There is a relationship between gifted programs and systemic racism in our schools. It’s time parents and teachers stopped playing the blame game and worked together to create equitable and effective programs for exceptionally bright and talented students.

As an educator, I will never tire of learning how the brain works. To this end, I recently came across a video series. The video I’ve posted below is about neuroplasticity, which refers to the ways the brain changes in as a result of new thoughts, behaviors, feelings or experiences. Researchers are learning the brain has a lot more plasticity than we ever thought possible before.

Watch this video from Carol Dweck about how praise can help or hurt a child’s ability to develop a “growth mindset”, the belief that we can grow and change.

I was always one of those folks that said, “I’m not a math person.” Now I realize… I actually am! Math isn’t just about getting the answer quickly or doing calculations, it’s also about thinking critically, being able to problem-solve, and explain your thinking to others… “thinking like a mathematician.”