Gloging With the Gifted

The Gifted Child and Technology


By Lori Madison



Not so easy my friend ….when your teacher is not that technologically savvy. Nurturing giftedness in all of my students is a primary goal in my classroom. Traditionally, students are encouraged to use the computer for at least thirty minutes per day. The websites routinely used in my class are: starfall.com, sesametreet.com or pbs.kids.com.
In an effort to get away from the drudgery of continuously using these websites; to provide an increased challenge to my gifted students; Glogster.com would be an excellent website to use.
Alliteration is a crucial learning skill in the pre-kindergarten curriculum. Students are required to be reading ready at the completion of the Pre-Kindergarten year. Alliteration is a fundamental skill in achieving reading readiness.
Alliteration stories, are an excellent method for increasing vocabulary, reading fluency and phonological awareness in pre-kindergarten students. In large group instruction, creating alliteration stories is a fun and engaging activity.
Combining alliteration stories with Glogster is an excellent way of merging technology with literacy. Students would be given a “letter of the week”, for example, letter “Gg” . Using this particular letter would create an alliteration poster; using pictures that begin with letter “Gg”.
All of my students are very adept at navigating the internet. It seems in this age of advanced technology the “fearlessness” of childhood allows them more freedom to explore the computer’s endless amenities. But, websites such as Glogster helps build a bridge between the core curriculum courses such as Reading, Writing, and Math, yet allowing learning to be extended a step further using technological creativity.

{Check how other teachers use Glogster in their classrooms.}