Teacher Karen Brown has helped gifted and talented third and fourth graders dramatically improve their learning at Coronado Elementary School in Littleton. Recognizing the diversity in learning styles and developmental levels, Ms. Brown differentiates her instruction to meet each student's needs, implementing strategies from guided reading groups to writer's workshops. She created a "Poetry Café" to allow students to share their favorite writing and poetry, and held mock congressional hearings in which students provided information about the U.S. Constitution to a panel of "senators" played by various community members. In one year, her students' writing scores rose from 0 percent achieving "advanced" on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) to 61 percent. Ms. Brown created a resource and strategy bank for teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as a guided book room with leveled texts, novel sets and other teaching resources. Sponsor of the chess club, she led her students to two consecutive state championships. The phrase "gifted and talented" describes not only her students; it aptly describes Karen Brown as well.
