Gifted Education
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Teaching 3rd–5th Grade Gifted Students for Jobs That Do Not Even Exist Yet
Teaching gifted students for jobs that do not exist yet means focusing less on memorization and more on future-ready thinking. In this post, I share how 3rd–5th grade gifted classrooms can become innovation labs where students build skills in creativity, critical thinking, STEM, robotics, AI, collaboration, and problem-solving. Our students may not know what careers…
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Why I Grade Student Assignments in #smithingifted — Even When They Don’t Go on a Report Card
In this #smithingifted blog post, I explain why I grade gifted student assignments even though they do not appear on a traditional report card. My simple 1–4 grading system helps students understand expectations, gives meaningful feedback, creates accountability, and provides clear documentation for progress reports. For gifted teachers, this system makes it easier to track…
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Welcome to #smithingifted: Where Gifted Learners Think Bigger, Create More, and Lead the Way
#smithingifted is a resource space for gifted teachers who want more than basic enrichment. Created by gifted educator Beth Smith, #smithingifted focuses on rigorous, creative, and ready-to-use resources for gifted and high-ability learners, especially in STEM, robotics, coding, design thinking, student choice, and real-world problem solving. From classroom projects to innovation challenges, these resources are…
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FarmBeats for Students: Classroom Ag with micro:bit — Growing Innovation Through the Global Innovation Lab
This blog post explores how FarmBeats for Students: Classroom Ag with micro:bit can support the Global Innovation Lab by connecting coding, agriculture, water conservation, and real-world problem solving. Through micro:bit sensors and hands-on investigations, students can collect data on soil moisture, plant growth, and water use while designing solutions to grow plants more efficiently. This…
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Making Algebra Click: Using Hands-On Equations in the 3rd–5th Grade Gifted Classroom
Hands-On Equations gives 3rd–5th grade gifted students a concrete, visual way to build early algebraic thinking. Through manipulatives, balance models, math talk, and self-paced challenges, students learn to solve equations, explain their reasoning, and develop confidence with complex problem-solving. It fits naturally into the #smithingifted curriculum by supporting differentiation, mastery, badges, and deeper mathematical thinking.
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Finding Professional Development That Actually Works for the 3–5 Gifted Classroom 🚀
This blog post shares my love for finding meaningful professional development for the 3rd–5th grade gifted classroom. As a self-proclaimed PD junkie, I’m always looking for fresh ideas that support STEM, coding, robotics, maker education, creativity, and real-world problem solving. One of my favorite PD resources is Infosys Pathfinders, a free platform that offers valuable…
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Global Innovation Lab Update: We’re Building Something Bigger Than One Classroom 🌎🚀
This blog post gives an update on the Global Innovation Lab and how it is moving from an idea into a real educator community. It explains that the first phase is focused on recruiting interested educators, building connections, creating a global map, and preparing for the first challenge: Every Drop Counts: Designing Solutions for a…
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What’s Black, White, and Gifted All Over? My Classroom Theme for 26/27
This blog post shares how I’m using a black-and-white book-themed classroom decor style to create a gifted classroom that feels inspiring, focused, and creative. While classroom decorating is not my specialty, I got help and inspiration from Schoolgirl Style Classroom to bring the theme together. The post explains that classroom decor is more than just…
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Choice, Pace, and Purpose: Gifted Students Shouldn’t Have to Wait for Their Next Assignment
This blog post explores why gifted students need choice, flexible pacing, and meaningful purpose in their learning. Instead of making fast finishers wait or giving them extra busy work, the #smithingifted model allows students to move forward through choice-based pathways, badges, portfolios, STEM, robotics, coding, research, and extension challenges. Gifted education is not about giving…
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Building a Coding & Robotics Continuum for Gifted Learners 🤖💡
This blog explains how the #smithingifted Coding & Robotics Continuum organizes STEM tools into a purposeful, 3-year learning pathway for 3rd–5th grade gifted students. Instead of using coding and robotics as random activities, the continuum helps students move from introduction to developing skills to strong, independent use across four nine-week cycles each year. It highlights…