We hope that you and your family enjoy a lovely Christmas, a peaceful new year, and a relaxing, long break!

With that long break we hope you will take a look at the new January book club selections.  One of the books was recommended by Carissa Chainey!  Check out the Book Club page for more details.

If you get to see a movie during the break, Miss Young recommends Hugo for those of you who have read The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  You won't be disappointed!  If you can splurge, see it in 3-D.

See you all on January 9th...well rested and ready to learn!

Miss Young and Mrs. Ingersoll

 

Wow! Look at Learning on Apangea!

Mrs. Ingersoll and I are so impressed with the number of kids who are earning (learning) in Apangea.  Your points are proof!  The following students have the overall, highest accululated points from the beginning of the school year until now.  Way to go!

MCE

5th grade

Cortney Broyles 30,345 points

4th grade

McKayla Walker 31,507 points

3rd grade

Kegan Morin 32,422

Class (most points for a class in whole school):
Total of 368,730 goes to Mr. Kershaw's 4th graders!

HTS

5th grade

Valerie Henderson 20,629 points

4th place

Bryce Martin 23,546 points

3rd place

Grace Redding 5,868 points

Class (most points for a class in whole school):
Total of 258,405 points goes to Mrs. Eichelberger's 4/5 graders!

PSE5th grade
Haley Robinette 35,372 points

4th grade

Cristian Yeakley 28,778  points

3rd grade

Isaac Yeakley 43,367 points

Class (most points for a class in whole school):
Total of 196,697 goes to Mr. Fackrell's 4/5 graders!

It's so cool seeing kids choose math!  Keep it up.  We are looking forward to taking the yearlong winners to lunch in May.

What Did You Think?

Did anyone get to see "Hugo" during the Thanksgiving Break?  What did you think?  We'd love to hear your review.  Email and let us know.

Miss Young and Mrs. Ingersoll

Please check out our new page!  We will be "capturing" the math thinking of Middleton kids and posting examples of their strategies.  We hope that this will become a reference for parents when they are trying to help with homework, but are feeling 'out of the loop' on what their child is expected to show in their work.

We will be posting strategies as we find them in student work.  Let us know if you have a particular strategy that you would like to see.

 

Many of you have inquired about Apangea.  Heights Elementary is hosting an Apangea Parent Night on Thursday, December 1st at 6:30.  Marisa Alan, our Apangea representative, will share the program and answer questions.  GT Parents from Mill Creek Elementary and Purple Sage Elementary are invited also.  Please join us!

 

Announcing a new and fun way to share books.  Each month (or so) we will be posting new books for kids to read and then share their opinions.  This book club is open to all GT/Advanced kids, friends and classmates.  They may read one or all of the books.  For younger children, adults should feel free to read the books aloud or together.

After the books have been read, please send comments, opinions and a star rating of 0-5 to Miss Young at ayoung@msd134.org.  I will contact parents before posting their child's comments and will only include a first name of the child on the blog.  Kids can check back at the blog to see what others have said.

For more information and to see the November/December books, check out the page link on the right.

Great Ideas From Parents



We are pleased to announce that the Middleton School District GT Program has a new Parent Advisory Group!  The GT Parent Advisory Groups supports the program facilitators as thinking and planning partners.  They give input about the vision and goals  and share honestly about questions and concerns.  These parents represent all of the schools and grade levels.  In our first two meetings they have given the GT Program many creative ideas for improving communication and services for gifted and advanced students. 

Please always feel free to contact Miss Young ayoung@msd134.org or Mrs. Ingersoll ningersoll@msd134.org with questions or concerns or contact your home school and leave a message for one of these GT Parent Advisory members.

Many thanks to this group for their direct and timely comments and inquiries!

Jody Meine - Mill Creek/Middle School

Melisa LaPrath - Mill Creek/Middle School

April Chaney - Middleton Heights/Middle School

Cindy Winkle - Middleton Heights/Middle School

Jenny Easley - Middleon Heights/Middle School

Melissa McPherson - Purple Sage/Middle School

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - The Movie! In 3-D!

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2781978137/

Many of the kids might not know that I love to go to the movies.  My family's dealership is next to an old, restored theater that my dad and uncle worked at when I was a child and where I peddled popcorn and Dots at when I was in junior high and high school.  I see a lot of movies.  I drag friends and family to kids' movies...and often they are happy they went.  Yesterday I saw the first commercial for the movie HUGO, based on Brian Selznick's book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and produced by Marin Scorsese.  Check out the trailer at the link above.  After finishing Wonderstruck just recently, I'm looking forward to this movie and thought your family might be too.  Let me know what you think.

Miss Young

Be Safe!  Have a fun evening!

Fall conferences have come and gone, but we want you to know that you can get a hold of us at anytime for any questions.  Ok, so preferably between 8AM and 8PM, but please don't hesitate to call or email. :-)

You should have received a GT Learning Plan for your child with their report card.  This is a basic outline of services you can expect your child to be receiving.  This may be modified throughout the year.  If we missed getting you this plan we will be happy to send a copy.

Have a great weekend in preparation for a busy Monday.

Miss Young and Mrs. Ingersoll

Developing Mathematical Thinking - Information to Support Your Child

In the last few years teachers in Middleton and across the state have been enrolling in professional development to improve their mathematical practice, instruction and their own understanding.  This training, offered by the State through Boise State University's Center for School Improvement, has challenged many of us in our thinking and how we look at your child's understanding of mathematics and make instructional decisions to help them grow.

The Developing Mathematical Thinking Initiative is soundly rooted in research and creates opportunities for teachers to meet the needs of diverse learners; including our students who are gifted in mathematics and crave opportunities to grow.  But this way of looking at mathematics might be very different from how you were taught.  Students are taught to use traditional algorithms, but not until they can understand the thinking that supports the use of those algorithms.  Instead the emphasis is on deeply understanding what is happening in a math problem, using a strategy to solve the problem, and being able to clearly explain your thinking.  All three are increasingly important skills for the world of work that our kids will be entering.  No longer will they be able to just "do" the math and get by.

For some of us this may be a large shift in thinking from our own experiences and beliefs about mathematics.  I would like to encourage you to read and know more about this initiative and to ask lots of questions.  Mrs. Ingersoll and I are glad to email or meet with you to explain more.  I'm also attaching a few documents that might help as you begin to understand this shift in mathematics instructions.

Miss Young

Homework Questions
This document contains a list of questions you can use to prompt your child's thinking when they are working on a math problem at home.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_VBXnTxMgiVNGU4Njc5ZjgtYWQyYS00MDE0LTkxNDAtYTdjZDE2ODQxNDg3&hl=en

Newsletters
The following are newsletters that give more background and information on how addition, subtraction, and multiplication thinking might look in elementary age children.  These are written by the Boise State Developing Mathematical Thinking Group.

Addition
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_VBXnTxMgiVMzExNTcwYjktMWVlOS00ZjdmLTg5YjItZDQ4NDA3YjRiZTQ0&hl=en

Subtraction
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_VBXnTxMgiVYzFhZWU2MGMtMDYzMi00NjE2LThhNDYtMWQxZmJhZGUxY2Fh&hl=en

Multiplication
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_VBXnTxMgiVYzZlNTU4ZjEtMzAzMC00YjllLWIzOTYtZjBhZGFjODJlNTc1&hl=en

Apangea: A Cool Way to Learn Math

Families,

In September each elementary school hosted a kick off assembly for Apangea Math.  This online math program offers all 3rd-5th grade students, including our gifted and advanced learners, the opportunity to apply their knowledge of math while problem solving.  Many of our gifted math students have a knack for fact recall. Apangea encourages this knowledge while building students' understanding of what it means to apply numbers and words to a math problem.  Students earn points as they are taken through a multi-step process to solve word problems.  Points can be used to purchase gift cards, t-shirts, and backpacks.  Several large price (iPods and laptops) are given out at the end of the year.  

Mrs. Ingersoll and Ms. Young would like to offer a local challenge to every 3rd, 4th, and 5th grader!  The top point winners from each grade level at Mill Creek, Heights, and Purple Sage will be treated to lunch at Casa Mexico on Friday, May 4th.  There will also be smaller contests set up througout the year to encourage students to continue with Apangea.  Please share this information with your child, encourage them to use Apangea to extend their math thinking, and accrue points.  The grade level winners from each school will be announced on Monday, April 30. 

Mrs. Ingersoll and Ms. Young

Great Deal on Art Supplies

Quality Art in Garden City is having a big 40% off everything sale on Oct. 15th.  For some of those planning Christmas presents for young artists in their households, we thought this might be good information.  :-)

Apangea - What You Need To Know to Get Started At Home

In September each elementary school hosted a kick off assembly for Apangea Math.  This online math program offers all 3rd-5th grade students, including our gifted and advanced learners, the opportunity to apply their knowledge of math while problem solving.  Many of our gifted math students have a knack for fact recall. Apangea encourages this knowledge while building students' understanding of what it means to apply numbers and words to a math problem. 

 

Students earn points as they are taken through a multi-step process to solve word problems.  The kids are hooked once they realize that by doing math correctly they earn points to purchase gift cards to vendors like Game Stop or Pizza Hut.  Points can also be used to purchase a backpack, t-shirt, or donated back to Apangea who will make a monetary donation to a charity of the student's choice.  Apangea's largest prizes are given out several times a year to students just for logging in and using the program!  Last year these students received iPod touches, laptops, and high-value gift cards. 

 

Your child's teacher can provide you with their username and password. 

 

Link to Apangea Letter Below

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VAbm_MIMfsZjnqZoiqLcLd_lvPwMC_GGf-WDrzYaZ0k/edit?hl=en_US

 

 

History Buff in the Family? Don't Miss "Museum Comes to Life"

If you have a child who is a history buff, don't miss the Idaho History Museum's Museum Comes to Life.    The museum will come to life in Julia Davis Park from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2011.  And better yet, admission is free!
http://www.history.idaho.gov/events/museum-comes-life-annual-history-festival

From the Historical Society eNewsletter:
"Music will be one of the many highlights this year.  Featured in the Lewis and Clark Pavilion in Pioneer Village will be Marimba Boise, an African-style xylophone ensemble inspired by the dance music of Zimbabwe (10:00-11:45 am), Hillfok Noir, old-time songster music (11:45 am-1:30 pm) and Boise’s local Banjo Band (1:45-3:30 pm).  Rounding out the fun will be the Boise Highlanders playing their pipes and the wandering musicians from Owyhee Mountain Fiddle Shop.

The Civil War Re-enactors will have a new encampment and will be east of the Museum, between Pioneer Village and the Black History Museum.  Younger members of the group will be demonstrating reels and other easy dances of the era and the women will provide etiquette lessons on proper ways to serve tea.  Daughters of the American Revolution will be on hand with a new tent area and Celebration Park will be back again with their Indian Lifeways exhibit, sharing their expertise on Indian lifestyles of the past 12,000 years.  From days of yore, the Society for Creative Anachronism will be at the festivities, depicting Renaissance life in huge tent-houses south of the Rose Garden.  Exhibits inside the museum will include leather stamping and braiding, how to make hats, tin can footstools and rug hooking, to name a few.    Catch the Japanese dolls that will be on display by the Syringa doll club and don’t miss the parlor with a 1911 couple telling about news of the day.  The Marionette group has scheduled performances for 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the theater space downstairs." 

Books for Classic Readers

Each year we have at least one request from a student or parent for a list of books that kids can read to achieve the Classic Reader designation in Accelerated Reader.  This can be tough particularly for young advanced readers because the student must read 3 books at a 6.0 or higher reading level that are worth 7 points or more.  In the link below you will found a list we have compiled with the help of older GT students who have met this goal.  If your child comes across a book that they would recommend for the list, please let us know!  We'll add it.

Miss Young
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_VBXnTxMgiVMmUxYmM4NDctZjcwYy00OWU4LTliMjctZTQ1NmY3MGE0NTc3&hl=en_US

Opportunity for Budding Artists

The Idaho School Boards Assocation is sponsoring their annual calendar contest.  The theme this year is "What I Love About America."  If you have a child that would be interested in entering this contest, please email me at ayoung@msd134.org and I will send you the entrance form. You can either send the entry in as a family or send it back to me at your child's elementary school by September 30th and I'll send a packet of entries in.  Have fun being creative!

Miss Young

Middleton GT Getting Up and Running

Families,

School has started and we have been busy!  We are currently testing students who have been referred to our program.  We are just about finished with this process and will be meeting with parents to discuss the results.  We are also meeting with teachers and using academic data to plan more specifically for how we will serve groups of students this year.

Mrs. Ingersoll will be again serving 4th and 5th grade students and teachers.  Miss Young will be serving 2nd and 3rd grades.  Both of us will be working with teams at the middle school on Fridays.

Please call or email if you have specific questions about how your child is being served at their school this year.

Thanks for teaming with us!

Miss Young (and Mrs. Ingersoll)

Names Matter: What Does the Label Gifted Mean?

Names and labels matter.  There is power in the words we use.  What those words mean can be different for each of us.  Unfortunately the label "gifted" has come with both positive and negative meanings and I believe this is because of the ambiguity associated with the word 'gifted'.  If you are an educator you are born with the perspective of finding the "gift" in every child.  To label certain children as 'gifted' seems to rub us wrong.  Whether you like or agree with the etymology of the word gifted, there is a need for us to know what the definition means and then to quickly move past the label to provide the opportunities and services for these children so they can be learning every day.  So, for the sake of being on the same page, here are the Federal and Idaho State definitions of "gifted".

Federal - The current federal definition of gifted students was originally developed in the 1972 Marland Report to Congress, and has been modified several times since then. The current definition, which is located in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, is Students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services and activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.

Note: States and districts are not required to use the federal definition, although many states base their definitions on the federal definition.

Idaho:  Gifted/talented children’ mean those students who are identified as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of high performing capabilities in intellectual, creative, specific academic or leadership areas, or the ability in the performing arts or visual arts and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop such capabilities.”
(Idaho Code § 33-2001)

In the Middleton School District we label a student "gifted' if they meet this definition by scoring in the 95th percentile on a norm referenced academic or intellectual test or with a building team decision based on multiple data sources.  We also include "advanced" students who may be gifted or showing potential in one academic discipline, but not qualifying across the board at the 95th percentile.  For the Middleton School District the important thing is that we provide services to these students to help them continue to be engaged, learning, and growing to their fullest potential. 

Whether differentiation is happening in the classroom or small group services are provided by one of the GT Facilitators, collaboration with administrators, teachers, and parents is highly important to helping kids succeed.  Thank you for all you do to help this process!

Miss Young (and Mrs. Ingersoll)

Welcome Families!

After our Parent Advisory Meeting we decided no time better than the present to get a family blog going!  Even though it's the end of the year we thought this might be a good spot to post ideas for summer activities.  Stay tuned for posts to come.