Definitive resource for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping, fully revised and expanded. In today’s standards-driven era, how can teachers motivate and challenge gifted students and ensure that all students reach their potential? This book provides a compelling answer: the Schoolwide Cluster Grouping Model. The authors explain how the model differs from grouping practices of the past, and they present a roadmap for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping. Readers will find a wealth of teacher-tested classroom strategies along with detailed information on identifying gifted students for clusters, gaining support from parents, and providing ongoing professional development to teachers and other staff. The new edition: offers identification and placement guidance for a wide variety of student ages and populations directs special attention toward empowering gifted English language learners shows teachers how to use the Depth of Knowledge framework to differentiate learning tasks offers new ideas for integrating technology into both professional development and student learning The Cluster Grouping Handbook offers a guide for schools to create a workable, defensible gifted program; to simplify teachers’ jobs; and to maximize learning for all students. Digital content includes customizable forms from the book and a PDF presentation; a free PLC/Book Study Guide is also available.

Master flexible grouping and differentiation strategies to challenge every learner, every day. Grouping learners purposefully throughout the school day based on their needs and the curriculum remains the single best way to differentiate instruction. This award-winning guide will help teachers expertly use flexible grouping and differentiation strategies to respond to students’ diverse learning needs, abilities, and interests. Included are methods for creating groups based on assessment data, planning group lessons and tiered assignments, engaging learners at all levels, supporting personalized learning, grading collaborative work, and communicating with parents about the benefits of groupwork and productive struggle. Digital content contains all forms from the book and a PDF presentation. A free online PLC/Book Study Guide is available at freespirit.com/PLC.

Latest edition of the go-to classroom resource since 1992 for reaching and challenging gifted students. This fourth edition of the “orange bible” brings fresh updates to the definitive guide to meeting the learning needs of gifted students in the mixedabilities classroom—seamlessly and effectively with minimal preparation time. Included are practical, classroom-tested strategies and step-by-step instructions for how to use them. The book provides information on: Compacting and differentiating skill work and new content Extending reading and writing instruction Planning curriculum for all students at the same time Supporting self-directed independent study Supporting curriculum standards and increasing curriculum rigor Boosting critical and creative thinking skills Using assessments to help students demonstrate what they already know Using technology for accelerated learning and to benefit twice-exceptional (2e) students Serving gifted kids with special needs Managing cluster grouping Digital content includes a full chapter for parents as well as a PDF presentation for professional development, reproducible forms ready to customize and print for classroom use, and additional extension menus for the primary and upper grades.

2020 TAGT Legacy Book® Award for Educators Winner Flexible tools help teachers see, understand, teach, challenge, and advocate for underserved gifted students. The underrepresentation of students from historically marginalized populations—including English language learners, twice-exceptional students, culturally and linguistically diverse students, and economically disadvantaged students—in our gifted programs and services continues to be a critical issue in education. The importance of a caring and committed teacher who sees and supports the potential in all learners and who respects linguistic diversity and students’ cultural identity cannot be overstated, yet teachers need the knowledge and training to do so. This reader-friendly guide meets that need, promoting equity in gifted education by providing teachers with a variety of flexible tools to nurture the academic and affective growth of their gifted students from traditionally underserved populations. Over fifty strategies are outlined within five chapters addressing how teachers can see, understand, teach, challenge, and advocate for their underserved gifted learners in all content areas. The authors share numerous student quotes, teacher anecdotes, and spotlights on successful school efforts. Digital downloads include all forms from the book and a PDF presentation. A free PLC/Book Study Guide for use in professional development is also available.

Help underserved high-potential students claim their right to an education that addresses their unique needs. In gifted education, an important and contentious issue that has yet to be sufficiently addressed is the systemic underrepresentation of gifted students who have been discriminated against in school-based gifted and advanced learner programs because of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other realities. Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students gives a voice to those students and brings their stories into focus. With chapters written by student and expert scholars who specialize in addressing the structural inequity and educational inequality in gifted and advanced learner programs, Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students recommends practices and strategies for helping underserved high-potential students claim their right to an education that addresses their unique needs. Each chapter has key takeaways and discussion questions, providing a built-in book study guide to prepare educators to engage students in conversation and to help develop their self-advocacy skills. Coeditors Dr. Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas have brought together the voices of experts and students to help educators move closer to ensuring equity, access, and excellence in gifted education. By arming historically marginalized gifted students with self-advocacy strategies, these remarkable students will be better enabled to fulfill their dreams.

Accessible, hands-on RTI guidance and strategies for educators at all grade levels This practical, ready-to-use resource gives teachers and administrators the tools to successfully implement RTI or strengthen an existing program to target students’ specific needs. Response to Intervention allows educators to assess and meet the needs of struggling students before they have fallen too far behind. Three expert authors explore this multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), offering over one hundred research-based, instructional techniques and interventions for use in diverse settings, advice on creating personal and positive learning environments, information on co-teaching, and approaches to purposeful grouping. Included in the book and as digital downloads are easy-to-use customizable forms to streamline assessment, implementation, and documentation. Also included is an extensive list of references and resources for further exploration.

According to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), evidence-based practices are supported by rigorous research designs and demonstrate that they improve student outcomes, but the actual implementation of these practices in schools is limited. This essential guidebook assists coordinators of gifted education in implementing three evidence-based practices: universal screening, grouping, and acceleration. Each module includes an overview of research, administrative and assessment considerations, forms for implementing the practice, scripted presentation slides for educators and parents, and resources. Modules may be used by educators within a series of workshops for an entire school district, on an individual campus or for important stakeholders.

Empower gifted learners to take charge of their education. Gifted learners are full of potential, but sometimes they’re also frus­trated, bored, and even disruptive in class. Many bright students struggle because they have never been taught how to ask for what they really need to improve their school experience. This research-based guide shows educators how to teach self-advocacy skills to gifted students in four essential steps. Gifted students will: Understand their rights and responsibilities Develop their learner profiles Investigate available options and opportunities Connect with advocates These simple yet comprehensive strategies are brought to life in triumphant true student stories. Also included are complete instructions for conducting a day-long self-advocacy workshop with gifted students. Digital content includes a workshop facilita­tor’s guide, a PDF presentation for use in workshops, pre- and post-workshop student surveys, and customizable forms.

The second edition of Handbook for Counselors Serving Students With Gifts and Talents provides the definitive overview of research on the general knowledge that has been amassed regarding the psychology of gifted students. This book: Introduces the reader to the varied conceptions of giftedness. Covers issues specific to gifted children and various intervention methods. Describes programs designed to fulfill the need these children have for challenge. Is updated and expanded, addressing contemporary issues. Reflects the latest research on giftedness. With chapters authored by leading experts in the field, Handbook for Counselors Serving Students With Gifts and Talents is a resource professionals can turn to for answers to a wide variety of questions about gifted children.

Build children’s proficiency with oral and written communication, promote social and emotional learning (SEL), and help students work toward standards while developing critical skills they’ll need in later grades. This practical and unique resource presents 18 classroom-tested projects, called “openings,” in core curricular areas. Students research topics and present what they have learned to their peers with this kids-teaching-kids approach to differentiated, project-based learning. Projects align with content standards in core curricular areas. Digital content includes the book's reproducible forms (customizable and printable) and three bonus openings.