Educational Insights & Strategies
Welcome to the InterestEd Blog — a space for educators and parents to find practical ideas, flexible strategies, and inspiration for joyful learning. Here you’ll discover tips, planning tools, and insights drawn from my work as an educator, coach, and homeschool parent, with a special focus on gifted and advanced learners.
Looking for something specific? Search by topic or keyword to find articles on topics like social-emotional learning, advocacy, growth mindset, literacy, and much more!
When Learning Stops Being Easy
When my daughter admitted that she wasn’t sure she liked her advanced math class because it felt hard, I realized she might be experiencing true academic challenge for the first time. That car ride led to a conversation about why struggle matters in learning, especially for gifted students, and how growth often happens in the space just beyond what feels comfortable. This post explores the zone of proximal development through a real parenting moment and offers insight for educators and families navigating productive challenge.
20 Words to Know in Gifted Education
Words shape how we see giftedness. This family-friendly guide explains 20 key terms every parent and teacher should know — and includes a free printable PDF glossary to help you understand and support gifted learners with confidence.
A Fresh Take on Choice Boards
A fresh, ready-to-go Choice Board Toolkit designed for busy teachers who want to build student ownership and engagement through flexible learning options.
Differentiation Through Choice: A Classroom Strategy
Discover how student choice empowers gifted learners to take ownership of their education. This post explores how to design meaningful choice boards that balance structure and flexibility — and includes a link to a downloadable, editable Canva template for teachers.