Enrichment and Challenge Resources
On-line learning
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Learning Courses)
These are "free on-line courses offered by some of the best universities entities". Often they offer very interesting topics that are designed for adult learners, but may be appropriate for some Brookline students.
Skillshare
From their website; "Skillshare is a global community where you can learn real-world skills from incredible teachers". They have extremely interesting classes. This is designed for adult learners, but may be appropriate for some Brookline students. (Some classes have a small fee.)
Kahn Academy
"Watch. Practice. Learn almost anything for free. With a library of over 3000 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and practice exercises, we're on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace."
Ted Talks
Ideas Worth Spreading
Topics range from how to do magic, what's cool about bioluminesence, life on Saturn's moon, what the inventor of the Furby is inventing nowadays and more. TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) represents the best things about the Internet … and sometimes the world, for that matter. With the click of a button you can be inspired, educated, encouraged, wowed, or entertained by speakers from all walks of life.Whether you’re looking to inspire or entertain your students, the following TED talks have terrific lessons embedded in fascinating talks. While not every single talk may float your boat, there are likely a few that you should think about showing to students this year.
STEM Bite
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math lessons shot through google glasses by a highly creative and enthusiastic teacher.
nRich
Challenging, open-ended, math problems
Girl's Angle
A math club for girls
These are "free on-line courses offered by some of the best universities entities". Often they offer very interesting topics that are designed for adult learners, but may be appropriate for some Brookline students.
Skillshare
From their website; "Skillshare is a global community where you can learn real-world skills from incredible teachers". They have extremely interesting classes. This is designed for adult learners, but may be appropriate for some Brookline students. (Some classes have a small fee.)
Kahn Academy
"Watch. Practice. Learn almost anything for free. With a library of over 3000 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and practice exercises, we're on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace."
Ted Talks
Ideas Worth Spreading
Topics range from how to do magic, what's cool about bioluminesence, life on Saturn's moon, what the inventor of the Furby is inventing nowadays and more. TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) represents the best things about the Internet … and sometimes the world, for that matter. With the click of a button you can be inspired, educated, encouraged, wowed, or entertained by speakers from all walks of life.Whether you’re looking to inspire or entertain your students, the following TED talks have terrific lessons embedded in fascinating talks. While not every single talk may float your boat, there are likely a few that you should think about showing to students this year.
STEM Bite
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math lessons shot through google glasses by a highly creative and enthusiastic teacher.
nRich
Challenging, open-ended, math problems
Girl's Angle
A math club for girls
Parent Recommended Summer and After-school Programs
Wheelock Theater Camp
Wheelock Family Theatre is the only theatre in New England with an education program sustained by both a professional theatre staff and an institution of higher learning, Wheelock College, whose mission is improving the quality of life for children and families.
Artbarn Community Theater
Produces shows with students from pre-kindergarten through grade 9
Russian School of Math
Welcome to RSM - an after school mathematics enrichment program. Since 1997 we have provided a world-class math education with an emphasis on problem solving skills and critical thinking. The best description of our program's success comes from an RSM parent: "...RSM teaches kids to think, to make connections between mathematical concepts, to utilize critical thinking and build upon previous concepts to solve new problems".
Chimney Corners YMCA Camp for Girls (sleep away camp)
For over three quarters of a century, Chimney Corners Camp has been a place where girls have spent their summers learning, laughing and building life-long friendships.
Dolphins Swim Team (Brookline Recreation)
Brookline Music School – private/group lessons, summer camps
The Math CircleFrom their website: The Math Circle is designed for students who enjoy math and want the added challenge of exciting topics that are normally outside the school curriculum. Its teachers are experienced, committed, and enthusiastic. Our classes encourage a free discussion of ideas; while the courses are mathematically rigorous, the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed.
PALS Children's Chorus
The PALS Children’s Chorus is an independent non-profit organization, in residence at the W. H. Lincoln School in Brookline, MA. PALS now serves students from all Brookline K-8 schools, as well as other private and public schools all over the Boston area. For 20 years, we have been dedicated to transforming children of diverse backgrounds into world-class performers. Our program indelibly changes the lives of children, building confidence, discipline, leadership, and a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.
Mazemakers Camp
Mazemakers is a small, dynamic learning community of young people entering grades two through eight. In contrast to traditional summer programs, at Mazemakers we emphasize choice, challenges, and community building. Participants choose their own courses and projects, challenging themselves and each other in cooperative problem solving and trust activities. Together, we build a flourishing community of respect, intellectual vitality, and imagination.
Summer Institute for the GiftedThe mission of the Summer Institute for the Gifted is to provide the highest quality educational and social opportunities for academically gifted and talented students through programs designed to meet their abilities and needs.
Wheelock Family Theatre is the only theatre in New England with an education program sustained by both a professional theatre staff and an institution of higher learning, Wheelock College, whose mission is improving the quality of life for children and families.
Artbarn Community Theater
Produces shows with students from pre-kindergarten through grade 9
Russian School of Math
Welcome to RSM - an after school mathematics enrichment program. Since 1997 we have provided a world-class math education with an emphasis on problem solving skills and critical thinking. The best description of our program's success comes from an RSM parent: "...RSM teaches kids to think, to make connections between mathematical concepts, to utilize critical thinking and build upon previous concepts to solve new problems".
Chimney Corners YMCA Camp for Girls (sleep away camp)
For over three quarters of a century, Chimney Corners Camp has been a place where girls have spent their summers learning, laughing and building life-long friendships.
Dolphins Swim Team (Brookline Recreation)
Brookline Music School – private/group lessons, summer camps
The Math CircleFrom their website: The Math Circle is designed for students who enjoy math and want the added challenge of exciting topics that are normally outside the school curriculum. Its teachers are experienced, committed, and enthusiastic. Our classes encourage a free discussion of ideas; while the courses are mathematically rigorous, the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed.
PALS Children's Chorus
The PALS Children’s Chorus is an independent non-profit organization, in residence at the W. H. Lincoln School in Brookline, MA. PALS now serves students from all Brookline K-8 schools, as well as other private and public schools all over the Boston area. For 20 years, we have been dedicated to transforming children of diverse backgrounds into world-class performers. Our program indelibly changes the lives of children, building confidence, discipline, leadership, and a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.
Mazemakers Camp
Mazemakers is a small, dynamic learning community of young people entering grades two through eight. In contrast to traditional summer programs, at Mazemakers we emphasize choice, challenges, and community building. Participants choose their own courses and projects, challenging themselves and each other in cooperative problem solving and trust activities. Together, we build a flourishing community of respect, intellectual vitality, and imagination.
Summer Institute for the GiftedThe mission of the Summer Institute for the Gifted is to provide the highest quality educational and social opportunities for academically gifted and talented students through programs designed to meet their abilities and needs.
Other Local Programs
Exploration Summer Programs
For more than 30 years, Exploration has brought together bright, curious, and interesting young people from around the globe to challenge themselves, discover the world of people and ideas, and experience the joy of learning. Exploration curriculum is unusual and allows students to investigate subjects they are not likely to encounter during the school year. An Exploration classroom is lively and active. Students are moving, designing projects, and challenging each other. Physics principles might be illustrated by riding large hovercrafts around a hockey rink, or firing five-foot-tall trebuchets on a playing field. Improvisational theater might be used to demonstrate how white blood cells fight off a virus. Learning is engaging, challenging, and fun.
At Exploration, students exercise their curiosity. They make choices about what is important to them. Every student chooses what classes to take, what activities to participate in, and what trips to join.
Starts with children entering fourth grade and goes up through high school. Situated at local private schools and colleges (St. Mark’s, Wellesley College, Yale.)
Cybercamps
Cybercamp summer camps are perfect for kids who love computers and videogaming. Instead of just playing videogames, kids learn, through these project-oriented programs, how to create them! Some of the courses available are Game Design, Flash® Animation, Video Production, Robotics, Web Design, and 3D Modeling for Games.
The programs, available for kids ages seven to eighteen, are located in eighteen states at fifty different locations, including MIT, Harvard and Bentley. For local programs go to: http://www.internaldrive.com/locations/ma-summer-camps-massachusetts-computer-camps/ Programs are one week long, day or overnight, but kids ten and up can opt for the multi-week residential program.
For more than 30 years, Exploration has brought together bright, curious, and interesting young people from around the globe to challenge themselves, discover the world of people and ideas, and experience the joy of learning. Exploration curriculum is unusual and allows students to investigate subjects they are not likely to encounter during the school year. An Exploration classroom is lively and active. Students are moving, designing projects, and challenging each other. Physics principles might be illustrated by riding large hovercrafts around a hockey rink, or firing five-foot-tall trebuchets on a playing field. Improvisational theater might be used to demonstrate how white blood cells fight off a virus. Learning is engaging, challenging, and fun.
At Exploration, students exercise their curiosity. They make choices about what is important to them. Every student chooses what classes to take, what activities to participate in, and what trips to join.
Starts with children entering fourth grade and goes up through high school. Situated at local private schools and colleges (St. Mark’s, Wellesley College, Yale.)
Cybercamps
Cybercamp summer camps are perfect for kids who love computers and videogaming. Instead of just playing videogames, kids learn, through these project-oriented programs, how to create them! Some of the courses available are Game Design, Flash® Animation, Video Production, Robotics, Web Design, and 3D Modeling for Games.
The programs, available for kids ages seven to eighteen, are located in eighteen states at fifty different locations, including MIT, Harvard and Bentley. For local programs go to: http://www.internaldrive.com/locations/ma-summer-camps-massachusetts-computer-camps/ Programs are one week long, day or overnight, but kids ten and up can opt for the multi-week residential program.
Non-Local Programs
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Summer ProgramsThe Center for Talented Youth offers summer programs for gifted children in grades two through twelve. The camps for children in grades two through four are day programs only. Those for kids in grades five through seven are both day and residential, and those for all other grades are residential. Camps are located in the Baltimore-Washington area and in Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA.The three-week program offers courses in the humanities, sciences, math, writing, and computer science, which may be used for high school credit. Two additional programs offer international studies and take place in China and Mexico.
Concordia Language Villages Summer CampsThese summer camps are so varied it is impossible to describe them! Basically, these camps are language immersion camps, which means that the kids who attend these camps listen to and speak only the language of a particular "village." A village is a camp devoted to one of fifteen different languages, including French, German, Finnish, Japanese, Russian, and Arabic.Camps are available for children as young as seven and can last from one to four weeks in a few different locations, including some overseas. Most, however, are located in Minnesota.
Green River PreserveThe mission of the Green River Preserve is "to provide a challenging and nurturing learning experience and to inspire a profound appreciation of interconnectedness, ecological respect and the joy of living." That's an ideal mission for those gifted kids who feel a deep attachment to the environment.Two camp programs are available: Base Camp and Expedition. The first is for kids in grades 2 through 9 and take place on the preserve itself. These Base Camp programs last for 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks. The second is for kids in grades 9 through 12 and take place in Outer Banks or in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These Expedition programs are canoeing, backpacking and kayaking adventures that last for either 2 weeks or 18 days.
Interlochen Arts CampInterlocken Arts Camp, located in northwestern Michigan, offers summer camp programs for children in grades three through twelve. With its programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Motion Picture Arts, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts, Interlocken is an ideal camp for children whose abilities and interests lie in the performing arts area.Not all of these areas are open to children of all ages. Music, for example, is open to children in grades three through twelve, while dance is available only to those in grades six and up.
Lawrence Hall of Science Summer CampsThe Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley offers week-long science camps for children in grades pre-k through twelve. These camps are half-day, full-day or residential camps.Half-day camps are for children pre-k through grade nine. Full-day camps are open to children in grades three through twelve, and residential camps are open to children from age eight to grade twelve. Residential camps are also open to the whole family!The residential camps focus on the environmental, such as coastal ecology and wildlife biology. The half and full-day camps have a bit more variety.
THINK Summer InstituteThe THINK Summer Institute, located in Reno on the campus of the University of Nevada, is a three-week residential program for profoundly gifted children, aged twelve through fifteen. Participants can earn up to seven transferable college credits. The needs of profoundly gifted children are not often met in school, not even within a gifted program. Since few school districts have more than one profoundly gifted child, it is hard for these kids to spend time with other kids who share their interests and abilities. This camp is ideal for these children.
Concordia Language Villages Summer CampsThese summer camps are so varied it is impossible to describe them! Basically, these camps are language immersion camps, which means that the kids who attend these camps listen to and speak only the language of a particular "village." A village is a camp devoted to one of fifteen different languages, including French, German, Finnish, Japanese, Russian, and Arabic.Camps are available for children as young as seven and can last from one to four weeks in a few different locations, including some overseas. Most, however, are located in Minnesota.
Green River PreserveThe mission of the Green River Preserve is "to provide a challenging and nurturing learning experience and to inspire a profound appreciation of interconnectedness, ecological respect and the joy of living." That's an ideal mission for those gifted kids who feel a deep attachment to the environment.Two camp programs are available: Base Camp and Expedition. The first is for kids in grades 2 through 9 and take place on the preserve itself. These Base Camp programs last for 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks. The second is for kids in grades 9 through 12 and take place in Outer Banks or in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These Expedition programs are canoeing, backpacking and kayaking adventures that last for either 2 weeks or 18 days.
Interlochen Arts CampInterlocken Arts Camp, located in northwestern Michigan, offers summer camp programs for children in grades three through twelve. With its programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Motion Picture Arts, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts, Interlocken is an ideal camp for children whose abilities and interests lie in the performing arts area.Not all of these areas are open to children of all ages. Music, for example, is open to children in grades three through twelve, while dance is available only to those in grades six and up.
Lawrence Hall of Science Summer CampsThe Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley offers week-long science camps for children in grades pre-k through twelve. These camps are half-day, full-day or residential camps.Half-day camps are for children pre-k through grade nine. Full-day camps are open to children in grades three through twelve, and residential camps are open to children from age eight to grade twelve. Residential camps are also open to the whole family!The residential camps focus on the environmental, such as coastal ecology and wildlife biology. The half and full-day camps have a bit more variety.
THINK Summer InstituteThe THINK Summer Institute, located in Reno on the campus of the University of Nevada, is a three-week residential program for profoundly gifted children, aged twelve through fifteen. Participants can earn up to seven transferable college credits. The needs of profoundly gifted children are not often met in school, not even within a gifted program. Since few school districts have more than one profoundly gifted child, it is hard for these kids to spend time with other kids who share their interests and abilities. This camp is ideal for these children.
General Sites for Enrichment and Challenge information
Changing Educational Paradigms
A very cool, animated mini-lecture by renowned education and creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson.
National Society for Gifted and Talented
From their website: The mission of National Society for Gifted and Talented is to advance the development of gifted, talented, and high potential youth, in the United States and abroad, through opportunities, advocacy, and exemplary programs and practices. NSGT.org
Hoagies Gifted Education Page
From their website: Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, the all-things-gifted site, full of resources, articles, books and links to help and support parents, teachers, and gifted children alike.
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
From their website: SENG’s mission is to empower families and communities to guide
gifted and talented individuals to reach their goals: intellectually,
physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
50 Essential Links for Parents of Gifted Children
A very cool, animated mini-lecture by renowned education and creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson.
National Society for Gifted and Talented
From their website: The mission of National Society for Gifted and Talented is to advance the development of gifted, talented, and high potential youth, in the United States and abroad, through opportunities, advocacy, and exemplary programs and practices. NSGT.org
Hoagies Gifted Education Page
From their website: Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, the all-things-gifted site, full of resources, articles, books and links to help and support parents, teachers, and gifted children alike.
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
From their website: SENG’s mission is to empower families and communities to guide
gifted and talented individuals to reach their goals: intellectually,
physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
50 Essential Links for Parents of Gifted Children
Books
Academic Competitions for Gifted Students: A Resource Book for Teachers and Parentsby Mary Tallent-Runnels and Ann Candler-LotvenLists available competitions, with focus on academics, characteristics of good competitions, and useful tips on selecting the right competitions make it unique and valuable. In addition, helps parents and teachers minimize problems and maximize benefits of academic competitions for gifted learners...
Gifted Children: Myths and Realitiesby Ellen WinnerMyths and misconceptions about gifted children abound and cloud our understanding...In this fascinating book, Ellen Winner uncovers and explores nine myths about giftedness, and shows us what gifted children are really like.Using vivid case studies, Winner paints a complex picture of the gifted child.
A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by James T. Webb, Janet L. Gore, Edward R. Amend & Arlene R. DeVriesRaising a gifted child is both a joy and a challenge... guides parents through all the phases and possibilities of the gifted child, including underachievement, sensitivities, twice exceptionalities, friendships, siblings, schools, identification, and much more!
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy, and Successful Kids by James R. DelisleProvides a humorous, engaging and encouraging look at raising gifted children today. Offers practical, down-to-earth advice that will cause parents to reexamine the ways they perceive and relate to their children...
Raising a Gifted Child: A Parenting Success Handbook by Carol FertigA menu of strategies, resources, organizations, tips, and suggestions for parents to find optimal learning opportunities for their kids, covering the gamut of talent areas, including academics, the arts, technology, creativity, music, and thinking skills. Focused on empowering parents by giving them the tools needed to ensure that their gifted kids are happy and successful both in and out of school...
Serving Gifted Learners Beyond the Traditional Classroom: A Guide to Alternative Programs and Servicesedited by Joyce VanTassel-Baska From distance learning to talent search summer programs, from residential academic programs to mentoring, and more - there are many options outside the classroom for gifted education. Learn about many of those options, through individual essays by some of the experts in each field ...
The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids: How to Understand, Live With, and Stick Up for Your Gifted Child by Sally Yahnke Walker The ultimate guides to surviving and thriving in a world that doesn't always value, support, or understand high ability...
The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught)by Edward Zaccaro Mathematicians and scientists have been closely tied to many famous disasters. The Challenger explosion, the failure of the Mars Orbiter, and the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse all involved thinking errors. This book presents the ten things our future mathematicians and scientists must know to prevent these kinds of tragedies from occurring. Because science and mathematics instruction is often dominated by facts and calculation, children are rarely exposed to these important concepts. Over 50 stories are included that show children the strong connections between mathematics and science and the real world.
Academic Competitions for Gifted Students: A Resource Book for Teachers and Parentsby Mary Tallent-Runnels and Ann Candler-LotvenLists available competitions, with focus on academics, characteristics of good competitions, and useful tips on selecting the right competitions make it unique and valuable. In addition, helps parents and teachers minimize problems and maximize benefits of academic competitions for gifted learners...
Gifted Children: Myths and Realitiesby Ellen WinnerMyths and misconceptions about gifted children abound and cloud our understanding...In this fascinating book, Ellen Winner uncovers and explores nine myths about giftedness, and shows us what gifted children are really like.Using vivid case studies, Winner paints a complex picture of the gifted child.
A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children by James T. Webb, Janet L. Gore, Edward R. Amend & Arlene R. DeVriesRaising a gifted child is both a joy and a challenge... guides parents through all the phases and possibilities of the gifted child, including underachievement, sensitivities, twice exceptionalities, friendships, siblings, schools, identification, and much more!
Parenting Gifted Kids: Tips for Raising Happy, and Successful Kids by James R. DelisleProvides a humorous, engaging and encouraging look at raising gifted children today. Offers practical, down-to-earth advice that will cause parents to reexamine the ways they perceive and relate to their children...
Raising a Gifted Child: A Parenting Success Handbook by Carol FertigA menu of strategies, resources, organizations, tips, and suggestions for parents to find optimal learning opportunities for their kids, covering the gamut of talent areas, including academics, the arts, technology, creativity, music, and thinking skills. Focused on empowering parents by giving them the tools needed to ensure that their gifted kids are happy and successful both in and out of school...
Serving Gifted Learners Beyond the Traditional Classroom: A Guide to Alternative Programs and Servicesedited by Joyce VanTassel-Baska From distance learning to talent search summer programs, from residential academic programs to mentoring, and more - there are many options outside the classroom for gifted education. Learn about many of those options, through individual essays by some of the experts in each field ...
The Survival Guide for Parents of Gifted Kids: How to Understand, Live With, and Stick Up for Your Gifted Child by Sally Yahnke Walker The ultimate guides to surviving and thriving in a world that doesn't always value, support, or understand high ability...
The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught)by Edward Zaccaro Mathematicians and scientists have been closely tied to many famous disasters. The Challenger explosion, the failure of the Mars Orbiter, and the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse all involved thinking errors. This book presents the ten things our future mathematicians and scientists must know to prevent these kinds of tragedies from occurring. Because science and mathematics instruction is often dominated by facts and calculation, children are rarely exposed to these important concepts. Over 50 stories are included that show children the strong connections between mathematics and science and the real world.