Section 7: The Back Page

Promise Newsletter

October, 2021

Section 7: The Back Page

Book Reviews:

Great New SEL Resource for Primary Gifted Grades PreK-2

by Roberta Braverman, Educational Consultant

roberta.braverman.2@gmail.com

Many districts choose “push-in” as their service model for gifted education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through grade two. This allows a gifted education specialist (or Math, ELA or media specialist or guidance counselor) and the classroom teacher to observe students for their curiosity, interest, questioning, problem solving, and other skills. While “enrichment for all” sometimes offers lessons in critical and creative thinking, the areas of social and emotional learning for gifted students are not addressed in many schools. Here is a wonderful resource to build tolerance among peers and self-understanding for gifted learners. The cost is very reasonable. Several NJ school districts have purchased and implemented use of this series and have given very positive reviews. Heidi Chizzik, Director of Gifted Education Services for Tenafly Public Schools says, “The Cheetah series sparked amazing conversations with young students about the social emotional characteristics that are often present in gifted students. Whether gifted or not, the students were able to relate to the likable characters and connect with their different experiences.”

I had the honor of meeting the author, Gloria, and her husband Peter via Zoom, as they live in Australia. There are versions of these books in many languages from other publishers. The American version from Royal Fireworks is slightly different from the English/Australian one due to colloquialisms.

To find out more about the Cheetah series, including character descriptions, and how it was inspired by Stephanie Tolan's cheetah metaphor for gifted children, check this link from the Royal Fireworks Press Website:

https://www.rfwp.com/series/gifted-kid-book-series

Roberta Braverman, M.A. Educational Administration, (NJ certificates: Curriculum Supervisor, Principal, k-8, early childhood, graduate coursework in Gifted Education) is highly acclaimed and a NJDOE approved provider of professional development and possesses a NJ business vendor certificate. Roberta has supported more than twenty-five NJ school districts as they implement, evaluate, and improve their identification of and services for gifted students. Her 35 years as a teacher leader and gifted specialist in NJ’s public schools provides a strong foundation for her work. Roberta served as an officer in NJAGC for over 25 years and was a member of NAGC’s Public Policy and Advocacy committee for multiple terms. She led the team championing the 2020 NJ law The Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act and serves on the NJDOE committee of the same name. Contact her for more information:

LinkedIn, Twitter Facebook @RobertaBraverman

BRIGHT IDEA BOOKSHELF!

Concept-Based Instruction:

Building Curriculum With Depth and Complexity

by Brian E. Scott, EdD

Review by Joanne L. Emery, Promise Editor

This small volume is easy to read and chock-full of information. First, Dr. Scott introduces readers to the foundational work of such educational leaders as: Lynn Erickson, Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Carol Ann Tomlinson, Robert Marzono, Richard DuFour, Benjamin Bloom, John Hattie, and others. After summarizing each of these great thinkers’ work, Dr. Scott explains how to take these ideas and create practical and organized units of study to inspire students and take their thinking to the next level. The book shows in detail how to create meaningful cross curricular plans, which provide teachers ownership, self-efficacy, and clear instructional goals. By looking at connections between disciplines, teachers set up a more integrated and richer learning experience for their students. Using the work of Lynn Erickson, Robert Marzano, and John Hattie, Dr. Scott provides a step-by-step framework for creating rich learning experiences. This way of designing curriculum takes the student not just from memorization to understanding to general application, but stretches students critical thinking from analysis to evaluation to creation. Dr. Scott’s work is invaluable to teachers who are looking to build a curriculum with layers of depth and complexity and who want to support students in their journey to ponder and wonder.

A Note from the Editor:

by Joanne L. Emery, VP of Publications

We hope that our new content and programming will spotlight all the wonderful things happening in regard to Gifted Education. Thank you for your teaching expertise and your continued commitment to children. Please invite your students to submit work to our art, music, video, and writing contests. Our 2022 spring conference, Explore Discover Engage is sure to provide educators with inspiration and insight into teaching gifted students!

We are seeking articles about math, science, technology, and engineering for the November/December issue. If you have a classroom experience, teaching strategy, book review, or an event you’d like to highlight in an upcoming Promise, please contact me.

Joanne L. Emery at Promisenewsletter@njagc.org.