Gifted & Talented Quarterly
Winter 2019
Gifted & Talented Update:
Sorry for the snowy theme. I think we're all ready for a change! Looking forward to the Spring edition.
There are multiple ways in which students can demonstrate their gifts and talents each and every day. One of my early goals has been to identify the current programming available to our advanced learners in kindergarten through grade twelve.
More recently, I have been working to establish supplemental resources for elementary students showing a need for an additional challenge in the academic areas of math and reading. I have compiled resources to help extend our current curriculum, specifically for students in grades 1-5 in reading and mathematics including Math Exemplars, Think Tank Math Challenge Problems, The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Series, and various Novel Studies. These resources may be utilized by myself and our teaching staff to help meet the needs of advanced learners in classrooms on a daily basis.
Part of the larger conversation within the district this fall has focused on how and why we identify and label students for gifted and talented services & programming. Because one of our goals as a school district is to provide a challenging curriculum to every student, every day, it is beneficial to think about Gifted and Talented programming as part of a larger effort of continuous improvement rather than as a singular program for a narrowly identified group of students. The identification of students who may need additional services should be flexible and responsive to ensure student needs are being met. This requires ongoing communication between parents, teachers and the gifted and talented coordinator to identify students whose needs might not be met by the district's universal curriculum.
For more information on the work completed so far this year, click on the link below for the presentation I shared with the School Board Curriculum Committee in mid-January.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oIKMp2Rqmq4jwTqqLlJ-OzPYEeKeYr4cfS3jXb5H7Kc/edit?usp=sharing
Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Stay warm,
Kari Donze
GT Coordinator
A Few District Offerings
Biotechnology Workshop @ CESA 11
Club Invention: Castles, Catapults, & Coats of Arms
Elementary Math Club: Crazy 8s
Earlier this school year, some 2nd-4th grade students had an opportunity to attend a recreational after-school math club that helps kids enjoy the math behind some of their favorite activities.
Upcoming Opportunity for Kids
Turtle Lake Children's Business Fair
The Fair is open to all children, ages 6 to 16. Parents can help with behind the scenes activity, but the child is responsible for set-up, display ideas, and selling their products to customers. As this is our first year, we are prepared for up to 20 indoor kidpreneur vendors and up to 16 outdoor kidpreneur vendors. Each child’s indoor vendor booth will be a 5’x8’ space. Children will need to create budgets for their businesses and include the $25 indoor booth fee or the $15 outdoor booth fee to their business planning.
Children's Vendor Booths will be JUDGED as well. Prizes can be earned in the following categories: Most Creative Idea, Most Business Potential, Most Impressive Presentation.
The Fair is 9 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 18, 2019, Turtle Lake Village Park and also is part of Turtle Lake's annual Spring Market Day.
The Fair is nationally sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of local businesses and volunteers.
For more information, please watch the video below or click the following link:
Parenting Resources for School-Age Children
by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
From the back cover:
If you're the parent of a "smart but scattered" teen, trying to help him or her grow into a self-sufficient, responsible adult may feel like a never-ending battle. This positive guide provides a science-based program for promoting teens' independence by building their executive skills—the fundamental brain-based abilities needed to get organized, stay focused, and control impulses and emotions. Learn step-by-step strategies to help your teen live up to his or her potential now and in the future—while making your relationship stronger.
by Perri Klass and Eileen Costello
by Chip Wood
Perplexors: Deductive Logic Puzzles
Additional Websites to Explore with Children
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics https://illuminations.nctm.org/
Kahn Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/
MathCounts: Problem of the Week 6-8 https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/problem-archive
MathCounts: School Handbook 6-8 https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/school-handbook
Arcademic Skill Builders https://www.arcademics.com/
Greg Tang Math https://gregtangmath.com/games
Puzzles & Games @ USA Today https://puzzles.usatoday.com/kenken/
Tangram Channel https://www.tangram-channel.com/
KenKen Puzzles https://www.kenkenpuzzle.com/?redirected=1
Summer Opportunities
UW-Stout Summer STEAM Experience
From Stout's Website:
Summer STEAM Experience (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) is a collaboration of Art & Design and STEM featured in one week, June 16-20, 2019. Campers are able to choose from multiple tracks. Students entering grades 8 to 12 are invited to explore career paths with UW-Stout faculty experts while engaging in science, technology, engineering, art and math in a hands-on setting. Camp activities and career panels will provide well-rounded experiences to highlight the possibilities of creative and critical thinking.
Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary: Summer Day Camp for ages 5-12
Shell Lake Arts Center: 2019 Student Camps and Workshops
Northwestern: Center for Talent Development
Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth at UW-Madison
ALP (Grades 9-12) - Residential: https://wcaty.wisc.edu/alp/
STEP (Grades 7-8) - Residential: https://wcaty.wisc.edu/step/
PACE (Grades 5-6) - Residential: https://wcaty.wisc.edu/pace/
YSSP (Grades 4-6) Day Camp: https://wcaty.wisc.edu/yssp/
GEM (Grades 1-4) Day Camp: https://wcaty.wisc.edu/gem/
Rice Lake Area School District - Gifted & Talented
Email: donzek@ricelake.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.ricelake.k12.wi.us/student_services/gifted_and_talented
Phone: 715.234.9007 5688