Video Games in My Classroom?

I didn't think I would give in... But I have... Now before you judge me think about this... If you look back through history, many children's toys have been miniature versions of tools children would later use in life. I remember taking my class, when I was teaching 3rd grade, on a field trip to a place called Kelloge House, in California. This Victorian style mansion had been almost fully restored and was meant to give our kids a look into the past... It was there that the docent explained that many of the children's toys used by kids at the turn of the 1900's were items such as little sewing machines, miniature working tools and others such as these tools. This seemed true of today as well... My son already has his own play BBQ that he grills some tasty plastic burgers for mom and dad! I couldn't help but make the connection. Aren't video games employing some of the same skills and problem solving kids may need to use when adults? Fast forward to two months ago... A good friend working for the video game company Valve(maker of a gaming "iTunes" like site called Steam) called and put me in contact with their small but motivated education development team. I was given a beta, or test version, of a one of their top selling games that had been modified to allow students to manipulate and create their own dynamic levels. Using this game, students would need to employ a number of creative and problem solving skills along with math and science. Once done they could play their level on the game called Portal. While I'm still in the "beta teaching version" on using video games in my classroom, this has absolutely opeed my eyes and pushed me off my stance of "video games being the enemy of thinking, reading, and homework." So the question I had to ask myself now and that i pose to you is... What is it that you could turn around to use in your classroom that would push you out of your comfort zone and make kids more excited about learning?

Getting to The Gifted

Recently I received an amazing gift from my wife.  She had noticed that with each new advertisement, I became more and more interested in the Kindle Fire.  I would often deny I wanted one when she would ask, giving all sorts of reasons why I could live without one.  Now before I lose focus and turn this into a review for the Kindle Fire let me make the connection.  Although I had missed the signs that I wanted this gift, her sensitive observation had seen my desire (although maybe it was my more obvious signs, for example I would stop forwarding the DVR through the commercials when I notice that a Fire advertisement was on...) In reality, it was that sensitive observation by my wife on the gift that I wanted that helped me to realize it was something that was drawing my interest.

Reflecting on this made me wonder about the gifted students I teach on a daily basis.  Were my gifted students frustrated many times because they were focused on the gifts of others and overlooked their own gifts?  Would I be able to identify the gifts  my students had?  And what could I, as an educator, do to help develop the discovery and acceptance of those gifts, not just the management of gifted students? I wanted to  continue to find was to be a  teacher with precision focused lessons.

If you are anything like me, I'm sure that you can easily picture this scenario too; a students chasing after the gifts they see in others and missing their very own talents.  This didn't just seem to apply to my students identified as gifted.  What was I doing and what was the education world doing to help students identify their gifts?  This sent me on my quest. I found an amazing document titled the 12 Traits of Giftedness.  Hopefully you've seen it... but if not, check it out and see if you can find ways to help all students open and understand their gifts and the challenges that may come with that gift. It's empowering for kids, parents and educators alike.