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Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

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United States - Texas - San Antonio

Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

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Resources for Gifted and Advanced Learners

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Subject

English Language Arts

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PUZZLE

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Kindergarten

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English Language Arts

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MY FEATURED ITEMS

DNA Extraction from Strawberries

$2.00

$S.C.A.M.P.E.R. Numbers and Math - Critical Thinking Mini-Unit$

S.C.A.M.P.E.R. Numbers and Math - Critical...

$4.00

Bulletin Board Scrabble Tile Letters

$2.50

BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE + MAD GABS

$3.00

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Drawing Conclusions, Jumping to Conclusions!

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Have fun playing "gotcha!" with your 3rd to 6th-grade students while also reinforcing the skill of drawing conclusions. This slide show is a fun way to introduce or review inferencing. The skill is reviewed in the introductory slides, then two

Subjects:

Gifted and Talented, Reading Strategies

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

PowerPoint Presentations

$2.00

162

Digital Download PPT (0.75 MB)

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE + MAD GABS

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Welcome your students back in a fun and unique way! This Back-to-School puzzle set can be sent with a welcome letter or used as a first-day activity. Enjoy the bonus content as well, which includes a link to a free Back-to-School Mad Gabs®

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, Back to School

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Activities, Printables

$3.00

Digital Download PDF (2.54 MB)

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NEW YEAR's Progressive Puzzle + Two Bonus Puzzles!

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Welcome your students back after the holiday break with a unique puzzle set! This New Year's puzzle set leads students to an inspirational quote and includes links to (1) a free January Mad Gabs® activity, (2) a free New Year Traditions logic

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, The New Year

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th

Types:

Activities, Printables

$2.00

Digital Download PDF (1.19 MB)

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LAST DAYS OF SCHOOL Progressive Puzzle

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

A PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE is a set of puzzles that must be solved in sequential order. The solution to the first puzzle is needed in order to solve the next puzzle, and this continues with each successive puzzle. Students use a variety of critical

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, Holidays/Seasonal

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Activities, GATE

$2.00

Digital Download PDF (2.73 MB)

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APRIL FOOL'S DAY PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Have fun playing a benign practical joke on your students while also enticing them to learn about the origin and history of April Fool's Day! A PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE is a set of puzzles that must be solved in sequential order. The solution to the first

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, Spring

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Activities, Lesson

$2.00

Digital Download PDF (8.05 MB)

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WOW Words Vocabulary Enrichment Program ~ Year One

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Little kids love BIG WORDS! This vocabulary enrichment program can be used schoolwide or by individual teachers. Two advanced vocabulary words are introduced each week, and through short daily word talks (or school announcements), students easily

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Vocabulary

Grades:

Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th

Types:

Scripts, For Principals & Administrators

CCSS:

CCRA.L.6

$8.00

Digital Download PDF (1.93 MB)

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A Greek or Latin Root is Worth 1,000 Words

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

This is my absolute favorite way to introduce a year-long study of Greek and Latin roots! Students need to know your why and "buy in." What better way than to get them hooked into solving a puzzle! Present the incredibly LONG word in this slide

Subjects:

Vocabulary, Gifted and Talented, Back to School

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, Homeschool

Types:

Activities, GATE, Lesson

CCSS:

CCRA.L.4

$1.00

Digital Download PPTX (0.72 MB)

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OCTOBER PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

This fall-themed puzzle can be used as a fun break from your classroom routine or as a team contest. The final message reveals some magical “tricks with treats” and the word puzzles incorporate a little trivia and history.A PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE is a

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Holidays/Seasonal, Halloween

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, Homeschool

Types:

Activities, Lesson

$2.00

Digital Download PDF (1.42 MB)

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ST. PATRICK'S DAY PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, St. Patrick's Day

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Activities, Lesson

CCSS:

CCRA.L.4, CCRA.L.6

$2.00

Digital Download PDF (1.28 MB)

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Delightful Deep Dive into The Search for Delicious (GATE Novel Study)

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

⭐️THIS UNIT INCLUDES A LINK TO COPY 166 TEACHING SLIDES. Read more HERE. This is a different kind of novel study unit, created with gifted/ advanced 3rd graders in mind and incorporating deeper reading strategies, depth and complexity, and

Subjects:

Gifted and Talented, Critical Thinking, Literature

Grades:

2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th

Types:

Unit Plans, GATE

CCSS:

CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.3, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.5, CCRA.R.6

$10.00

Digital Download PDF (3.05 MB)

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MYSTERIES of the DEEP SEA Progressive Puzzle

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

⭐️THIS SET INCLUDES LINKS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES STUDENTS CAN USE TO LEARN ABOUT THE MYSTERIES OF THE OCEAN’S TWILIGHT ZONE. A PROGRESSIVE PUZZLE is a set of puzzles that must be solved in sequential order. The solution to the first puzzle is

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Science, Gifted and Talented

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

Activities, GATE, Lesson

$2.00

Digital Download PDF (1.29 MB)

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Spelling Enrichment: SUPER SPELLERS KIT

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Many students LOVE the challenge of spelling difficult words. I designed this SUPER SPELLER kit as an enrichment supplement to complement any word study program. I've used it successfully with students in grades 1-5, in both regular and gifted ed

Subjects:

Spelling, Gifted and Talented, Back to School

Grades:

2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, Homeschool

Types:

GATE, Printables, Centers

$2.50

Digital Download PDF (3.10 MB)

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WOW Words Vocabulary Enrichment Program ~ Year Two

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Vocabulary

Grades:

Kindergarten, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th

Types:

Scripts, For Principals & Administrators

CCSS:

CCRA.L.6

$8.00

Digital Download PDF (1.90 MB)

ADD TO CART

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Six Hats Thinking and Cinderella

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Six Hats Thinking, a process developed by Edward de Bono, can be integrated into literary discussions with young children io encourage higher-level thinking and more in-depth character analysis. In these sample activities, students analyze

Subjects:

Gifted and Talented, Critical Thinking, Literature

Grades:

1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd

Types:

Activities, GATE, Lesson

FREE

Digital Download PDF (1.97 MB)

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Spelling Enrichment: SUPER SUPERB SPELLERS KIT

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

If you have serious SPELLING BEE CHAMPIONS in your classroom, who LOVE a spelling challenge, this SUPER SUPERB SPELLER KIT may be the perfect supplement to enrich your word study program. I created it for students in grades 3-8, in both regular and

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Spelling, Vocabulary

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

GATE, Independent Work Packet

$2.50

Digital Download PDF (8.70 MB)

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Welcome Back Paired Puzzle

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

This fun BACK-TO-SCHOOL puzzle is actually a TWO-FOR-ONE! A paired puzzle is a pair of puzzles. The first puzzle must be solved in order to begin the second puzzle. This themed puzzle can be included with a WELCOME BACK letter to students or as a

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, Back to School

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th

Types:

Activities, GATE

FREE

Digital Download PDF (0.73 MB)

WISH LIST

Celebrate Pi Day in a Novel Way - Pilish Writing FREE

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

If you celebrate Pi Day, March 14th (3/14) with your students, this is a fun writing activity to challenge students. PILISH is writing in which the digits of pi determine the number of letters in consecutive words. Included are examples and links to

Subjects:

Numbers, Gifted and Talented, Writing

Grades:

4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th

Types:

PowerPoint Presentations, Activities, GATE

FREE

Digital Download PPTX (0.24 MB)

WISH LIST

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MAD GABS®

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Welcome your students back in a fun and unique way! These Back-to-School Mad Gabs® will add some laughter and fun to your first day of classes. The 20 slides are interactive so that you can click to see the answer right away!Challenge your students

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Gifted and Talented, Back to School

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th

Types:

PowerPoint Presentations, Activities

FREE

Digital Download PPTX (0.68 MB)

WISH LIST

Letter Tower Puzzles - Solve and Create!

By Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher

Many teachers capitalize on the entertainment value of games to reinforce learning. However, did you know research shows that playing word games of all kinds actually activates the “pleasure center” of the brain and that this results in positive

Subjects:

English Language Arts, Spelling, Vocabulary

Grades:

3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th

Types:

Activities, GATE, Lesson

FREE

Digital Download PDF (13.61 MB)

WISH LIST

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Ask Big Ideas for Little Scholars Donna Lasher a question. They will receive an automated email and will return to answer you as soon as possible. Please Login to ask your question.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching is still my passion after nearly four decades. Currently, I am a "rewired" teacher, freelance writer, and content creator! All of my products are a result of my work with students and classroom-tested. I served intellectually gifted students in grades K through 5 in a pull-out program for fifteen years. I also taught 8th grade ELA and promoted schoolwide enrichment by helping teachers enrich their curriculum and by sponsoring academic contests on my campus. Most recently, I've been supervising student teachers at the university level and worked to create a resource site for GT teachers: BIG IDEAS for LITTLE SCHOLARS (bigideas4littlescholars.com). I have also published a vocabulary enrichment series called CRYPT-O-WORDS with The Critical Thinking Company and a simulation with Interact (no longer in print).

MY TEACHING STYLE

I am a facilitator of learning! I want my students to make discoveries, to enjoy the process of becoming more competent in all areas, and mostly to LOVE learning!

HONORS/AWARDS/SHINING TEACHER MOMENT

Semi-Finalist-District Teacher of the Year 2009; Campus Nominee- Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching- 2000, 2007; Featured in Texas Schools-What Works!-1991; Outstanding Elementary Education Major-University of New Orleans-1980

MY OWN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

Masters in Adult Education; BA in Elementary Education

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Author of the Crypt-O-Word vocabulary enrichment series offered through The Critical Thinking Company and published in 2022. I've also published a simulation (no longer in print) with Interact.