GREAT THINKING THURSDAY
For Klein ISD Educators of Gifted
May 16, 2019
Klein ISD Gifted Program Highlighted to Thousands Across Texas!
Instructional Officer-Advanced Academics
Exceptional news for exceptional progamming for gifted learners in Klein: the Channel 13 news feature about the Multi-Age Classrooms at Roth Elementary in Klein ISD has been widely publicized to educators across Texas!
This week the efforts of the Klein GT Guiding Coalition to invoke change in program services as well as curriculum and instruction for gifted learners in Klein was shared by the Texas Association of School Boards via Twitter to over 16, 000 followers. Additionally, the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented (TAGT), the nation’s largest state advocacy group of its kind for gifted, also featured the Multi-Age program in its Pulse newsletter reaching over 4,000 members.
GT Guiding Coalition participants Kathy Freeman and Holly Conroy from Roth participated with the program services goal group in reviewing research about best practices that yielded the greatest achievement for gifted learners. This research and team discussion led to a partnership between Roth Elementary School Principal Gail McGuire and the Advanced Academics department. The partnership lead to a proposal and award of a Lead the Spark Grant through the Klein Education Foundation to implement gifted ELA, Latin, and Philosophy curriculum for students in a 1st-2nd and 3rd-5th grade classroom. Currently, this innovative pilot programming is ending its first year implementation and will continue through 2019-2020!
Congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to Roth teachers Leta Cato, Kathy Freeman, and Tanya Goode for their courageous pioneering spirit with implementing this program!
Interested in Joining the GT Guiding Coalition?
Please fill our the form accessible from the button below!!
Teachers: Refer a Talented Student Today!
The Spring Teacher Referral process is a direct result of the work of the GT Guiding Coalition members who felt strongly about reaching out to teachers in the Spring with the goal of identifying students, particularly those in underrepresented populations. Please know that we value your input and look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions about the spring teacher referral process, please reach out to your campus GT Advocate, GT Administrator, or Advanced Academics Program Coordinator, or Carie Barber-Advanced Academics Program Coordinator-Identification Process Lead.
Check This Out: School Library Journal
A Universe of Podcasts: A Summer Listening Guide for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students
by Anne Bensfield and Pamela Rogers
May 14, 2019 | Filed in Technology
Imagine traveling with your students to the Moon or the Milky Way. Through stories, our imaginations can bring us to the far reaches of the cosmos—to discover what zero gravity would be like, to consider what it would take to build an outpost on Mars, and perhaps, to better understand how it might feel like to be a stranger in a strange land.
Stories, whether grounded here on Earth or in imaginary realms, are essential for learning and for building community. When we read about or listen to the experiences of others, we are empathizing; and as we learn about ourselves and others, we build narratives that propel us to act collectively and to solve complex problems.
The importance of summer reading and learning can't be overestimated, and podcasts offer a powerful platform to help build bridges of interest and motivation for students that can guide their own learning after they leave the classroom. Step-by-step instructions on using Listen Notes, and tips on curating quality playlists follow.
For more...read the article here.