#smithingifted

Maker Education

  • Using Google My Maps in the Gifted Classroom: Mapping The Global Innovation Lab

    Using Google My Maps in the Gifted Classroom: Mapping The Global Innovation Lab

    The Global Innovation Lab is growing! 🌎🚀 In this post, I share how Google My Maps is helping us connect classrooms around the world so students can collaborate on real-world challenges like water conservation. If you want your students to think bigger, create meaningful solutions, and learn alongside students from other communities and countries, I…

  • Finding Professional Development That Actually Works for the 3–5 Gifted Classroom 🚀

    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…

  • Building a Coding & Robotics Continuum for Gifted Learners 🤖💡

    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…