Vertical Differentiation for Gifted, Advanced, and High-Potential Students

As a general ed ELA teacher of 20+ years, this book gave me practical ways to elevate the thinking in my classroom -- both with gifted students (who exploded and were engaged by the tools) to typically performing students (with some scaffolding). Using these tools helped students develop confidence and grow their thinking by leaps and bounds. A major benefit of the deeper thinking is that it translates into better writing and analysis as well. These tools are adaptable to what you are already using - and they will truly take your students to the next level. I'm grateful for this book.

I love the ideas presented in this book. A great read that I will surely revisit as I’m planning units for my high-potential students and gifted learners!

Dr. Mofield provides carefully thought out and easy to implement strategies to push gifted learners to think deeper. The thinking models are provided with explanation, templates, and content specific examples. This book should sit by you as you lesson plan.

Possibly the greatest challenge of a classroom teacher is to differentiate for the diverse learning needs of his or her students. Teachers are stretched so rewriting entire curricula is not an ideal solution. While innovative strategies can be helpful, teachers do not have the time nor training to create the resources to use in their classrooms. This book, Vertical Differentiation for Gifted, Advanced, and High-Potential Students solves for those challenges. By providing 25 strategies already in use by teachers of the gifted and others, the learning curve is greatly reduced. Dr. Mofield walks the teacher through how to design and deliver engaging experiences that challenge the students to think deeper, solve problems, and transfer learning. She provides content-specific examples, templates to print and use, and research to support the strategies. A bonus is that all of the strategies are good for all students. I immediately added these strategies to our classroom support “toolbox” and bought copies of the book for all content directors. I highly recommend this book for any teacher who desires to expand his or her repertoire of effective strategies and grow his or her ability to differentiate with ease.

Dr. Mofield has provided practical and accessible scaffolds for instruction that allow for our highest achieving students to extend their thinking and provided a vast resource for educators to utilize when increasing academic rigor and productive struggle. The Stretch Prompts have become an important component of not only my planning process, but have proven to be an excellent resource when a student needs to extend their thinking in the moment. This text is rich in strategies that will continue to challenge educators to consider best methods and strategies in Gifted instruction.

As a gifted educator and a differentiation coach, this book was a must-have for my professional library. I highlighted or flagged almost every inch of this text! Mofield stated that she wrote the book she wished she had, and it has become the book I didn’t even know I needed, but now I cannot imagine living without! Vertical Differentiation for Gifted, Advanced, and High-Potential Students features 25 strategies to stretch student thinking in ELA, math, science, and social studies to support both critical and creative thinking. As Mofield charges educators in her dedication, “Find the light and fan the flame!” Her new text certainly equips and empowers me to do just that.

Dr. Emily Mofield has done it again! This is an excellent resource for gifted and talented educators. Also, a practical resource for collaborating and co-thinking with general education teachers.