🏖️Beach Days & 📝Lesson Plans: Plan a Breezy Back-to-School for Gifted Ed (Without the Panic!)

Yes, I said "Back to School" in May.  Before you throw your freshly graded papers at me, hear me out! 

We all know that feeling. The last hurrah of the school year approaches, and while there's a beach with your name on it calling, a tiny voice whispers about… back to school.  Let's be honest, the thought can be enough to induce a minor case of the summertime blues.  But hear me out, fellow gifted educators!  By taking some strategic steps now, you can ensure a smooth transition into the fall semester and reclaim some precious beach time  (or pool time, Netflix binging time, you get the idea).  Here's how to use this end-of-year period to your advantage and set yourself up for a thrilling (yes, thrilling!)  year teaching your amazing gifted students. (Bonus: You're prepping while you're still getting paid, too.)

Remember all those unique challenges you faced this year? The isolation of being the sole gifted specialist (or the general education teacher with a room full of bright minds)? The struggle to find resources that truly meet the needs of your gifted learners? The ever-present battle against the clock?  Well, by taking some proactive steps now, you can enter the new school year feeling empowered and prepared.

Here are some time-saving strategies you can implement right now, while the details of this year are still fresh in your mind:

• Template Time: Feeling bogged down by lesson planning? Gift yourself the gift of time by creating (or revising) lesson plan templates specifically designed for gifted education. This way, you'll have a clear framework for building engaging lessons that challenge your students, without starting from scratch every single time.  

  • If you're searching for a Lesson Plan template that allows you to differentiate for all levels, check out my Tiered Differentiation Lesson Plan template.  Sharing this with the  Gen Ed teachers you work with will make you their hero!🦸‍♀️

• Map It Out: Invest a little time upfront to map out the remaining curriculum for your gifted students. Identify areas where you can consolidate or enrich, making room for those in-depth explorations gifted learners crave. This way, you'll have a clear roadmap for the fall semester, minimizing that back-to-school scramble.  I like to think of this as my track to run on all year.  Yes, we'll make stops and additions, but it is much easier to get back on track when it's mapped out.

  
  

  • A few planners for the year are linked here: Year at a Glance, Tarver Academy (he has tons of free resources), 5 Week Monthly 2 Page Planner

"This also makes returning to school so much less stressful, giving you clarity and confidence as you start your new year.  Inevitably, there will be changes in the fall.  This plan helps you face those and adjust knowing your plans are ready to go."

• Student-Led Learning Power: Let's face it, gifted students are bursting with ideas and knowledge. Embrace this! Encourage your students to lead discussions, presentations, or even co-create projects throughout the remaining weeks of school. This not only saves you prep time, but also fosters valuable leadership skills and allows you to assess their understanding in a fun and dynamic way.   

  • Ways to incorporate these in your class can include Stations & Rotations, Time-Boxed Challenges, Student Presentations about their favorite project or topic of the year, or Student Created Timelines of the year (they won't even know you're sneaking in a reflection activity).  These reflection activities not only create a little extra time for you, but also allow you to hear which lessons were most impactful on your students - helping you plan more of the same for next year.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Remember, the goal here is to minimize stress and maximize efficiency.  Every minute saved today is a minute gained in the fall.  By taking these steps now, you'll avoid the summer brain drain and enter the new school year feeling organized, confident, and ready to ignite the brilliance of your gifted students!

P.S.  Feeling overwhelmed and like you could use some extra support navigating the unique world of gifted education?  We get it!  That's why we created Gifted Education Solutions, a supportive community and coaching program designed specifically for YOU.  Join our Gifted Ed Facebook group for templates, resources, and collaboration with teachers like you.  You can also schedule 1:1 Coaching sessions to focus on YOUR specific challenges and goals.

In the meantime, happy prepping (and don't forget to schedule some serious relaxation time too)!🌴🏖️🩴