UPPER TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS IDEA PROGRAM PARENT NIGHT MEETING OCTOBER 24, PM Upper Township Primary School Tammi Pittaro, IDEA teacher

WELCOME! AGENDA:  What does IDEA mean?  What are the program goals?  What will my child be doing in IDEA this year?  What are the expectations for my child?  What can parents do at home to support their children?

WHAT DOES IDEA MEAN? I nter- D isciplinary E nrichment and A cademics NOT G+T- all students have gifts and talents to some degree!

All students may demonstrate gifted behaviors in varying degrees. It is a matter of the complexity, frequency, and intensity of the demonstrated behaviors that determines whether students require differentiated instruction in Gifted and Talented Education.

IDEA PROGRAM GOALS IN UTPS Nurture potential of students Challenge those with advanced learning capabilities Address the academic, social and emotional needs of gifted learners Students with advanced learning capabilities require learning experiences beyond the standard curriculum.

WHAT WILL MY CHILD BE DOING IN IDEA THIS SCHOOL YEAR? All grades:  Creative thinking skills and practice  Critical thinking skills and practice  Problem Solving / Logic  Authentic research

KINDERGARTEN First part of school year: Whole class enrichment working collaboratively with classroom teacher Second part of school year: Pullout program of small groups of students in talent pool; activities to develop thinking skills In the spring: Formal nomination of students who demonstrate potential gifted behaviors by parent and/or teacher; then Cog AT testing Multiple criteria to determine IDEA participation for Fall, 2012 (first grade next year)

FIRST GRADE 40 minute small group pull out class in six day cycle Themes and units to be determined by students’ interests General Exploratory activities  Learn about new topics and interests in varied ways  PROBE books- Personal Research On Basically Everything  Learn “how-tos” – research skills; thinking skills

SECOND GRADE 40 minute small group pull out class in six day cycle PROBE books- Personal Research On Basically Everything IIM- Independent Investigation Method – learning to become researchers Step by step through a model research unit (independent and whole group) Kids Are Authors! Scholastic Book contest CogAT testing in late spring to help determine continued participation.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS NO BRAGGING! Respectful behavior toward peers and adults; work cooperatively with others Self motivation; positive attitude toward learning; enthusiasm; inquisitiveness

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Parents are the single most important factor in developing any child's gifts and talents. There are many ways to help your child explore the world and leap ahead in his or her learning.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Reading: Set aside time for reading each evening, perhaps either at bedtime or after dinner. Be sure that your child has a book available when he or she will be spending down time; waiting for an appointment or while traveling. Limit video games!

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Jim Trelease's website Jim Trelease's website and classic book, "Read Aloud Handbook" is a wonderful source. Develop a bibliography of books for the family to read and discuss together. There are many wonderful book lists online. Books can be requested from the Cape May County Library website if they are not available at your local branch.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Develop an interest. Get your child interested in a topic. Often a topic that the entire family is interested in is a great place to begin. Go on field trips to learn about the topic. Talk to other people who are also interested in the same topic. Read from many sources about the topic (encyclopedia, books, magazines, Internet articles, etc.). Look at the history of this topic. Look at the changes over the years. Look at the topic from other perspectives (from a scientist's point of view, an artist's, an athlete's, a writer's, etc.) Try to spend months, even a year, developing this interest.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Math: Be sure your child understands place value. Often the process becomes rote and the student does not really understand the process. Try teaching your child in another base such as base 2 or 6. If your child understands bases, he / she will benefit greatly when higher math processes such as fractions, measurement, etc. are taught.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? P lay games that develop strategy situations: chess, bridge, backgammon, checkers, orienteering games, et cetera. Make sure your child understands that there are many strategies that can be and should be used understand math. Some are counting up, counting back, using manipulatives, drawing a picture of the problem, making tens, using doubles, etc.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Science: Have your child start a collection. Have them observe and record how experiments change. There are many great science books. Several are How Science Works, How Weather Works, How Nature Works, How Things Work.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO AT HOME TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN? Parent Advocate Systems: Organize a parent group to discuss ways to develop your children's gifts and talents. Try not to allow the main purpose of the group to be a gripe session about what is not being done for gifted students. Act as an advocate for your child and the program. Join the statewide organization: New Jersey Association for Gifted Children

UPPER TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS IDEA PROGRAM PARENT NIGHT MEETING Thank you for coming! Questions? Comments? Concerns? Tammi Pittaro X 2370