Rankin AG News
September 2015
Meet the Teacher
My name is Andrea Matkins and I am excited to be your child’s AG teacher this year! This is my eleventh year teaching and my second year as an AG teacher. I have formerly taught both third and fourth grades at Jamestown Elementary and Northern Elementary. I graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a BA in Psychology and completed the teacher education program at Greensboro College where I also received my Master of Elementary Education degree. I continued my education at High Point University and completed courses for Advanced Learner certification. I am a National Board Certified Teacher and have a North Carolina license to teach Elementary Education K-6 and Advanced Learners K-12.
I am at Rankin:
Tuesday: 7:15 – 10:00
Wednesday: All day
Thursday: 7:15 – 10:45
Friday: 7:15 – 10:45
Please feel free to contact me at any time throughout the school year if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached while I am at Rankin by calling the school at 375-2545 or anytime by email, matkina@gcsnc.com.
AG ELA
4th Grade - Mythology
Gods, goddesses, heroes, and beasts, oh my! Greek myths offer stories of adventure, triumph, tragedy, and more. Our beginning research of Ancient Greece will help us to understand the culture and society as well as the reasons why Greek myths were created. We will then "climb" Mount Olympus to discover the "Big Twelve" gods and goddesses. Along the way, we will learn their Greek and Roman names as well as characteristics. This will help set the stage as we begin reading Greek myths.
5th Grade - Human Rights
What are human rights? What can happen if human rights are ignored? Can history help us appreciate our human rights? We will begin a historical exploration of human rights beginning with Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C., up to the formation of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. We will uncover the reasons for the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Through our journey, we will examine the incredible efforts of humanitarians such as Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt.
AG Math
This quarter, both 4th, and 5th graders are competing in an adventure game called "Math Quest". Student teams have been commissioned by the "Society for Problem-Solving Strategies" to explore a time-displaced world. In that world, students will meet various friends and foes on their way to collect a treasure chest that is said to contain 50,000 pieces of gold. However, the only way to get to the treasure chest is by demonstrating understanding of problem-solving strategies by accurately solving word problems . Students must also write their own authentic word problems throughout their journey. While both grades are competing in the game, word problems will be differentiated to meet each group and grade level need. Be sure to check back next month to see where we are in our Quest for Treasure!
Schedule
4th Grade
Reading: Tuesday & Wednesday - 8:50-9:50
Math: Wednesday - 12:05 - 1:35
5th Grade
Reading: Thursday & Friday - 7:50 - 8:50
Math: Wednesday 10:00 - 11:00 & 11:30 - 12:00
Mark Your Calendar
September 9: Support PTA with the Cookie Dough Fundraiser
September 10: SAS Kickoff - 6:00 - 7:30
September 16: Early Release at 12:20
September 23: Interims
September 24: AG Parent Meeting; 5:30 in AG Room (905B)
..........................Back to School Night; 6:00 - 7:00 Gym
October 2: Early Release at 12:20
November 4: Report Card / AG Progress Report
From the AG Department
Raising Gifted Kids: Carol S. Dweck on the Impact of Mind-set
“Great accomplishment, and even what we call genius, is typically the result of years of passion and dedication and not something that flows naturally from a gift.”
In her article “The Secret to Raising Smart Kids,” Stanford Professor of Psychology Carol S. Dweck writes about children “who coast through the early grades under the dangerous notion that no-effort academic achievement defines them as smart or gifted.
“Such children hold an implicit belief that intelligence is innate and fixed, making striving to learn seem far less important than being (or looking) smart.
“This belief also makes them see challenges, mistakes and even the need to exert effort as threats to their ego rather than as opportunities to improve. And it causes them to lose confidence and motivation when the work is no longer easy for them.”
“Praising children’s innate abilities reinforces this mind-set, which can also prevent young athletes or people in the workforce and even marriages from living up to their potential.”
Teach a growth mind-set
“On the other hand,” she continues, “our studies show that teaching people to have a ‘growth mind-set,’ which encourages a focus on effort rather than on intelligence or talent, helps make them into high achievers in school and in life.
“People do differ in intelligence, talent and ability. And yet research is converging on the conclusion that great accomplishment, and even what we call genius, is typically the result of years of passion and dedication and not something that flows naturally from a gift.
“Mozart, Edison, Curie, Darwin and Cézanne were not simply born with talent; they cultivated it through tremendous and sustained effort.
“Similarly, hard work and discipline contribute much more to school achievement than IQ does.
Stay teachable and motivated
“Such lessons apply to almost every human endeavor. For instance, many young athletes value talent more than hard work and have consequently become unteachable.
“Similarly, many people accomplish little in their jobs without constant praise and encouragement to maintain their motivation.
“If we foster a growth mind-set in our homes and schools, however, we will give our children the tools to succeed in their pursuits and to become responsible employees and citizens.”
From The Secret to Raising Smart Kids, Scientific American Mind, Dec 2007.
Books by Carol S. Dweck, PhD :
The handbook of competence and motivation.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
A related book: Your Own Worst Enemy: Breaking the Habit of Adult Underachievement, by Kenneth W. Christian, PhD.
PAGE Corner
Who We Are:
We are parents, educators and others interested in advancing K - 12 academically gifted education in Guilford County.
Our Mission:
Guilford County PAGE (Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education) supports our community’s brightest young minds with strong advocacy for the advancement of gifted education. We provide the tools to engage and empower all those involved with gifted children, thereby building tomorrow’s leaders today.
Why Become a Member?
With us, you can stay informed about advocacy issues, enrichment opportunities, and the latest research; you can network with people who share an interest in gifted education; and you can access special programs, events, resources, and experts.
Become a Member Today
2015 - 2016 School Year
$15 Families/Individuals
$5 Educators
Learn more, sign up for our newsletter, and become a member online:
Join us on Facebook:
Guilford County PAGE Open Group
Guilford County PAGE is an affiliate of the
North Carolina Association for Gifted and Talented