GT Academy Newsletter
Sablatura Middle School / Pearland ISD
August / September 2015
welcome back!
- Keep binders organized. Organized binders help students keep up with important papers and turn in assignments on time. Students have been taught to keep a different colored folder for each class. Binders should be cleaned out once a week, and graded papers can be kept in a box or tub at home. You never know when Mrs. Mueller might drop by for a binder check!
- Establish homework routines. Students should use planners to keep track of homework assignments, tests and projects. They are expected to keep up with due dates for Knowsys, Stemscopes, Social Studies journals, Reading Logs and daily math homework. If students are not able to complete their homework in a timely manner, it may be that time management needs to be evaluated or the student may benefit by coming in for tutoring. Middle school is a time for students to develop study skills and learn from mistakes as they become independent learners.
- Use ALEKS. ALEKS is an online individualized math program that is blended into our GTA math classes. Students are able to work on ALEKS at home and at school. More information will be coming from Mrs. Needler and Mrs. Cybak soon.
Mini Courses
- Students are learning how math and art are related in "Creatively Computing" and are reading folk tales as they learn the art of Storytelling.
- Students in the Aviation course have practiced the Bourelli Principle and will visit with pilots at Ellington Airport on a field experience at the end of the course.
- In Junk Box Wars, students are experiencing hands on problem solving as they work on their team building skills.
- Aspiring Chess champions can be found focusing intensely and learning new strategies.
- Critical Thinking skills are getting stronger as students learn to code in Apps and build then program robots in Robotics.
- Sewing skills will come in handy when 5th graders design quilts for their Texas Performance Standard Projects (TPSP).
GTA Mornings
Sablatura Clubs
Gritty GTA Grizzlies
Thank you for your support!
Family and community support can help make a good program outstanding. We appreciate parents and community members who are willing to volunteer their time. Some come as guest speakers, others help with our NXT, Seaperch and Math Club, and others help with fundraisers that ensure our award winning students are able to attend state and international level competitions.
Want to support the GT Academy, but are not able to volunteer your time? You can help by donating supplies to enrich the lessons and activities in classrooms and clubs. All donations are greatly appreciated! Our current needs are:
- Rubber cement for TPSP projects
- Duct tape and masking tape for science
- Crayola markers
- Plastic spoons, paper plates, small clear plastic cups and straws for science labs
- Pencils
- Colored masking tape for TPSP display boards
- Trivia games for Quiz Bowl (Trivial Pursuit Junior 4th Edition, Go to the Head of the Class)
We are also happy to put corporate donations to good use. If your company would like to support our students, please let Mrs. Mueller know. And of course, parents are encouraged to join GTAB!
For more information on gifted students...
National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) www.nagc.org
Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) www.txgifted.org
The Association for the Gifted www.cectag.org
Hoagies' Gifted Education Page www.hoagiesgifted.org
Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) www.sengifted.org
Duke TIP Digest of Gifted Research http://tip.duke.edu/node.84
2e- Twice Exceptional Newsletter www.2enewsletter.com