Don't Miss Legos!

LEGO BUILDING FOR

3^RD GRADE AND OLDER

NOVEMBER Wed., 13^TH

PROGRAM BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 2:30.

INTERESTED IN DESIGN?  MATH?  ENGINEERING?  CREATING LEGO PROJECTS?  HAVING FUN?

THEN THIS IS FOR YOU!  LEARN AND PRACTICE BUILDING DIFFERENT DESIGNS WITH BASIC BRICKS!

Middleton Public Library

Welcome Back!  We hope it's been a great summer for you and your family and that you are feeling refreshed and ready to get back to school.

As we gear back up we wanted to take a few minutes to share our big goals and guidelines for the year.  Our main goal is to support teachers as they work towards meeting the needs of your gifted and advanced students.  In the days to come, we will be establishing schedules and wrapping up testing with incoming second graders (and a few others.)  We will also be working on new online referral forms to make things a little easier and to save a little paper.

Mrs. Eichelberger and I have been doing a lot of thinking and training with elementary teachers around the state in the area of argument/opinion writing and reading for evidence.    Both of these a shifts schools are making to adjust to the Idaho Core.  We have also been fortunate to work with teachers at analyzing the new state testing sample performance tasks.  If you have questions about either, please don't hesitate to ask us.

If there is something we can help you with right away, please, don't hesitate to send us an email.

Here's to a great year!

Miss Young (and Mrs. Eichelberger)

Idaho Summer Writing Camps

http://www.thecabinidaho.org/whatwedo/idaho-writing-camps.htm

The Log Cabin in Boise has posted their summer camp offerings at their website.  Scholorships are available.  This is a great opportunity for young writers.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Check out the creative mind of this gifted child! Thanks to April Chainey for making us aware of Caine, an original thinker.

Merry Christmas!

Elements of Creativity

There are some very basic (and yet complex) elements to creativity.  Each can be nurtured and developed in all of us...at any age.  Here are the basics.

This is about your ability to generate ideas for extended periods of time without stopping or getting bogged down in what will or won't work.  This is not my (Miss Young's) strongest element.  I work really hard when I'm in planning meetings to not critique any idea when we are in the brainstorming phase.  You just never know where ideas will lead you if you keep after fluency.

Originality is the ability to notice the one idea that is completely new and different from what's been generated.  You know the Super Bowl commercial that everyone waits for and talks about more than the game?  Advertisers love this because they have nailed originality.

Now elaboration...elaboration is my favorite! Give me an idea and let me go with it.  I'll have every detail planned out.  A party?  I'll have a list and organize it twice (Just ask my sisters about their weddings).  When you've found that one idea that might be the most creative, this is the ability dot the Is and cross the Ts.

I've seen a few people struggle with this one, especially Type As.  Flexibility is the ability to stretch and bend and make an idea work or to adjust the idea when you are thrown a curve ball.  Often, flexibility leads to an even better product.

These are the basic elements of creativity that we are trying to build into your child's vocabulary, math, writing, reading, art, and other instruction.  We think that there is power in a child's ability to grow their creativity in many areas.

And...in case there are a few who this creativity is just for the artistic and crafty, here a a few words from Coach Pete.  Click on the picture for the link.  It's a great article on creativity and football.

Miss Young

Does Creativity Matter?

This infographic made Mrs. Eichelberger stop and think about how we are helping our student prepare for future learning and the world of work.  It's pretty interesting.

Reprinted from Edudemic.  http://edudemic.com/2012/11/creativity-should-be-taught-like-math-or-science/

Is Your Child Creative?

Are you creative?  Many people think you are either born creative or you aren't.  But, that's really not true.   More importantly, leaders in business and industry are telling educators more frequently and adamantly how critical creativity, adaptability and innovation are to the workforce.  Check out this study from IBM's Leadership Research Series.

Mrs. Eichelberger and I were recently given the opportunity to hear Sir Ken Robinson speak.  Pretty inspirational.  He had a few words of wisdom for teachers about creativity.

"Imagination is the heart of human life."

"To be creative means to do something.  [It's] putting your imagination to work."

"You create your life....It's full of passions and creative choices along the way."

"Teaching is much more like gardening than engineering."

Ok, I just love that last one, but truly, we would love to cultivate the seeds of creativity in your child.  For the next few post we'll try to give some brief ideas about how to grow a child's creativity.  We'd also love your feedback about opportunities you'd love to see for your child.

Stay tuned!

Miss Young

http://nrich.maths.org/7778

Check out this fun link to a math advent calendar!  A new activity each day is a great challenge.

Enjoy!

3rd Graders CCSS Writing Opinion Pieces

Many of our third grade students have been thinking about the question "Are friendships necessary?"  This inquiry question was considered as they read a variety of stories.  A few of the GT students extended this question to the book Poppy by Avi.  This question helped the students focus on the characters and how their actions and choices impacted the plot.

As we wrapped up this book study, the students were asked to respond to the original question with their opinion and evidence from the text to support their thinking.  This is in line with the new Common Core State Standards that Idaho recently adopted.  CCSS Writing #1 requires third graders to:

3.W.1  Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.

a. Introduce the topic or text they are writing bout, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.

b. Provide reasons that support the opinion.

c. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for example) to connect opinion and reasons.

d. Provide a concluding statement or section.

As the students move toward fourth grade, this standard moves from a paragraph to a longer piece of writing with introductory and concluding sections.  This standard will eventually evolve into an argument with claims and evidentiary reasoning at the high school level.

I thought the students had a good first try at opinion writing and I wanted to share their work with you.  The copies from their Reader's Notebooks was too faint to share pictures, but here are their finished (without my editing) pieces.  Enjoy!

"I think friendships are necessary and the book Poppy proves my point because if poppy hadn't met her friends she would have never completed her journey.  For example when Poppy was fighting Oxax she needed Ereaths quill if Poppy hadn't met Ereath Ocax would have killed her.  In order to find out the truth, start her journey and save her family Ragweed died.  Everybody needs a friend like Poppy's to start their adventure in life."

N. H.

"I think friendships are necessary and I can prove it in the book Poppy.  For instance, in chapter 11 Ereth chases a fox away for Poppy because the fox wants to eat her.  Ereth also leaves behind a quill in order to defeat Ocax.  Ereths friendship helped Poppy on her jorny, but I think everyone needs a friend."

C.P.

"I think friendships are necessary and the book Poppy proves my point.  Based on what I read, Poppy runs into Ereth's log and the fox was trieing to eat Poppy so Ereth helped Poppy get away from the fox.  For example, the fox wouldn't be an example because he wants to eat Poppy.  Ereth was a good friend to Poppy so I think every body should have friends."

A.W.

"Poppy had friends and they were necessary.  According to the text in chapter 11 Ereth was nice enough to chase away a fox for Poppy so she won't get eaten when she leaves.  In addition, later in the story, Ereth leaves Poppy a quill for her protection.  She needed this weapon from her friend to defeat Mr. Ocax.  Ereth's friendship was appropriate for Poppy on this journey."

A.P.

Over the last few years, we have worked hard to support teachers and gifted and advanced students make academic growth in the Middleton School District.  Our first goal is to support teachers in this endeavor, because they are the primary facilitators of learning for students.  To make the best use of our day in each building, we work to collaborate with teams to coordinate group instruction based on grade level learning targets and assessment data.  Our hope is that this coordinated effort will lead to greater growth and fewer curriculum gaps than the old pull-out model.

Below are the guiding principles for our program.  These goals were developed with district leaders and are aligned with the Middleton School District Strategic Improvement Plan. and approved at the district level.  We are open to questions you might have and look forward to continuing on the journey to see these principles fully realized in Middleton.

Miss Young and Mrs. Eichelberger

Middleton School District Gifted and Talented Program

Guiding Principles

2012

v  Support Classroom Teachers and Build Capacity for Differentiated Instruction

Ø  Support teachers with strategies, curriculum, and other materials to promote differentiated instruction for gifted and advanced students in the regular classroom 

Ø  Collaborate with teacher teams in academic decisions for students that may require different pacing, depth, complexity and/or acceleration.             

v  Utilize RtI Systems and Assessment Data

Ø  Help determine curriculum decisions based upon screening, diagnostic, formalized testing, informal assessments, and progress monitoring data through an integrated school improvement model

Ø  Align gifted and advanced interventions to coordinate with school-wide model and goals when possible to support the whole model

Ø  Provide insight into research-based models and strategies for gifted and advanced students

v  Focus on Student Outcomes and Academic Growth

Ø  Promote partnerships with teachers that utilize data resulting in academic growth for advanced and GT students

Ø  Support lesson planning and coordinating of small group instruction focused on the Common Core State Standards

Ø  Encourage the integration of critical and creative thinking, problem solving and metacognition

v  Advocate for the Needs of Gifted/Advanced Students and Families

Ø  Work with school teams to advocate and advise on the academic, social, and emotional characteristics of gifted, advanced, and twice exceptional students.

Ø  Support the academic needs of families with gifted children through resources and information about upcoming opportunities

Ø  Continue to encourage partnerships between the districts and families focused on student learning and motivation through the Parent Advisory Group



Kid Architects - An After-School Workshop

The Middleton Gifted and Talented Program is pleased to announce that we will be offering an after school workshop for our 3rd through 5th Grade Gifted and Advanced Math Students.  Kid Architects will use LEGOs to explore famous buildings from around the world, as well as elements of construction design. 

The workshop will be hosted at Middleton Heights Elementary. 

3rd-5th Grade Girls - Tuesdays, Oct. 9th and 16th

3rd-5th Grade Boys - Thursdays, Oct. 11th and 18th

Parents will be responsible for transportation. 

 A healthy snack will be provided.

The workshop is free of charge thanks to a grant from Capital Educators Federal Credit Union.

For more information please download the pdf file linked to the image above.

Welcome Back!

Though we are sad to see Mrs. Ingersoll go (She is very happily at home with Baby Oliver!), I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Eichelberger will be joining the Middleton Gifted and Advanced Program Team!  Mrs. Eichelberger (Jayna) will be working with the 4th and 5th grade teachers and students.  She is an amazing classroom teacher who is gifted at differentiating for her students.  Mrs. Eichelberger has a passion for art and received a Master's Degree in integrating the arts into learning.  More to come soon from Mrs. Eichelberger, but I wanted you to know how thrilled we are to have her add her expertise to the program.

As the school year gets started we will be finishing testing a few students for the GT program and meeting with parents, as well as working with schools and teachers as they assess, analyze data, and determine student learning targets.  We anticipate supporting student groups in the next week to 10 days.  If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call. 

Thank you also for your patience as we work out plans and schedules to meet your child's needs for the 2012-2013 school year.

Hope to see you soon!
Miss Young

Summer Fun and Learning with 4-H

Looking for inexpensive and close-to-home opportunities for your child this summer?  Consider 4-H.  Some of my best, early leadership opportunities happened in 4-H.  There's nothing like the authentic presentation and demonstration practice that comes with 4-H projects.  The topics are limitless.  There's an opportunity for every child and every interest.

For more information contact the Canyon County Extension Office at 459-6003.  They will also be holding a new parent and volunteer night on Tuesday, April 24th from 7:00-9:00.  Please RSVP at the number above.

A Free App for Visual and Spatial Reasoning

If you have access to an iPad or iPhone this is a great FREE 3-D app for helping kids develop their visual-spatial reasoning skills which has a strong correlation to math problem solving and application.

It's called 3-D Cube It!

I've test driven this will 2nd graders and they love it and pick it up quickly.  Some levels require them to add cubes, other to remove them.  The hardest level asks them to move cubes in 3-D space.

I highly recommend this app and think it would be a good one for long road trips.

Enjoy!

Angie

Parents,

I think this is a very important article from Stanford University for us to consider.  The ideas and research implications greatly impact our girls; how they will see themselves as mathematicians and who they will dream to become.

I'd love to hear your thought!

Miss Young

http://gender.stanford.edu/news/2012/sugar-and-spice-and%E2%80%A6-math-under-achievement

Register Now for Summer Opportunties

The Cabin (Log Cabin Literacy Center) offers some pretty amazing camps for budding writers in grades 3-12.  Students get to work with teachers and professional writers for creative and engaging writing experiences.  Check out their website.

http://register.thecabinidaho.org/default.aspx

There are some great early bird specials is you register a child before May 4th.  There are also partial scholarships available, though they are not listed on the website.  Please don't let fees be a hurdle that keeps you from exploring this opportunity for your child.  Just contact The Cabin's front office staff at 331-8000 and ask about their summer writing camp scholarships.  The application process is pretty painless.

Let me know if your child goes!  I'd love to hear how it went.



The GT and Advanced 2nd Graders at PSE finally have their book ready. 

Please click the link here and enjoy!

For those of you, adults and kids, who love books, you will love this short animation called

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

Blogs

Please check out the new blogs I've added underneath the Shelfari widget.  I'm sure there will be more soon!

Unwrapping the Gifted - This blog is hosted by my friend Tamara.  We met at Edufest, a gifted conference held in Boise every year.  She is an amazing teacher, facilitator, and author.  Though this blog is written primarily for teachers, I think families will find her articles insightful.

From the Mixed Up Files - This blog is by authors of books for middle grade (3rd-6th) students.  I often get asked for recommendations on books.  I thought this might be a nice blog for parents looking for reviews and new releases for their children.

Enjoy!

Miss Young