GREAT THINKING THURSDAY
For Klein ISD Educators of Gifted/Advanced Learners
March 5, 2020
Klein DI Shines: Bonus Teams Invited to State!
Epps Island: Fine Arts
Team Manager: Casey Wilson; Principal Maribel Scarbrough
Kaiser: Engineering
Team Manager: Cassandra Hooper; Principal Betty Zavala
Doerre: Project Outreach
Team Manager: Cathy VanAlstyne; Principal Mandy Land
Campus Research Showcase: Building our GT Community!
Grateful for our Klein ISD GT Advocates!
By Carrie Raiyawa
Advanced Academics Program Coordinator
As a Klein Family we are always striving to build community among all stakeholders involved in the life and education of our learners. As a department, Advanced Academics had been committed to this by creating opportunities for parents and families to be involved in many aspects of the GT program and services. Most recently, the GT Advocates on each campus have organized Campus Research Expos. As a Program Coordinator, I have had the pleasure of attending many of these amazing showcases!
GT Learners have been working hard all year to complete their research and create a product to showcase at the Vision 2020: Insightful Investigations Research Expo on March 26 and 27. By offering a parent night where students can bring their products and present their research the benefit is twofold. First, it gives the students an opportunity to present to an authentic audience. Often students work harder and put more time into their preparation when someone other than their teachers and classmates will be viewing their work. This is the final step in the LAUNCH Cycle called “Launch”. The object is to launch their ideas and learning into the world, thus making it a better place. When students see that their work is valued not only in a classroom setting, but to “real” people, it becomes a much more meaningful experience. The second benefit is the time spent with others in the GT community. As I have attended these events over the past few weeks it has been a joy to see the students come together with their families to share in their learning. Moms, Dads, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even neighbors gathered around the students listening intently and asking probing questions about each topic. Students were happy to be challenged and relished in the attention that their own learning was receiving. Proud families sidled through the rows of tables, enjoying all the different types of research.
In the spirit of this positive community building we are once again offering a District Parent Night Expo on March 26 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm at the Klein Multipurpose Center. We want to continue to build community across our Klein GT Family across campuses and throughout the district. Parents and families who are unable to make it during the day, can still be a part of their GT Learners research by attending this evening session. To reserve a spot at this awesome event, please direct parents and families to the following form: http://bit.ly/2020KleinExpo
A huge THANK YOU goes out to all the GT Advocates who made these wonderful events possible!
Discovery Awaits: Research Expo!
Free: AP Webinar Series!!
The College Board has added a few additional options in April to participate in our two-part webinar series, "AP® Instructional Resources and Supports," focusing on getting the most out of AP Classroom. Similar to previous sessions, we'll cover the following:
Webinar 1 (Foundations): Learn how AP Classroom supports the new AP course and exam descriptions and offers students opportunities for practice and feedback throughout the year.
Webinar 1 (Foundations) Dates: March 3, March 24, April 1, April 21
Webinar 2 (AP Classroom Demo): See a live demonstration of AP Classroom, highlighting how to assign, score, and interpret results from topic questions, personal progress checks, and teacher-created assignments and quizzes.
Webinar 2 (AP Classroom Demo) Dates: March 4, March 26, April 2, April 22
All remaining sessions in March and April will begin at 7 p.m. ET and will include time at the end for participants to ask questions and share feedback.
ATTENTION TEACHERS: AP SUMMER INSTITUTE INTEREST
John Spencer Returns to Klein ISD!
GT UPDATE CONFERENCE: SECONDARY
Texas State Plan for Gifted: Opportunities for professional learning in the area of gifted/talented education are provided on a regular basis, and information on them is disseminated to professionals in the district.