Synopses & Reviews
Support exceptionally bright children with strategies that challenge them to think with more complexity, depth, and creativity
Nearly every group of children includes at least one exceptionally bright child. From the especially creative child to the child who has already mastered learning outcomes to the and#147;twice exceptionaland#8221; child, exceptionally bright children have a wide range of talents and behaviors. This book will help you understand what it means to be exceptionally bright in preschool and prekindergarten and help you guide children to reach their full potential. It includes three broad strategiesand#151;differentiation, conversation, and connectionand#151;for creating rich and satisfying learning experiences that meet the needs of all children. Use these techniques to adapt your practices, challenge children to think more deeply, and create opportunities for children to learn from each other throughout your literacy, math, and science curricula. You will also learn assessment methods that can help you identify exceptionally bright children and techniques to support childrenand#8217;s social-emotional development and strengthen your partnerships with families.
When exceptionally bright children are supported and challenged, they will be more confident about their abilities to think and learn. And they will go on to make creative contributions to their future classroom communities.
Ann Gadzikowski, a graduate of the Erikson Institute, has more than twenty years of experience as an early childhood teacher and program director. She is the early childhood coordinator for the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University and teaches early childhood education courses at Oakton Community College.
Review
and#147;Gadzikowskiand#8217;s extensive knowledge of early childhood education, combined with her experience in developing enrichment programs for exceptionally bright young learners, results in this must-have resource for educators. The book offers pedagogically sound and practical approaches that educators can easily adopt to have an immediate and substantial impact on studentsand#8217; development and engagement in learning.and#8221;
and#151;Susan Corwith, PhD, associate director of the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University
Synopsis
Support and guide exceptionally bright children while creating richer, inclusive learning environments for all children in early childhood classrooms.
Synopsis
Nearly every early childhood classroom has an exceptionally bright childfrom the child who starts reading independently at age three to the child who would rather take apart his tricycle than ride on it. This book's strategies help educators create a richer learning environment where exceptionally bright children are encouraged to learn beyond prescribed curriculum goals. It includes identifiers of exceptionally bright children, ideas to change the pace, level, or method of teaching in response to the needs of individual children, and guidance for working with families.
Ann Gadzikowski is the early childhood coordinator at Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development.
About the Author
Ann Gadzikowski is an early childhood educator and the author of several books, including Story Dictation: A Guide for Early Childhood Professionals. Ann coordinates the Leapfrog and Spark enrichment programs for Northwestern Universityand#8217;s Center for Talent Development. She is a frequent presenter at professional conferences on the topics of both early childhood education and gifted education. She has been an instructor of early childhood courses at Oakton Community College for more than a decade. Ann earned a masterand#8217;s degree from the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in child development and has worked as a teacher and director of preschool and early childhood programs.