Hello Friend,
Well, we are at the end of another month! How are you doing? Right now I feel like the harder that I work the further behind I get. This struggle is real.
This week I had the joy of keynoting the Illinois Association for Gifted Children Conference in Naperville, IL! It was a blast reconnecting with longtime friends and meeting new ones who share the same spark for gifted education.
During my keynote, Cultivating Pearls of Potential: From Unseen Grit to Unforgettable Brilliance, I introduced a shared an activity I’m calling:
✏️ “The Real Me” Mad Libs for Gifted Students
It's a quick, creative way to tell your story in your way.
Directions: Fill in the blanks with your thoughts. Be honest. Be weird. Be wonderful. There are no wrong answers. This is about you.
Hi! I’m [your name or nickname], and I’m the kind of person who [something surprising or unique about you].
Most people think I’m [label or assumption others make about you], but I know I’m also [something true that people don’t always see].
I really care about [topic, question, or big idea you’re obsessed with], even if it seems random.
Sometimes I feel [strong emotion or contradiction], and I used to think that was a bad thing, but now I know it just means [reframe it as a strength or gift].
I wish people understood that just because I [thing you struggle with or don’t do like others], that doesn’t mean I’m not [positive trait or hidden strength].
I’m still figuring out how to [something you’re learning or growing into], but I’m proud that I [something you’ve already done, overcome, or learned].
This is me. And I’m not trying to be perfect. I’m trying to be [word or phrase that feels true to you like “real,” “brilliant in progress,” “a mystery,” “me”].
👉 Download the PDF Version Here
In this age of ARTIFICIAL intelligence, let’s take time to nurture and share our AUTHENTIC selves.
🎃 The Freakiest of Fridays: A Halloween Classroom Twist
Halloween on a Friday? That’s double the fun and the freakiness!
Try this activity with your learners: Freaky Friday Character Swaps.
Inspired by the movies and grounded in Depth & Complexity, this twist helps students see multiple perspectives.
What if…
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Vampires and Werewolves swapped places?
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Willy Wonka traded labs with Victor Frankenstein?
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Sherlock Holmes switched with Scooby-Doo?
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Wednesday Addams took over Hogwarts while Hermione ran Nevermore?
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Barbie became Batman?
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The Ghostbusters swapped places with The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus?
Better yet have your students invent their own Freaky Friday Swaps and explain how it changes each story’s dynamics.
🌟 GREAT TEACHER ALLIANCE (GTA): Season 3
On the first Wednesday of each month, Andi McNair and I host an episode of the Great Teacher Alliance, a virtual professional learning community designed to reignite your passion for teaching.
Now in its third season, this year’s theme is The Arc of Becoming, and it is all about personal and professional growth. Join us as we explore how curiosity, creativity, and courage come together to make teaching truly great.
💡 Registration is still open! Be part of the journey.
🌱 Coming Soon: The SEEDLING SQUAD SUMMIT
November 19 | FREE Virtual Event
Go behind the scenes with Brian, Leslie, and Chris to explore hidden Easter eggs inside SEED: Sparking the Evolution of Extraordinary Design.
Learn from five rockstar educators implementing SEED in their classrooms!
Stephanie Higgs @littlemissgifted - Nashville, TN
Amanda O'Neil @glitterandgifted - Henderson, NV
Ellen Kolonoski @wonderteacherellen - Vernon, NJ
Lori Corrigan @wonderwithcorrigan - Birmingham, AL
Amanda Chavez @growinggiftedgarden - Green Valley, AZ
👉 Register Here
🔥 Up Next: SECRET SAUCE SOCIETY – From Frost to Fire!
February 2026 | 6 Hours | $100 until Dec. 13
When winter’s chill hits hardest, we’re turning up the heat!
Join Brian, Andi McNair, Stephanie Higgs, and Justin Mitchell for a four-part series that’ll reignite your spark and refuel your soul.
🔥 Hands-on strategies
🔥 Laughter and learning
🔥 Six full hours of brilliance
For more information CLICK HERE!
🏙️ Conference Countdown
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2 Weeks until NAGC 2025 in Pittsburgh
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5 Weeks until TAGT’s giftED25 in Grapevine
If you’ll be at either, please say hi! Let’s swap stories, selfies, and sparks of inspiration.
💛 Thank You
Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for your creativity, your commitment, and your courage to make the world brighter for gifted learners. Keep showing up. Keep sharing your brilliance.
Until next time,
Brian
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