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I was a teacher from 1977 to 2022, in California, Colorado, New York, and Washington. From 1983 until I retired in 2022, I specialized in gifted education, working in pull-out models, self-contained classrooms, and block classes.
For several years, I served on the Executive Board of the Washington Association of Educators of Talented and Gifted (WAETAG), and I was a contributor to Stories from School, a teachers' blog supported by the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP). I am now on the board of the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education (WACOALITION).
A National Board Certified Teacher, I also received special training in order to present classes in my state on issues related to gifted education. I wrote science and social studies curriculum units for our district, resource books for teachers, and educational articles. I presented at national and state science, social studies, and gifted conferences. I taught teachers, both within my district and as a consultant through other districts and my regional Educational Service District (ESD).
Many of the things I have written, and many of the materials I have developed for my own classroom use—including the grammar book Elementary English—are available for free off this website (see the Books page for more).
Why is my website called Kragen U? A parent came to me some years ago and said she was so glad her daughter was in my class, enrolled at Kragen U. I laughed, but the name stuck.
As I told my students, I was not getting them ready for their next grade level or high school. I was getting them ready for Stanford or Johns Hopkins or Harvard or wherever they decided they wanted to go.
No limits.
A National Board Certified Teacher, I also received special training in order to present classes in my state on issues related to gifted education. I wrote science and social studies curriculum units for our district, resource books for teachers, and educational articles. I presented at national and state science, social studies, and gifted conferences. I taught teachers, both within my district and as a consultant through other districts and my regional Educational Service District (ESD).
Many of the things I have written, and many of the materials I have developed for my own classroom use—including the grammar book Elementary English—are available for free off this website (see the Books page for more).
Why is my website called Kragen U? A parent came to me some years ago and said she was so glad her daughter was in my class, enrolled at Kragen U. I laughed, but the name stuck.
As I told my students, I was not getting them ready for their next grade level or high school. I was getting them ready for Stanford or Johns Hopkins or Harvard or wherever they decided they wanted to go.
No limits.
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Finally, in all my spare time, I like to read, write, garden, and draw.
From Education Week--According to the latest research, the two best predictors of college success are not grades and intellectual ability. Number one is “conscientiousness” (dependability, perseverance, work ethic). Number two is “agreeableness” (interpersonal skills, getting along with other people, working well in groups).
From what I have observed, I would say the same is true for life after college—jobs, careers, marriage, and family life. Success comes more easily for people who are willing to work hard and who are able to cooperate with other people. |