Staff Development Specializing in Differentiated Instruction
from Pieces of Learning

Nancy Polette's Keynotes

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GIFTED IS A FOUR WAY STRETCH!    

A fun look at four unique thinking processes  that determine who we are.  Find out why reading tastes vary  along with titles to suit each thinking mode. Discover easy-to-use whole brain strategies that promote productive and critical thinking. A joyful session that proves  THINKING IS NOT A SPECTATOR  SPORT!

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A-Z STRATEGIES FOR K-3 GIFTED STUDENTS

Building a strong language storehouse is essential for reading and writing.Here are fun and rewarding strategies to use with young readers based on what research says works.  Turn word banks into chants.  Support guesses with fun songs.  Role play circus performers, Discover easy and fun reading and writing patterns.  Respond to any story with music.  Solve a mystery with the “I Have, Who Has” Game.  Play the mystery animal game.  Learn about time with action songs, and much more

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RESEARCH WITHOUT COPYING  
Elem/Middle School 

Nancy will demonstrate strategies for involving  students in research with NO MORE COPYING guaranteed!  Skills in critical and creative thinking for reading in the content areas are presented along with numerous product models that require students to read  and evaluate information and to show understanding of the data by encoding it in a variety of ways. Participants will see the best in non fiction and discover formats professional writers use to capture and keep readers. 

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WRITING NON FICTION LIKE THE PROFESSIONALS   Elementary  

Find out what makes a really good non fiction book.  Show your  students how to use the tools of professional writers to creat e non fiction pieces in which they can take pride.  Discover amazing formats for presenting non fiction topics and how to use these formats to allow children to grow  as young researchers. Be introduced to some of the best new non fiction titles.

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EXPLORING NOVELS WITH GIFTED STUDENTS 
Gr 4-8

Here are strategies that  stretch minds, bring excitement to the reading experience and that help students to respond to literature in divergent ways. Experience concert reading , topic focusing, problem solving, readers theatre, topic talking, pre reading journals, and a host of other strategies that will be presented using novels especially chosen for gifted students. 

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THINKING ON THEIR GIFTED FEET! IMPROVISATION& READERS THEATRE 
(All)

Here are unique ways to share the joys of the reading experience. Improvisation is fun and mind-challenging!  READING HAS NEVER BEEN SO MUCH FUN!  Here are “mind exercising” techniques to use with gifted children  whether you  have five or fifty-five minutes.  You can never be wrong with improvisation games which serve as springboards to success in productive and critical thinking..    In addition,  several forms of readers theatre including those that can be done in a few minutes with no writing required.