Dear Students and Families,

 

Welcome!  I'm happy to be working with you and your child this year.  I love teaching!  When I'm not teaching, I like to play with my two teenage boys, care for our pets (1 dog, 2 cats, 5 chickens, and 12 saltwater fish), cook, garden, read, hike, and goof around.  

 

I have a passion for unique learners.  Gifted students need learning experiences that not only prepare them for higher levels of education, but allow their talents, interests, and abilities to flourish.  I enjoy creating classroom opportunities that allow students to test ideas, navigate challenges, and construct understanding across domains.

 

Carol Tomlinson wrote a short article called What it Means to Teach Gifted Learners Well which provides a wonderful summary of what quality gifted education is, and is not.  She summarizes the importance of good curriculum and instruction, pacing to match students' individual needs, an appropriate level of difficulty, and supported risk.  (There are many other articles at NAGC that help define the traits of quality gifted education.)

 

It's going to be a great year and I look forward to working with you.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Hoagies' Gifted Education Page - the internets' warehouse of information on giftedness and links to many worthwhile gifted sites