Welcome to Mrs. LiCausi’s Class! This slide show will provide you with a brief overview of the curriculum and resources used in the Gifted and High-Ability Program for Norte and Niños. This presentation covers the domains of Language arts, Math, and Nonverbal services. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you for taking the time to become familiar with us!

Weekly Reflection Forms New This Year!  Look for these forms to view your child’s behavior status and learning goals for each day and class period.  These forms will come home every Friday. Some students keep them in their binders and take them home daily.

Language Arts Basic Curricular Goals Reading (Trade Books, Jr. Great Books, Harcourt) - Comprehension Skills through discussion & Journal Responses Vocabulary (Wordsmith & Wordly Wise) - learning in context and using word cells Writing (Harcourt, 6-Traits) - Types, Structures, Purpose, Process, writing to think Grammar (Harcourt) - Composing sentences, Elaborating, Conventions Critical Thinking - Bloom’s Taxonomy Advanced Instruction (as appropriate)

Classroom Routines Grades 4 & 5: 1:00-2:20pm Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri Wednesdays – students work in their own classroom on homework, projects, or classroom activities. On-going assignments that students can always work on are: - Reading our class Chapter Book and completing responses - Wordsmith vocabulary practice activities - Monthly Book Report Project Harcourt resources for reading skills, writing, and grammar; Wordsmith vocabulary program; tests & practice. Trade Books and Jr. Great Books for reading comprehension. Journal Responses and class participation. Grades based on percentages for tests and writing projects; points for worksheets, projects, and assessments. Grades will be online through SYNERGY. Their Language Arts homework and materials should be written out in their Daily Agenda. Please check website for projects links and DUE dates!

Curricular Goals in Mathematics Mathematics Knowledge and Skills Facts, operations, the number system, properties of operations, different representations for numbers, pre-algebra, etc… Mathematical Understanding We will implement the new Common Core math standards, focus on making connections between strands, problem solving, and applying knowledge properly. Advanced Instruction (as appropriate)

Classroom Routines Grade 4 & 5: 10-11:30amMon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. Scott-Foresman texts, Fosnot Units, Investigations, Hands-On Equations manipulatives, as well as various materials for problem- solving, concept development and practice. Grades based on percentages for tests and points for completing homework, daily practice, and assessments. Math homework is a small portion of the grade. Grades will be online through SYNERGY. Monday’s homework will always be a skill practice due Tuesday. Tuesday’s homework will always be problem-solving due Friday.

What Nonverbal is…and isn’t… Nonverbal giftedness refers to a mode of thinking. Spatial-Visual thinking, invention, construction, visualizing, manipulating shapes in space and in imagination, drawing, designing, engineering, building, etc. Nonverbal giftedness isn’t a single curricular discipline. The Kyrene district has decided that helping children develop visual- spatial skills can be done in many curricular areas; and it is a better use of time for nonverbal activities to be integrated into the curriculum, as opposed to being treated as an independent course of study.

Nonverbal Services in Kyrene Nonverbal services in Kyrene are based on consultation between the gifted teacher and classroom teacher. A DLP (Differentiated Learning Plan) is created to document a general course for supplementing a child’s daily activities to include nonverbal activities, or other curricular strengths that they have. How, when, and what a child will be doing may vary in each classroom depending upon the individual child’s needs, or how the classroom teacher can integrate it into their regular activities. DLPs will be completed for students who do not receive direct instruction from Mrs. LiCausi. The first DLP will occur during 1 st Quarter.

Nonverbal Resources Internet Resources; Mrs. LiCausi’s Classroom Webpage & Kyrene’s Gifted Webpage for helpful links. *Nonverbal Monthly Activities This power point is available for student, parent, and teacher access to nonverbal activities.