Highly Capable Learners

This page is provided for the families in our classroom who have students identified as Highly Capable. Anyone is welcome to use this information, but as the second grade HiCap teacher, I will provide resources for our HiCap students here.


Parent Highlights
Growth Mindset and the Problem with Praise
Adapted from Teaching Gifted Kids in Today's Classroom (2012) by Susan Winebrenner
Praise can be a slippery slope that contributes to children believing that if you’re smart, all learning should come easily. When we praise our gifted kids for their abilities, they are likely to choose the safe path that is guaranteed to allow them to continue to think they are smart.  However, when we praise kids based on their efforts, they begin to attribute their success to hard work.  
This is an important lesson for parents and teachers. Research shows that when we praise our gifted kids for their abilities with comments like, “You are really very smart,” they conclude that adults prefer to observe them in situations where they are easily successful. But, Dr. Carol Dweck’s “growth mindset” theory shows when we instead praise young people for their effort and hard word, they are more likely to want to remain engaged in the activity, believing that hard work will lead to better outcomes. Watch this video and find out the science behind Dr. Carol Dweck’s “Growth Mindset” Theory and how you can use appropriate praise to motivate your gifted student.
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Games
Beyond Checkers
http://www.byrdseed.com/beyond-checkers/

Turkish Draughts offers a simple variation: pieces move horizontally and vertically rather than diagonally. The setup of the pieces is quite different, but otherwise the game is played the same.

Hexdame - This variation retains the rules of checkers but is played on a hexagonal board. The shape opens up new strategies. For example, pieces now have up to three forward moves rather than two.

Tiers is played with standard checkers equipment, but plays with the concept of kings. It is by far the most intriguing.

Triple King | Quad King | Ultra King

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Beyond Chess
http://www.byrdseed.com/beyond-chess-go-shatranj-and-xiangqi/

Go, a game originating from China but often associated with Japan.

Chinese board game Xiangqi.

Indian game Shatranj

 A popular way of playing chess and is known as Fairy Chess.

German twist on chess called Kriegspiel