April GE News
Mrs. Packer
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) results to be mailed in late April or May
For formal identification through the end of elementary school, we are looking for results in the 96th percentile or higher in one or more of the three areas of the assessment. Although students are regularly identified with the CogAT, there are other ways students can be invited to participate. MAP test scores from this spring will also be used to identify students who will be invited to participate in GE for one school year.
Feel free to get in touch with me after you receive your child's test results if you need clarification.
What should I tell my child about being formally identified to receive gifted services?
- Explain that he or she did very well on the tests.
- Show that you are happy or pleased, but limit your expectations to current learning. Say: "it sounds like a good opportunity for you. I hope you like it." and NOT: "you should really be able to make something of yourself now."
- Tell her or him that the program is designed for kids who learn particularly well and that you are proud of him or her.
- Tell your child that the school was finding kids that need extra enrichment to think about subjects deeply and explore subjects in different ways. Your child may find more students with similar interests in the program.
- Go ahead and talk about it with your child. Ignoring the identification, or avoiding the subject when it comes up, will make them think it is an embarrassment, or that he/she is.
- Although your child has been identified for our gifted pullout program, remember that not all aspects of a gifted child are necessarily advanced. they may excel in one content area, but struggle in others. Your child's emotional, social, or physical development may or may not be similar to children the same age.
What should I tell my child about NOT being formally identified to receive gifted services?
- Explain that the Cognitive Abilities Test is only one way to participate in GE pull-out classes.
- Tell your child the GE teacher will also look at MAP test scores and other data to see who should participate in classes.
- Remind your child that "smart" doesn't necessarily mean high test scores.
- If your child has taken the test before, look at previous scores and focus on areas of improvements.
- Explain that experts in the area of gifted education cannot agree on an actual definition of giftedness. So... he/she may not be labeled "gifted" for school, however that doesn't mean he/she is not advanced in some way. It may be that school can't or has difficulty testing his/her area of advancement.
What about siblings?
- Focus on the individual differences and achievements of all children.
- Show each child that he or she is valued – that many different qualities are extremely desirable and valued (such as humor, spirit, honesty, loyalty, effort, caring). Acknowledge the feelings of brothers and sisters. The feelings are real, whether they are jealousy, anger, rejection, admiration, confusion, or inferiority. Talking it out is better than suppressing or ignoring it.
- Discuss what “gifted” means – it is an educational term, not a value judgment.
Remember this is not a competition where a child “wins” being identified for the Gifted Program and “loses” if not identified. A child is the same child as before identification.
- Save the majority of your praise for the gifted child in private; focus on effort not innate ability. Reinforce all children in public.
- Make sure you give each child as much one-to-one time as possible; don’t let the gifted child’s talent take up all your time.
*Based on the work and writing of Judy Galbraith, author of various works on the social and emotional needs of the gifted
3-5 Verbal Pull Outs
The next round of groups have started. This round of groups will focus on enrichment in the verbal/language arts area. The schedule for these sessions will be adjusted to accommodate testing but all groups will meet for 5 sessions before the end of the school year.
3rd grade Super Hero Stories
Students will know:
- The definition of the word attributes
- Characteristics of good creative writing
Students will understand:
- The SCAMPER process to enhance creativity
- The writing traits of Sentence Fluency and Word Choice
Students will do:
- One peer editing/evaluation technique
- Effectively evaluate and edit their rough draft
- Write an original short story
4th Grade Improvisation
Students will know:
- The definition of spontaneous, improvise, fluency, flexibility, and pantomime
- The rules of improvisation
Students will understand:
- The role of the improvisation rules
- The real world applications of improvisation
Students will do:
- Perform relaxation techniques
- Participate in improvisation activities
- Evaluate improvisational activities and scenes
5th Grade Crime Scene Investigation
Students will know:
- The steps in the Scientific Method
- Specific forensics techniques
Students will understand:
- The need for inductive and deductive reasoning in forensics
Students will do:
- Work collaboratively to prepare for a presentation of findings
- Use effective presentation skills
GE Monthly District Parent Forums
Join us for Gifted Education parent meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to provide parent support for students participating in gifted education needs based classes. These sessions are facilitated by several of our #279 Gifted Education Teachers. All meetings will be held at Oak View Elementary and will be from 6:30-7:30 pm. Childcare for children 4+ and a light snack will be provided.
May 10th, 2016
6:30-7:30 PM
Advocating for Your Gifted Child Gifted Child
Young Scientist Roundtable 2016: An enrichment opportunity for ALL families
FREE participation in each month’s Young Scientist Roundtable is funded by Gifted Education 279
"The Nation's Electrical Grid" - Dr. Massoud Amin, University of Minnesota
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
7—8 p.m.
Dr. Massoud Amin
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Minnesota
“Critical Infrastructure of Cyber Security”
Our daily lives and public safety depend on power and electric grids, but potential adversaries could use cyber vulnerabilities to disrupt them on a massive scale. Critical
infrastructures such as banking and finance; oil/gas/water pipelines; transportation; food/agriculture; health services; manufacturing and telecommunications are all at
risk. Dr. Amin has been working with the security of such systems, in order to guard against threats. At this YSR, he will discuss technologies which protect critical infrastructure
for cyber security. He will also address emerging technologies. Prior to aending YSR, check out Dr. Amin’s TED Talk at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CurJGL_aqYA