Gifted and Talented Notes
Beth Gasior & Jackie Galbreath, Gifted Resource Specialists
Welcome to GT Notes!
In order to provide you with information and resources, this newsletter will include information about upcoming events, enrichment opportunities and resources you can use within your classroom. You can also access information about GT testing, identification, program information, and teaching and learning resources at our website: CCS Gifted and Talented Department. Scroll to the bottom for information about free online CEU opportunities related to gifted education.
Academic Enrichment Options
The GT department has many resources to integrate enrichment opportunities within your classroom and daily teaching (see below). Please let me know via email at jgalbreath3825@columbus.k12.oh.us if you would like to offer these opportunities to your students. I can provide information, guidelines, lessons, resources and sample parent letters. More information on our elementary math competition is forthcoming as we are revising the format.
CHESS CLUB WANTED: CHESS COACHES
Chess is a great learning opportunity to integrate into all academic areas. It promotes higher level thinking and problem solving as well as reading skills such as predicting, inference, non-fiction and writing. The GT Department sponsors two elementary chess tournaments each spring - "Nolan's Knights" for experienced players, and the "Rookie Chess Tournament" for new, younger players. The Rookie is held at the Columbus Museum of Art! If you are interested in leading a chess club at your school or teaching chess within your classroom, please email me and I can provide you with chess instruction resources. You do NOT need to know how to play chess! It can even be a small group of students within your classroom. Chess Kids is great online chess learning program. It's free, child friendly and easy to set up as a technology option.
NEW THIS YEAR! CCS TEDX KIDS CONFERENCE
On May 19, 2016, Columbus City Schools is hosting our first ever Columbus TEDx Kids Conference at the Columbus Museum of Art (TEDx license pending)! TEDx kids events are designed to stimulate and celebrate the ideas put forth by students across the world. Interested classroom teachers (grades 3-6) will guide students through the TEDx creative process and students will have an opportunity to create their very own TEDx video based on a common theme. Selected students will be invited to the event to present their talks or participate in the audience/discussion groups. Visit TED Ed lessons or watch TED Talks to learn more. You might want to consider starting a TED Ed Club within your classroom as part of your daily instruction.
SPELLING BEE
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is an annual spelling bee held in the United States. All CCS schools may participate by enrolling their school at http://spellingbee.com/ and hosting their own classroom and school bees. The registration is paid in full by the Ohio Lottery. There is a vocabulary component and students learn word origins and history along with the spelling. By registering you will have access to teacher guides, word lists, vocabulary practice and guidelines on organizing a school spelling bee. School winners will take the online test for the opportunity to participate in the regional Spelling Bee held in March at Ohio University. However, CCS WILL NOT HOST A DISTRICT SPELLING BEE THIS YEAR.
MORE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES
INVENTION CONVENTION
Invention Convention is a statewide program designed to inspire, encourage, reward, and recognize students in grades k-8 for using their creativity and imagination in developing new solutions to everyday problems. All lessons are taught within the classroom by the classroom teacher. Classroom and school-wide Invention Conventions are held to determine winners to represent each school at the district Invention Convention, usually held in March. I can serve as a resource to guide the organizing of a class or school Invention Convention. More information can be found at http://inventionconvention.org/.DEBATE
Debate is an option available for 5th through 8th grade students. Our district holds two debate competitions. The first is scheduled for December 7, 2015 at Capital University and the second is usually held in May. All debate lessons are taught within the classroom. A teacher or community volunteer can also lead a debate team. Or, debate resources are available to teach within the classroom if you are not ready to send students to a competition.
GIFTED IDENTIFICATION AND TESTING
Do you have a student you would like to recommend for gifted testing? The first deadline for referrals is SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. These students will be tested between October 1, 2015 and February 28, 2016. We are only accepting referrals for superior cognitive testing, creative thinking and science and/or social studies. MAP testing will be used for identification in reading and math at all grade levels K-8. Visit the CCS Gifted and Talented website for more information and to download testing referral forms. Also, email me at jgalbreath3825@columbus.k12.oh.us and I can help with the submission of testing referrals.
FREE ONLINE CEU OPPORTUNITIES
The district is providing you with 6 hours of access to the GT Ignite online library of courses for professional development. There are 1-hour, 3-hour, and 6-hour courses available, so please review the library before making any selections.
- Select topics that you feel are most relevant for you
- Courses can be taken online at your convenience
- You’ll receive CEU credits for every course you take
To begin, you will need to acquire a username and password. To do this, click the link below and use the registration code to complete the form.
Registration Code: 3809ccsd16002023
Link: http://gtignite.responsivelearning.com/SelfRegistration/
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you are using a PC, please make sure that Adobe Flash is up to date,http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
If using a PC the most recent versions of the following browsers have been successfully tested: Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
If using a MAC the most recent versions of the following browsers have been successfully tested: Google Chrome and Safari.
If you need assistance, email support@responsivelearning.com and a support team member will be happy to assist you.