Middle School Gifted

04/29/2026

Powerful colloquium discussions in DC today. How can we ensure every classroom teacher is prepared to understand the needs of advanced learners? I’m so honored to be part of this group at the cutting edge of policy and best practice in K-12 education. Excited to carry this work forward!

04/10/2026

Inspired by my brilliant 6th graders, I’m having so much fun with this project! I’m making them to share with my students and teacher friends. 🤓 They are so easy and fun to make and more personal than the bulk sticker prize-packs online. I’m going to try bookmarks and magnets next! Which one do you like??? What others should I make?

04/02/2026

Our school is wearing red for World Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day 🧠 💕

03/20/2026

What an amazing day on Capitol Hill. I had the opportunity to join advocates from across the country to meet with officials about the only federal legislation for gifted and talented students! The Jacob K Javits Act supports critical research and professional learning for educators working with our often overlooked populations of brilliant learners. Congressional offices don’t often hear directly from K-12 teachers but our stories are powerful!! Thankful that both of my senators support funding Javits in FY27

03/16/2026

I’m SO PROUD of my students and how we ended our ELA unit with fun and authenticity! They planned an exciting interactive evening (with refreshments of course) to showcase all their hard work studying Shakespeare.
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What’s your favorite Shakespeare in school memory?
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Some highlights of our event:
A museum “gift shop” with free student-designed Shakespeare merch.
Posters translating Shakespearean English to Gen alpha internet slang.
Parents, grandparents, and friends were so proud of the kids and excited to share their own favorite Shakespeare memories.
Watching the final versions of their videos with special effects, dramatic music, and sound.
Very dramatic live performances combining traditional and modernized text with stage combat techniques.

Yes, we had some technical difficulties and yes planning an evening event kept me at school outside of contract time, but it was absolutely worth the stress and last-minute problem-solving to make this happen.
I totally recommend trying this with your classes and wish I had asked someone to take more photos! Thanks to for the great ideas.
Please comment or DM me if you’d like to use the museum or performance rubrics I created.
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03/03/2026

Can’t wait to share teaching ideas with the amazing gifted educators in Iowa!

Virtual Spring Workshop
MTSS Framework: Best Practices for Differentiation and Curriculum Design for Gifted Learners!

Early bird rates ends March 31st!
Members: $99
Non-Members: $175
Access to recording for 90 days

https://bit.ly/ITAGSpringWksp26

02/24/2026

My new book is officially out today!
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I am so honored to share 20 of my favorite teaching strategies in that hits stores and web platforms today. You can order it through the link in my bio or anywhere great books are sold 🤓
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If you need LESSON PLANS for your 4th-8th grade advanced learners that can be implemented tomorrow, this book is for you.
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If you like books with funny and relatable STORIES about teaching, this book is for you.
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If you like books that actually include all the DIGITAL RESOURCES you need to implement the lessons, you’ll love this one.
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If you thrive on PUZZLES, creative thinking, and general learning joy, this book is definitely for you!
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If you know a bright child and want to help their teachers, this book would be a perfect GIFT.
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Kansas City locals are invited to join me for a book launch party in March (details coming soon!)
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This has been a work of joy and love with so much support from family, friends and colleagues along the way. I want to thank my current and former students in Piper who inspired these lessons and are featured through pseudonyms throughout the book. Thanks also to Rebecca, Quinn, and the incredible Prufrock team.

02/23/2026

This is why I keep a set of Rubik’s cubes in my classroom! 🤓. We create and solve our own mystery mosaics. Follow and DM me for a lesson plan! Or check my bio link for my entire book of hands-on lessons