, emotional, and social needs, the book turns the concerns about acceleration into strengths."—Barbara Clark, Professor Emeritus, California State University, Los Angeles"A well-written, extremely useful guide for parents and educators who wish to provide gifted students an opportunity to learn at a pace and level appropriate to their abilities. Offers valuable insight on the social and emotional aspects of effective acceleration."—Jan Davidson, President and Cofounder, Davidson Institute for Talent DevelopmentCoauthor, Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds Raise the bar on accelerated learning and discover new possibilities that go beyond minimum proficiency!Written for K–5 teachers, this practical guide corrects misunderstandings in the field of acceleration and provides the tools necessary to effectively determine the most appropriate learning options for gifted students. Through real-life stories, well-known authors in gifted education Joan Franklin Smutny, Sally Y. Walker, and Elizabeth A. Meckstroth, dispel the common myths about acceleration and describe what it is, what forms it takes, and what it can do for gifted learners—intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Presenting nuts-and-bolts guidance, this valuable resource provides:Numerous case studies, helpful checklists, and reproducible forms Prevailing theories and current research Social-emotional aspects of acceleration practicesInstructional strategies for implementation in various school settingsLearning opportunities for underserved groups, such as multicultural and urban studentsBibliographies and helpful Web sites Offering a new perspective on how prevailing attitudes have deprived students of opportunities to develop their talents, Acceleration for Gifted Learners, K–5, directly reflects the 2004 Templeton Report in validating the urgency to meet gifted students′ needs.

"Contains priceless examples of teachers sharing their particular expertise on how to bring creativity and excitement back to our classrooms. Best of all, the strategies are integrated with required standards."—Susan Winebrenner, Author and Staff Development SpecialistEducation Consulting Service, Inc."There are many books that establish the importance of providing creative, stimulating learning experiences, but here is a book that provides strategies for exactly how that can be done."—Barbara Clark, Professor EmeritusCalifornia State University, Los AngelesProvide exciting, enriching learning experiences for gifted students through proven strategies from master teachers!How can I motivate my gifted students using the resources I already have? How can I stimulate their imaginations to further their learning? This book is packed with practical activities that allow students to bring their insights, observations, imaginations, and experiences to the classroom.Igniting Creativity in Gifted Learners, K–6 helps elementary school teachers use creative methods to enhance gifted students′ learning and stimulate higher-level thinking, discovery, and invention. Linked to curriculum standards, these ready-to-use strategies, activities, and examples help teachers:Inspire students in reading, writing, social studies, mathematics, science, and the artsTie creative processes to learning outcomes Incorporate technology into instruction where appropriateEncourage students to explore new avenues for thinking and learning Use these contributions from experienced educators to make creativity a vital ingredient in classroom instruction and the learning process!

"Contains priceless examples of teachers sharing their particular expertise on how to bring creativity and excitement back to our classrooms. Best of all, the strategies are integrated with required standards."—Susan Winebrenner, Author and Staff Development SpecialistEducation Consulting Service, Inc."There are many books that establish the importance of providing creative, stimulating learning experiences, but here is a book that provides strategies for exactly how that can be done."—Barbara Clark, Professor EmeritusCalifornia State University, Los AngelesProvide exciting, enriching learning experiences for gifted students through proven strategies from master teachers!How can I motivate my gifted students using the resources I already have? How can I stimulate their imaginations to further their learning? This book is packed with practical activities that allow students to bring their insights, observations, imaginations, and experiences to the classroom.Igniting Creativity in Gifted Learners, K–6 helps elementary school teachers use creative methods to enhance gifted students′ learning and stimulate higher-level thinking, discovery, and invention. Linked to curriculum standards, these ready-to-use strategies, activities, and examples help teachers:Inspire students in reading, writing, social studies, mathematics, science, and the artsTie creative processes to learning outcomes Incorporate technology into instruction where appropriateEncourage students to explore new avenues for thinking and learning Use these contributions from experienced educators to make creativity a vital ingredient in classroom instruction and the learning process!

Low-stress tips for challenging high-ability learnersMany teachers ask: "What do I do for students who finish their work before everyone else? Is there anything I can use that doesn′t require me to read a long textbook with complicated instructions?" If you would like to do more for gifted students and need simple strategies that you can use tomorrow, this book is for you. Inside are helpful methods for challenging students who need more than the regular curriculum can provide. Readers will find practical tools, including: Tips for using existing resources and potentialA progression from simpler to more complex adjustments for advanced learners Specific lessons for language arts, math, science, social studies, and the artsThe authors′ strategies can be tailored to benefit students of varying abilities. The lessons are easy to integrate, consistent with curriculum standards, and described in practical terms. You will also find ready-to-use reproducibles, helpful vignettes, and additional resources for differentiating instruction so that all students are challenged to reach their potential.

Praise for the first edition:"Smutny and von Fremd′s very special talent is in helping adults nurture and cherish the creativity and learning joy that is so intrinsic in young children."—Susan Winebrenner, Author and Staff Development SpecialistEducation Consulting Service, Inc."The authors use teacher voices, classroom stories, and solid foundations to guide the reader′s thinking. Practical examples and specific guidelines make the book very useful without resorting to templates or gimmicks!"—Carol Ann Tomlinson, ProfessorUniversity of VirginiaPraise for the second edition:"Using the ideas presented in this book make teaching and learning more personalized and exciting for both teachers and their students. This book provides a breath of fresh air for the teaching profession!"—Carole S. Campbell, EducatorHigher Ground Educational Consulting"This book is chock full of great examples and classroom applications, providing specific guidance and clear-headed advice."—Nancy H. McDonough, Second-Grade TeacherWalter Stillman School, Tenafly, NJMeet the highly diverse needs of primary students with these differentiated teaching strategies!Every student who walks through the classroom door brings special gifts to the learning table. Differentiating for the Young Child helps primary teachers value and support the unique experiences and learning styles of diverse young learners.Joan Franklin Smutny and S.E. von Fremd offer strategies and methods for promoting creative thinking and intellectual discovery across key discipline areas. They also tackle issues relating to underserved students and discuss differentiated technology use. Revised to make differentiated learning easier, this second edition:Includes new charts with high- to low-preparation strategies for differentiating lessons in math, science, social studies, and language arts Presents new focus questions to help teachers clarify their own priorities and target student needs efficiently Offers Web sites for further reference Because the primary grades influence all the years that follow, this resource helps early childhood and primary teachers use creative, differentiated teaching strategies to meet the individual learning needs of all young children and encourage their future academic success.

Praise for the first edition:"Smutny and von Fremd′s very special talent is in helping adults nurture and cherish the creativity and learning joy that is so intrinsic in young children."—Susan Winebrenner, Author and Staff Development SpecialistEducation Consulting Service, Inc."The authors use teacher voices, classroom stories, and solid foundations to guide the reader′s thinking. Practical examples and specific guidelines make the book very useful without resorting to templates or gimmicks!"—Carol Ann Tomlinson, ProfessorUniversity of VirginiaPraise for the second edition:"Using the ideas presented in this book make teaching and learning more personalized and exciting for both teachers and their students. This book provides a breath of fresh air for the teaching profession!"—Carole S. Campbell, EducatorHigher Ground Educational Consulting"This book is chock full of great examples and classroom applications, providing specific guidance and clear-headed advice."—Nancy H. McDonough, Second-Grade TeacherWalter Stillman School, Tenafly, NJMeet the highly diverse needs of primary students with these differentiated teaching strategies!Every student who walks through the classroom door brings special gifts to the learning table. Differentiating for the Young Child helps primary teachers value and support the unique experiences and learning styles of diverse young learners.Joan Franklin Smutny and S.E. von Fremd offer strategies and methods for promoting creative thinking and intellectual discovery across key discipline areas. They also tackle issues relating to underserved students and discuss differentiated technology use. Revised to make differentiated learning easier, this second edition:Includes new charts with high- to low-preparation strategies for differentiating lessons in math, science, social studies, and language arts Presents new focus questions to help teachers clarify their own priorities and target student needs efficiently Offers Web sites for further reference Because the primary grades influence all the years that follow, this resource helps early childhood and primary teachers use creative, differentiated teaching strategies to meet the individual learning needs of all young children and encourage their future academic success.