Renzulli Learning - Free Access

A student’s first experience with Renzulli Learning is with the Renzulli Profiler, a detailed online questionnaire that allows the Renzulli software to generate a personal profile of each student’s top interests, learning styles, and expression styles, making it easier for teachers to get to know their students and effectively differentiate instruction. 

Once a profile is generated, students and teachers may use it to guide their exploration of the 40,000 online educational resources in the Renzulli database. Students can engage in self-directed learning by exploring safe, fully-vetted resources that have been specifically matched to their individual profiles, and teachers can browse the database of resources to find activities that align to specific objectives, skills, or state and Common Core Standards.

Renzulli Learning can be used to have students:

• Analyze informational texts, argue and defend a point of view
• Research and draw information from multiple sources
• Use mathematics to describe and solve real-world problems
• Demonstrate deeper learning through projects and tasks

AP Classes and Review Go Live on YouTube

Beginning on Wednesday, March 25, students and teachers can attend free, live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country on the College Board's AP YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/advancedplacement.

How to Care for Yourself While Practicing Physical Distancing

We know you’re looking for ways to take care of yourself and #BeTheDifference. We’ve compiled these tips from the Mental Health First Aid curriculum to help you care for your own and your loved ones’ mental health. For more information and resources from MHFA during this difficult time, read these new resources on our blog: How to Care for Yourself While Practicing Physical Distancing How Do I Know Someone is Experiencing Anxiety or Depression? How to Help Someone with Anxiety or Depression During COVID-19 How to Support a Loved One Going Through a Tough Time During COVID-19  For more information on COVID-19, please visit these resources: The National Council for Behavioral Health: Resources for COVID-19 World Health Organization: Rolling updates on coronavirus disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Situation Summary  We will continue to share resources and tips as they become available. In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy. If you or someone you care about feels overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety, or like you want to harm yourself or others call 911. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA to 741741 to talk to a Crisis Text Line counselor.

No Tech Games to Play at Home

Check out these fun games to play at home.
https://icebreakerideas.com/fun-games-to-play-at-home/

Virtual State Park Tours

Enjoy the scenery of our national parks with these virtual tours.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/national-parks/virtual-national-parks-tours

Virtual Museum Tours

Take a look at just some of Google’s top museums that are offering online tours and exhibits. https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours 

Join TAGT & thinkLaw for a Facebook Live Session, 3/19, 6 p.m. CST

Families across the country have been asked to transform into home-school teachers with little or no notice. As their children's first teacher, parents are inherently qualified to do this. But how do you successfully keep your students engaged in learning, especially when you may be balancing your own worries and remote work? This struggle may be particularly rough for gifted children, who may require much more stimulation than the distance learning options provided by their schools. Join Colin Seale, Founder and CEO of thinkLaw, at 6 p.m. CST on Thursday, March 19, for a Facebook Live session on the TAGT Facebook page full of powerful, but practical tips for engaging your children at home without losing your mind during these unprecedented times. Like and follow the TAGT facebook page here. 

Stream Metropolitan Opera free until 03/22

The Metropolitan Opera announced it will stream encore performances of some of its most famed shows to the public starting on Monday, March 16 — and it will all be completely free. https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/music/metropolitan-opera-offering-free-virtual-shows

Talking to Children about COVID-19

As the COVID-19 situation progresses, so does stress. Having children in your home adds another layer of concern as to how to address what is happening in a child-friendly way. The National Association of School Psychologists has some information that may be helpful. Visit their Parent Resource Guide at https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource.

Family Activities for STEAM Education - Science Fair Central

Science fairs and STEAM events present a learning opportunity for the entire family, including younger siblings who can watch, absorb, and come up with hypotheses and ideas of their own. With an emphasis on hands-on investigations, field work, and participating in STEAM just as real scientists and engineers would, makes these events more relevant and creative than ever.

Visit this website for family activities and student workshops: https://sciencefaircentral.com/parents

Institute of American History Student Essay Contest

As part of the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s 25th Anniversary celebration, we are pleased to announce a new contest for elementary school students for the 2019–2020 school year. 

Elementary school students in grades 4 and 5 are encouraged to take part in the 50 States, 1 Nation Contest. (Students in grade 6 are also eligible to enter the contest if they are currently enrolled in an elementary or K–8 school, and they are studying US history.) Inspired by the work that most elementary school teachers already do with students, our goal for this contest is to help expand students’ understanding of how their families, towns, and states connect with each other and with American history. 

Students will have the opportunity to hone their analytical and creative writing skills through one of three means of expression: essay (3–5 paragraphs), short story/historical fiction) (3–5 paragraphs), or poem (not to exceed 12 lines). 

All participants will receive a certificate of participation, delivered to their school. Selected entries will be recognized with cash prizes and publications by the Gilder Lehrman Institute, as follows:

• 1st Prize for each category in each grade level (essay, short story, poem): $100 and a set of 3 Gilder Lehrman Institute posters
• 2nd Prize for each category in each grade level: $75 and a set of 3 Gilder Lehrman Institute posters
• 3rd Prize for each category in each grade level: $50 and a set of 3 Gilder Lehrman Institute posters
• Two honorable mentions (in the form of a special certificate and a bundle of Gilder Lehrman Institute books) will be awarded to strong entries in each grade level, for a total of four honorable mentions.
• Teachers of each prize winner and honorable mention recipient will receive a copy of Teaching with Documents: Colonial America to Reconstruction.

Entries are being accepted now and will be accepted on a rolling basis. To be considered for the 2019–2020 program year, entries must be received by March 30, 2020. Winners for 2019–2020 will be announced on April 21, 2020.

For more information on the 4th and 5th/6th Grade prompts, along with Common Core State Standard alignments for each grade and information on how to enter, click here. In future years, we expect to add second and third grades to contest eligibility.

CONTEST INFORMATION ENTER THE CONTEST NOW

For more information, click HERE. 

Explore UT - Canceled

Explore UT scheduled for 03/07/2020 is canceled.

30-day Creativity Challenge

Want to engage your creative side? Try the 30-day Creativity Challenge!