TARGET TIMES!
Keheley Elementary Target Program
Real Word Activities for the Gifted Student
Real World Activities
Some advanced learning activities seem like busywork, but you can help your gifted elementary students see the use in what they are creating if you focus these activities towards real life situations. Here are some ways that you can make students feel that they are doing something practical that could actually be helpful to the rest of the world:
- Writing a letter to the editor of a local paper responding to an issue in the community or in the paper itself -- and actually sending it
- Designing an invention that will actually help people and figuring out how they might apply for a patent on it
- Making their own meal plans, calculating how many calories are in various types of food, as well as which foods contain essential nutrients
- Organizing a fundraising event to raise money for a cause, and working with all of the math (money), writing (advertisements), and other skills that go into it
These elementary level activities will help your gifted students recognize how the information that they have learned can be helpful for them outside of the classroom as well. You may even find that students begin creating their own "real world activities" based on other information that they have learned.
Gifted Resources For The Parents
Organizations
These organizations help gifted students and their parents get the education, emotional support, and guidance they need to grow up happy and well-adjusted.
- National Association for Gifted Children: The National Association for Gifted Children is one of the best places for parents of gifted children to find resources, reading, help, and advice on raising an exceptional child.
- Gifted Child Society: The Gifted Child Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the cause of gifted children. Through their website, parents can find helpful information and learn about seminars and workshops they can attend.
- Mensa for Kids: Mensa embraces younger members through this fun website, offering up monthly themes to get kids reading and learning at an advanced level.
- Institute for Research and Policy on Acceleration: Find out more about the latest research being done into academic acceleration through this organization’s site.
- Center for Talented Youth: Located at Johns Hopkins, this organization engages gifted kids and their families through programs, summer classes, and even a bi-monthly magazine.
TWITTER Resourses
Find quick 140-character-or-less quips and updates about working with, parenting, and helping gifted children from these excellent Twitter feeds
1. @teachagiftedkid: This gifted and talented teacher posts interesting articles and thoughts about working with the gifted here
2. @DeepWatersCoach: Lisa Lauffer works with the group Gifted Grownups & Parents of Gifted Children, offering support through her Twitter feed and beyond
3. @gifted_ guru: Head to this feed to hear from Lisa Van Gemert, a gifted youth specialist for Mensa
4. @JeffcoGifted: This nonprofit group of parents, teachers, and community leaders tweets about advocacy and resources for gifted kids
5. @HoagiesGifted: Head to this feed to get resources and articles aplenty about gifted education and parenting
6. @laughingatchaos: Jen is a mom raising gifted kids. She shares her experiences, both the good and the bad, here and on her blog.
COMING SOON!!!! Breakout EDU
What is Breakout EDU?
Breakout EDU is the immersive learning games platform.
The Breakout EDU kit allows for the facilitation of games where players use teamwork and critical thinking to solve a series of challenging puzzles in order to open the locked box. Games are available for all ages and content areas.
In addition to the content knowledge needed to succeed in a specific game, all Breakout EDU games require critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication.
A Breakout EDU game provides learners with many opportunities to fail forward. Every unsuccessful attempt to open a lock forces the player to try again.
Target Units
The Target students are currently working on the following units.
1st Grade- Amelia Earhart
2nd Grade- Mission Possible
3rd Grade- Rivers
4th Grade-Inventure Challenge
5th Grade-Inventure Challenge
Did you know that Cobb County has a Gifted Education website? Check it out at http://academics.cobbk12.org/index.php/ad/tl/apl/advanced-learning/
As always, If you have any question/concerns, please don't hesitate
to contact one of us. Thanks so much!
Community Support!!!!
Thank you E.Smith Heating and Air for your generous donation to the Target Program.
Dear Tucker Smith,
Engaging students in math, science, and technology is one of the most important factors in creating tomorrow’s workforce. E. Smith Heating and Air would like to assist in providing Keheley Elementary School this opportunity by donating 10 Ozbots and 10 Spheros in order to encourage students to code, play, create and connect the physical and digital worlds. We hope the students enjoy this opportunity.