Sharing Story with Paula J. Vaughan, M.H.

1. 1
   28
   May
   

   Considering Our Humanity - New Curricula Release!

   New Curricula Release for Gifted Learners!

   Considering Our Humanity is an interdisciplinary, humanities-based curriculum devoted to supporting the burgeoning self-awareness and cultural understanding of gifted elementary and middle school students.

   Considering Our Humanity focuses on feelings, experiences, and ideas communicating the understanding that the individual is part of a larger, global community and also, a unique being deserving love and respect. In this way, Considering Our Humanity teaches students to love themselves while expanding this tenderness and care outward. 

   Considering Our Humanity opens dialogue about philosophical ideas relating to age, identity, ethnicity, compassion, kindness, and altruism while also exploring literary terminology and meaning concerning metaphor, symbolism, and poetry. In this way, Considering Our Humanity blends the disciplines of cultural anthropology, philosophy, religion, mythology, and folklore through the use of extraordinary children’s picture books specifically chosen for their exceptional communication of the human condition. These books include a range of cultures, ages, and both genders so that students are exposed to a variety of views and circumstances. 

   Created for gifted learners, Considering Our Humanity is designed to be shared with individual students or within small classroom settings where open discussion is honored and students’ opinions are shared and regarded respectfully. Considering Our Humanity involves a blend of discussion, classroom activities, and independent explorations so that the learning styles and individual needs of gifted students are met. Considering Our Humanity has been developed with the intention that parents, teachers, and students adapt the curricula to meet students’ specific interests and individual skill sets.

   Considering Our Humanity includes the following with each of the extraordinary children’s picture books being investigated:

   • a paragraph summary of the story
   • a brief overview of the concepts being explored through the story
   • a list of words to define and discuss related to the concepts within the story
   • a list of discussion questions 
   • a list of classroom activity suggestions and ideas for how to engage them
   • a selection of related internet links
   • an independent student activity
   • 45 pages, PDF downloadable format

   Available exclusively through CurrClick.com for $9.99!

   • curricula
   • Gifted
   • gifted children
   • giftedness
2. 352
   16
   May
   
   

   artist-confessions:

   Happy early or late Mother’s Day, whenever this happens to be posted :)

   submitted by -lolitaocean

   (via thecuddlymutant)

   • children
   • children's rights
   • Gifted
   • gifted children
   • giftedness
   • submission
3. 1
   15
   May
   

   Is My Child Gifted?

   As a homeschooling educator working with gifted children, I have had to answer this question many times. In actuality, a child’s giftedness is truly a trait that a parent already knows exists, but may not have named as such. Identifying giftedness is important for children because how the gifted learn, socialize, feel, and process the world is different. Stating plainly that giftedness is a specific, identifiable trait is not a matter of elitism, but instead a life-saving act that helps parents guide and advocate for their children. 

   I grew up in the public school system and was fortunate to participate in gifted programs. I know first-hand how vital these programs are for the gifted and how very much they can be a lifeline, especially in high school when a young person is generally at his or her most vulnerable. Because of my positive experience within these gifted programs and my adult experience mothering a gifted child, I have created curricula to honor the intellectual and emotional needs of gifted children.

   If you’re a parent wanting to know if your child is gifted, or if you need validation about your own giftedness, I’ve written a brief article that may help, “Is My Child Gifted? Helping Parents Identify and Understand Giftedness.” This article has questions the answers to which will help you identify your child’s giftedness (and your own), in addition to book, media, and internet resources for further exploration.  Here’s a link:

   http://www.sharingstory.com/curricula/IsMyChildGifted.pdf

   Wishing you and yours joy ~

   • gifted
   • gifted children
   • giftedness
   • homeschooling
   • homeschooling gifted