Gifted Resource Language Arts/Math Curriculum Presentation Ruth E. McLennan Estrella Elementary

About Ms. McLennan About Ms. McLennan 26 years of teaching experience 26 years of teaching experience Family: Two sons, Matt and Austin Family: Two sons, Matt and Austin Enjoy all sports, traveling, music, hiking, running, and weight training Enjoy all sports, traveling, music, hiking, running, and weight training

Characteristics of the Gifted Learner   Is intense   Already knows   Draws inferences   Is a good guesser   Asks the questions   Has wild, silly ideas   Is keenly observant   Constructs abstractions   Manipulates information   Discusses in detail, elaborates   Is mentally and physically involved   Enjoys learning (but NOT necessarily school)   Shows strong feelings, emotions, and opinions   Plays around, yet tests well (versus works hard)   Initiates projects (versus completes assignments)   Creates a new design (versus copies accurately)   Typically needs only 1 or 2 repetitions for mastery   Is highly self-critical (this often translates into perfectionism)

Expectations What You Can Expect From me:   Best practices in teaching   Open communication   Differentiation for your child’s individual needs   Enthusiasm   Creativity   Respect   Honesty   Fairness

Expectations cont. What I Expect of You and Your Child:   Ongoing home-school communication   Timely completion of homework and classwork   Respectful collaboration   Initiative   Creativity

Common Core Standards   Common Core Standards in ELA (English Language Arts) and Mathematics are designed to prepare students for college and career.   Collaborative planning with the gifted team using curriculum maps to guide instruction based on the standards

Reading/ELA Resources :   Harcourt Trophies   Junior Great Books   Literature Studies – Kyrene adopted trade books   Word Study (Spelling and Vocabulary) – Wordly Wise and Wordsmith (“Groovy Bob”)   Nonfiction – content area informational text, textbooks, and articles   Write From the Beginning   Thinking Maps   Many opportunities to present, speak, and listen

Literary Responses What is a Literary Response? The little voice in your head that talks to you, things you observed, feelings you had while reading. What is a Literary Response? The little voice in your head that talks to you, things you observed, feelings you had while reading. Locus of control is with students not teacher Locus of control is with students not teacher It’s natural and enjoyable, encourages interaction with text, active reading. It’s natural and enjoyable, encourages interaction with text, active reading. Students write on sticky notes, transfer on to paper, turn questions in. Students write on sticky notes, transfer on to paper, turn questions in.

Kinds of Responses: Practicing Process Skills Questions you had while reading Questions you had while reading Predictions Predictions Words you didn’t understand and what you think it might mean Words you didn’t understand and what you think it might mean Words or phrases you liked and why Words or phrases you liked and why Quotes with page numbers, what you think it meant. Quotes with page numbers, what you think it meant. Use the author’s name when making observations (I really like how Gary Paulsen said…) Use the author’s name when making observations (I really like how Gary Paulsen said…) Identify the moral, or theme Identify the moral, or theme

Vocabulary Development WordSmith and Wordly Wise Greek and Latin stems (WordSmith) Greek and Latin stems (WordSmith) Instead of just prefixes, roots and suffixes. This gets at the meaning of those parts or cells. E.g., Tele- (from afar) Vis (see) Instead of just prefixes, roots and suffixes. This gets at the meaning of those parts or cells. E.g., Tele- (from afar) Vis (see) -Ion( -ing, act) -Ion( -ing, act)

WordSmith/Wordly Wise (Continued) Learning Keys – Great way to study Learning Keys – Great way to study Wordly Wise: Vocabulary Development Wordly Wise: Vocabulary Development Spelling comes from daily writing, Wordly Wise and the classroom. Spelling comes from daily writing, Wordly Wise and the classroom. Parents: Quiz using keys, Word lists, practice at home on words, ask about progress. Parents: Quiz using keys, Word lists, practice at home on words, ask about progress.

Math Students must demonstrate mastery of grade level curriculum. Then  Accelerated Curriculum Acceleration has proven to be twice as powerful as enrichment when dealing with gifted students. (Gifted students generally work a grade above their peers) 12

Math Adopted Resources   Investigations   Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley   Holt Middle School Mathematics   Fosnot units   Hands-On Equations   Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI)   Number Talks   Additional adopted supplementary resources

Homework minutes a night per subject area minutes a night per subject area 3-4 nights a week 3-4 nights a week Assignment Calendar, filled out daily Assignment Calendar, filled out daily Not prepared/missing assignments – Coordinate with classroom Fun Friday Not prepared/missing assignments – Coordinate with classroom Fun Friday

Projects Research Projects throughout the year Research Projects throughout the year Book Studies (First one: September) Book Studies (First one: September) Menus that support both math and reading Menus that support both math and reading Opportunities for oral presentations Opportunities for oral presentations

Resource for Students and Parents Ms. McLennan’s Teacher Webpage Ms. McLennan’s Teacher Webpage –Online sites for parents and students Gifted Kyrene webpage Resources Gifted Kyrene webpage Resources –Kyrene Home Page  Departments  Exceptional Students Services  Gifted

School To Home Communication Conferences are two times per year to review progress and set goals Conferences are two times per year to review progress and set goals Voice mail/phone (may take 24 hours to return, is faster), Voice mail/phone (may take 24 hours to return, is faster), Web Pages Web Pages questions anytime: questions anytime:

GR Schedule of Classes MATH: 7:55 – 9:25 MATH: 7:55 – 9:25 M, T, Th, F Language Arts: Language Arts:10:10-11:30 M, T, Th, F

Thank you for coming. I’m looking forward to a great year!