Make a Twist is a wonderful, totally practical way to put the principles in the Maker model into action in a classroom. The authors’ in-depth understanding of these principles is demonstrated through their ideas for implementing all the content, process, product, and learning environment modifications in my books. This resource can be used by teachers to engage gifted children, raise students’ self-awareness, encourage autonomy in learning, and differentiate the curriculum to provide greater challenges for gifted learners.
The book is designed to help teachers build an understanding of a student’s skills, strengths, interests, and learning needs. It provides a record of any adjustments made, informing subsequent teachers and school administrators about the range of strategies that have been put in place to differentiate for a gifted student. Communication between parents and teachers is facilitated through use of this resource, enabling parents to be involved in their gifted child’s education and providing insight into the differentiation that is taking place for their child. Learning takes place in ways that are appropriate for gifted students and tailored to the interests of individual children. Make a Twist does all this in the most innovative and user-friendly format I’ve ever seen in a book. Michele and Rosanne have drawn on their experiences working with gifted students to provide great examples of relevant, content-rich, interest-based learning activities, creatively applied to ‘twist’ current curriculum and class topics to make these suitable for gifted students. I believe Make a Twist can be used in any classroom, at any level and in any country and will make a great contribution to teaching and learning all over the world!
– C. June Maker, Ph.D., Litt.D
Creator of the ‘Maker Model’ of curriculum differentiation
C. June Maker is Professor Emerita in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. She coordinates doctoral degree programs in education of the gifted and early childhood education and teaches courses in professional writing for doctoral students. She has conducted research on performance-based assessments, implementation of multiple intelligences theory, and creativity development. June received the International Research Award from the World Council for Gifted and Talented Students (WCGTS) and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree by Western Kentucky University, in recognition of her accomplishments.
June was inducted into the Bridges Academy 2e “Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the education of twice-exceptional students. Recently she was honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. She has served in leadership positions in national and international organizations for gifted children and on Editorial Boards for national and international journals in education of the gifted such as Gifted Education International and The Gifted Child Quarterly. She is Associate Editor for Gifted and Talented International and the International Journal of Research in Education and Advisory Board Member for the Bulletin of Special Education in Taiwan. June developed a unique performance-based assessment, Discovering Intellectual Strengths and Capabilities while Observing Varied Ethnic Responses (DISCOVER), was developed and validated in research projects funded by the Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs. She has worked with children, teachers, and researchers, publishing numerous books, articles, and videos.
C. June Maker is Professor Emerita in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. She coordinates doctoral degree programs in education of the gifted and early childhood education and teaches courses in professional writing for doctoral students. She has conducted research on performance-based assessments, implementation of multiple intelligences theory, and creativity development. June received the International Research Award from the World Council for Gifted and Talented Students (WCGTS) and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree by Western Kentucky University, in recognition of her accomplishments. June was inducted into the Bridges Academy 2e
“Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the education of twice-exceptional students. Recently she was honored with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. She has served in leadership positions in national and international organizations for gifted children and on Editorial Boards for national and international journals in education of the gifted such as Gifted Education International and The Gifted Child Quarterly. She is Associate Editor for Gifted and Talented International and the International Journal of Research in Education and Advisory Board Member for the Bulletin of Special Education in Taiwan. June developed a unique performance-based assessment, Discovering Intellectual Strengths and Capabilities while Observing Varied Ethnic Responses (DISCOVER), was developed and validated in research projects funded by the Javits Gifted and Talented Education Program, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs. She has worked with children, teachers, and researchers, publishing numerous books, articles, and videos.