ALPHA-Bits
September & October 2015; ALPHA Newsletter
Welcome to ALPHA!
3rd grade ALPHA
The Leader in Me
We are so excited about our third grade program this year! Seeing our students walking into Webb every Friday grinning ear to ear brings us so much joy!
Each morning students start in their homerooms where they engage in activities related to Sean Covey's book, The Leader in Me. This program is an introduction to personal leadership. All students have the capacity to lead in their own lives and affect those around them by making positive choices.
The Leader in Me program provides students with activities that will help them learn practical character and life skills that will lead to those positive choices.
ALPHA University
After lunch, third grade students attend “ALPHA University.” Students had the opportunity to choose four courses to take this school year. Each course will last 5-6 weeks. The following is a list of courses offered by our ALPHA teachers:
- Globe Trotters Club
- Strategic Thinking
- Going Green
- Spanish
- Your World, Your News; Journalism
- Imagineering
- Ancient Civilizations
- Think like DaVinci
4th and 5th Grade ALPHA
Playground Project
It has been such an honor for our students to receive the opportunity from the McKinney Sunrise Rotary club in the design of the all-inclusive playground! A big thank you to our MISD leaders, Dr. McDaniel and Mrs. Woodard, for making our playground kick off an extra special event!
We began our journey by introducing students to the difference between sympathy and empathy. Students explored influential children and adults that face daily struggles but have overcome due to a creative process and growth mindset.
More MISD leaders joined us to answer their questions regarding students and adults with special needs as well as the equipment knowledge to apply to their own designs. Students were exposed to all-inclusive playgrounds worldwide by participating in an online scavenger hunt.
Of course, we cannot design a playground without acknowledging state and federal regulations! Looking ahead, students will hear from our very own Webb Elementary Principals, Kyle Luthi and Nidia Cedillo, on the importance of creating vision and mission statements. These statements are crucial in the upcoming design process.
Students will embark upon an off-site "Learning Adventure" as we visit Frisco's Hope Park and talk to engineers about that playground's design. We will also have the opportunity to visit the land in McKinney where our playground will be built.
Your children are learning to work as teams, asking great questions and collaborating through our Google Classrooms. We are proud of their engagement in this project and can hardly wait to see the amazing plans.
Casting the Vision
Impacting McKinney
Building Understanding
ELAR
In ELAR, we’re venturing into our novel study with the book, Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper. This book was chosen to coincide with our playground project.
The book follows the main character, Melody , who is a genius, but no one knows it because she is unable to speak, walk or write. Throughout the book, Melody struggles to be heard. Through the book study, our mission is to develop and nurture empathy within the students.
During our book study, we will participate in Socratic seminars, meaningful blogging using Kaplan’s Depth and Complexity, and intellectual standards, as well as demonstrating proper digital citizenship.
We will also engage in activities aimed at creating a deeper understanding of the character and her experiences; as well as making personal connections with our ALPHA students, on both emotional and intellectual levels.
Math
Over the past few weeks pur math classes have enjoyed exploring geometry and measurement concepts such as area and perimeter. Math Olympiad style problem solving has also been introduced to students.
We started our measurement unit off with a pre-assessment over area and perimeter. We found that most students didn't know how to calculate the area of a triangle. Using geoboards, paper folding and strategies like 'Give-Take Away' and 'Partitioning', our students are beginning to understand this difficult concept.
We have also investigated challenging questions such as: If I double the perimeter of a square, does the area double? How can a fixed perimeter such as 20 feet create maximum area? Remember we are designing a playground and fencing costs money, so how can we minimize cost and maximize our resources?
If your child is new to Alpha, you can find out more about Math Olympiad (MO) by logging onto www.moems.org.
Students can find extra copies of their weekly math homework assignments online at: www.alpharesources.weebly.com.
Science
- During science class students are learning about Newton's Laws of Motion and how practical principles of physics can be applied in daily life.
- Students have investigated how toys work and have been able to explain the Laws of Motion in relation to Slinkies, Hula Hoops, balls, roller coasters, marbles, and pinwheels.
- Children have worked in pairs to create digital products such as Haiku Decks, ThingLink, Google Slides, etc. in order to demonstrate their understanding of physics vocabulary words.
- Groups are beginning to work together to create testable questions related to the Laws of Motion.
- Over the next few weeks students will be conducting their experiments using playground equipment and online tools.
- The learning in science class will directly apply to the work they are about to do when designing their all inclusive playground for the city of McKinney.
Leadership and Social/ Emotional Development
ALPHA is beginning the year on a positive note! The fourth & fifth graders are singing the melody of empathy!
As the students begin to work in teams for their playground project, they have been practicing one very important 'soft skill' - communication.
We really value our ALPHA parents and appreciate your efforts to highlight the importance of using these 'soft skills' while working on a team.
McKinney Association of the Gifted and Talented- ALPS
The annual memberships are $35, which goes towards programs and valuable information for parents, teacher training, student scholarships, classroom enrichment, special programs and much more.
You can complete your membership by visiting: http://mckinneyalps.squarespace.com/
TAGT Parent Conference - McKinney High School
Visit www.txgifted.org/familynight to register.
5:30 PM - Registration and exhibits open
6:00-6:15 pm - Welcome
6:20-8:00 pm - Student activities in the cafeteria
6:20- 6:50 pm - Parent Choice #1
6:55- 7:25 - Parent Choice #2
7:30-8:00 pm - Parent Choice #3
8:00- 8:20 pm - Students pack up; mix and mingle
8:30 pm - Building closes
The Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented has selected McKinney for their very first parent conference of 2015-2016!
Parent topics include:
- Hidden Exceptionalities: How to unmask your child's potential exceptionalities that affect everyday life.
- Understanding Social and Emotional Needs: Discover Dabrowski's overexcitabilities and how to identify each type.
- Guiding Gifted Youth Through Self-Awareness: Uncover how you can help in developing self-awareness in your gifted child.
- Corralling the Stallions: Understanding Energetic Gifted Children: Learn techniques to help manage exceptionally active gifted children.
- Panel of Gifted High School Students: Hear directly from gifted high school students about school, parents, peers, following their passions and their thoughts about the future.
- Panel of Gifted Middle School Students: Hear directly from gifted high school students about school, parents, peers, following their passions and their thoughts about the future.
- Q and A: Open Discussion: Do you have a question about giftedness or about your gifted child?
Other topics may be addressed as they are finalized.
Monday, Oct 5, 2015, 06:00 PM
Mckinney High School, Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, TX, United States
Community Opportunities for Gifted Families
September 24, 2015
Family Maker Lab
Create a product using recyclable materials.
Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library
3:00 pm-5:00 pm
September 25, 2015
Brown Bag Lunch: GT 101- How to Advocate for My Gifted Child
Karen Green, MISD Coordinator for the Gifted and Talented
MISD Central Office, Board Room
#1 Duvall Street
11:30 am-12:30 pm
October 3, 2015
Junior Master Naturalists
Explore the unique geologic formations of Texas and learn how to start a fossil collection.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
http://www.perotmuseum.org/events-and-programs/children/jr-master-naturalist/index.html
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
October 3, 2015
Ropes Course Adventure Day
Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary
http://www.heardmuseum.org/default.aspx?p=117914&evtid=415725:10/3/2015
1:00 pm -4:00 pm
October 5, 2015
Gifted and Talented Family Night
An interactive and engaging night for the whole family!
Visit www.txgifted.org/familynight to register.
McKinney High School
6:00 pm -8:30 pm
October 10, 2015
Scholastic K-12 Chess Tournament – National Chess Day Tournament
McKinney Performing Arts Center
https://tickets.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent922.html
9:00 am -2:00 pm
October 23, 2015
Brown Bag Lunch: Understanding & Managing Overexcitabilities in My Gifted Child
Kristin Fawaz, GT Professional Learning Lead
MISD Central Office, Board Room
#1 Duvall Street
11:30 am -12:30 pm
October 24, 2015
Earthquake’s – What’s that Shaking?
Geologist Diane Brownlee presents an overview of earthquake science.
http://www.cityofallen.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=3250&month=10&year=2015&day=24&calType=0
Allen Public Library
2:30 pm –3:30 pm
"Coloring Outside the Lines" ALPHA T-Shirts On Sale Now!
Order forms will be sent home shortly. In the meantime, order forms can also be downloaded though the ALPS website: http://mckinneyalps.squarespace.com/
$15 PER SHIRT OR 2 FOR $25
available sizes: Youth - S, M, L & Adult - S, M, L, XL
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: ALPS
Please indicate on check: 1) Student's Name, 2) Grade, 3) Campus, and 4) for ALPS t-shirtUpcoming ALPHA Testing Information
GT Testing Information and Deadlines –
1st and 2nd grade
The 1st and 2nd grade Referral Deadline
is Thursday, October 1, 2015.
1st and 2nd grade testing will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2015 and Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Webb Elementary.
Parents should expect results no earlier than March 1, 2016.
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade
The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Referral Deadline is Monday, February 1, 2016.
3rd,4th, and 5th grade testing will take place Saturday, March 19, 2016 and Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Webb Elementary.
Parents should expect results no earlier than June 1, 2016.
Kinder
All MISD Kinder students will be tested between Monday, November 30, 2015 and Friday, December 11, 2015 (the 2 weeks following Thanksgiving Break). Parents should expect results no earlier than March 1, 2016.
Practice Activities
Practice CogAT Activities are available at http://alpharesources.weebly.com
Go to the home tab - parent resources – CogAT practice
The activities are listed by grade level.
Thank you!
Please let us know if there is ever anything you need or if you have any questions or ideas you are willing to share. We look forward to a great year as we work together.
Your ALPHA Team
Heather Capps- hcapps@mckinneyisd.net
Frichie Collins- fcollins@mckinneyisd.net
Felisha Cortez- fcortez@mckinneyisd.net
Nikki Dressel- ndressel@mckinneyisd.net
Heather Elston- helston@mckinneyisd.net
Kristin Fawaz- kfawaz@mckinneyisd.net
Maria Julianna Suarez- msuarez@mckinneyisd.net
Ashley Williams- adwilliams@mckinneyisd.net