This homeroom class is set up for gifted students who wish to meet with like-minded peers on a frequent basis. It serves as a friendly check-in space packed full of thought-provoking information. After class, I always provide a lengthy classroom summary with additional resources for those who would like to dive into a topic deeper. (As a certified talented and gifted teacher, I have extensive experience working with Davidson Young Scholars in the profoundly gifted population as well as with students who identify as twice-exceptional.) Topics covered include Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences, Elaine Aaron's high sensitivity, Dabrowski's overexcitabilities, asynchronous development, and more. We also make time for a brain teaser and individual check-in with each student. Feel free to bring a snack.

 Here's a preview of our routine: 
-Class typically begins with an educational game as a reward for those who arrive on time (5 minutes)
-Then, we engage in a quick class check-in that gives every student a chance to talk about classes they have or a project they are working on (1-2 minutes each student = 10 minutes)
- Last but not least, we have a 15 minute mini-lesson related to gifted psychology/creativity 

First semester 2024: Sep. 3 - Dec. 20 (16 weeks/15 weeks of class)
*Fall sessions start Tuesday, Sep. 3rd.
*Nov. 3rd (daylight savings time ends in U.S. – fall back an hour)
*No class Monday, October 14 - Friday, October 18 (fall break). Class resumes Monday, Oct. 21st.
*No class Thursday, November 28th or Friday, November 29th. Class resumes Monday, Dec. 2nd.
*Last day of the first semester: Dec. 20th

Sep. 3 - Sep. 6: Gifted Mirroring: Finding Friends, Mentors, and Role Models
Sep. 9 - Sep. 13: Navigating Transitions and Change
Sep. 16 - Sep. 20: What is Giftedness (Exploring Definitions)
Sep. 23 - Sep. 27: Healthy Friendships + How to Apologize
Sep. 30 - Oct. 4: Handling Teasing and Bullying (With or Without Adults Around)
Oct. 7 - Oct. 11: Humor and the Gifted Brain
*No class Monday, October 14 - Friday, October 18 (fall break).
Oct. 21 - Oct. 25 : What is Your Conflict Style?
Oct. 28 - Nov. 1: The Creative Process 
Nov. 4 - Nov. 8: Focusing Curiosity and Creativity
Nov. 11 - Nov. 15: Drawing Exercises For Enhanced Creative Thinking (all abilities/not an art class)
Nov. 18 - Nov. 22: Additional Exercises for Enhanced Creative Thinking
Nov. 25 - Nov. 27: Gratitude Lesson
*No class Thursday, November 28th or Friday, November 29th
Dec. 2 - Dec. 6: Adolescence and the Gifted Brain
Dec. 9 - Dec. 13: Handling High Expectations (Internal and External)
Dec. 16 - Dec. 20: Using Books, Art, and Music to Handle Intense Feelings + Social-Emotional Journaling

Second Semester 2025: Jan. 6 – May 23 (20 weeks/19 weeks of class)
*March 9 (daylight savings time in U.S. – spring ahead an hour)
*No class Monday, March 10 - Friday, March 14th (spring break). Class resumes Monday, March 17th.
*No class Friday, April 18 or Monday, April 21st. Class resumes Tuesday, April 22nd.
*Last day of the second semester: May 23rd. 

Jan. 6 - Jan. 10: Effective Goal Setting + Effective Note Taking
Jan. 13 - Jan. 17: Daily Routines for Long Term Success
Jan. 20 - Jan. 24: Decision Making and Reasonable Risk Taking
Jan. 27 - Jan. 31: Leadership
Feb. 3 - Feb. 7: Strategies to Beat Stage Fright and Fear of Public Speaking
Feb. 10 - Feb. 14: Imposter Syndrome + How to Take a Compliment
Feb. 17 - Feb. 21: Pyramids in Psychology (Bloom's Taxonomy and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs)
Feb. 24 - Feb. 28: Simultaneous Discoveries: Why Do People Invent and Discover Similar Things at the Same Time in History?
March 3 - March 7: Understanding Impulse Control 
*No class Monday, March 10 - Friday, March 14th (spring break)
March 17 - March 21: Perfectionism 
March 24 - March 28: Self-Acceptance and Realistic Expectations
March 31 - April 4: Empathizing and Systemizing 
April 7 - April 11: Anxiety Toolkit 
April 14 - April 17: Learning Versus Knowing 
*No class Friday, April 18 or Monday, April 21st
April 22 - April 25: 2E Biographies (Twice-Exceptional People in History)
April 28 - May 2: Living, Learning, and Working (Surveys For Self-Knowledge)
May 5 - May 9: Working With Others
May 12 - May 16: Responsibility and Personal Accountability
May 19 - May 23: First Creative Dollars (The Unexpected Ways People Started Their Careers: Examples from Bob Ross, Louisa May Alcott, Frederick Douglass, Jules Verne, Rachel Carson, and More)

Here's a more detailed example for the description of a class topic:

Topic: Executive Function Skills - Each student will list their top 3 goals/tasks for the day. What do they need for these tasks? Do they have what they need? If not, how can they be resourceful? Where are they at concerning completion of their daily tasks? What is going well and what can be improved? In addition, what is their week-long goal for their work? What is happening in the next two weeks that can be contributed to today?

Topic: Creative Psychology - Students touch on key theories in gifted education (Bloom's Taxonomy, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, The Theory of Positive Disintegration, etc.) to help them understand and gain insight into their unique capabilities and unique challenges. These are mini-lessons that don't necessarily build off one another. 

Topic: Motivation and Life Balance - One thing that differentiates high performers from average performers is the quality of their breaks. This seems counter-intuitive to many gifted students, but it is backed by research. Students will address how to close out a day or close out the week to prepare for rest. How do you make sure things are in order for next week (and not left until Sunday)? What important things do you need to address with key adults in your life? What can actually help you REST during breaks rather than rush around?

In addition to serving as a social hub for like-minded peers, this class will help students discover themselves through interesting and challenging material designed with their specific needs in mind. I often reference "The Gifted Kids Workbook" and "The Gifted Kids Survival Guides" along with other professional resources I have collected over the years. I always leave a lengthly write-up after class summarizing these topics. Feel free to use the write-up as a prompt for an interesting discussion with your student. 

Do you see a topic on the schedule that's already been addressed (or you wish for your learner to experience it one on one)? Consider booking this class: https://outschool.com/classes/11-creativity-and-accountability-coaching-hCAya9kk#usm3isaHNf

Interested in this same class for older students? Please check out this link: https://outschool.com/classes/gifted-and-talented-teen-homeschoolers-homeroom-yn3KARtK#usm3isaHNf

Interested in a M-F class? I hope to put one together in the future. Please click here: https://outschool.com/classes/m-f-gifted-and-talented-homeroom-social-club-with-brain-teasers-and-more-FcviTCIX#usm3isaHNf