January Action Update
NMS--Mrs. Pennington
Majors Are Starting!
Ok, maybe writing a research paper isn't the students' favorite project in Action, but it is a time for them to study a topic of their interest in depth and share that information in written form.
Steps in the Majors:
1. Project Proposal--Students have 4 class days to pick a topic, research to find good quality resources for that topic, and make sure that they actually do like the topic. To work through this part they complete the Project Proposal. It has a brief description of their topic and a list of 6 or more resources that they have already found. To help them be successful in writing a good quality paper, they must justify each resource as a good quality resource and describe the uniqueness of the information.
2. Notes--students must share with me their digital or handwritten notes. Notes should be in the students own words or have quotation marks around portions that are word for word.
3. Outline--This is a very brief outline to serve as a road map for actual writing.
4. First draft--Students must have the word count (8th--2000 words, 7th--1750 words, and 6th--1500 words) completed by the first draft due date.
5. Peer Edit--We will take 4 or more class days for students to read and peer edit classmate's papers. They will experience the information and help each other so that the final draft can be good quality writing.
Creative Day--Designing a Mancala Board
Instead of designing one myself, I gave the students the dimensions of the felt that I had purchased and had them design and test possible options for a flat board. They looked at the 3 boards I already have in my room, drew up their own boards, and played them to see if the boards were functional. I was impressed by the outside the box thinking that many of the groups used to change the layout and shapes to make it more functional than a regular board.
Recent Articles For Affective Needs
Gifted students have so many talents and abilities that can make their life amazing, but sometimes those same abilities that help them learn quickly and make connections between thoughts and ideas, can also cause situations that can get in the way of their success. Because of this, supporting their emotional needs is necessary part of gifted class curriculum.
We have several strategies to help with affective needs, but one I like to use is to have students read articles about affective needs topics. When they read and highlight information in the articles, they can personally interact with the information. Since there are not a lot of articles about gifted issues written for adolescents, I tend to have more luck finding articles written for a parent audience. We always discuss that they are written for a parent audience, but that they can benefit by reading them.
With the 6th and 7th grade students we discussed stress management. Below is a link to and article from a group called SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted) that we read as one of the beginning activities in the stress management unit. It is one of my favorite articles and I like to share it every year or two with parents.
Overexcitabilities and the Gifted--SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of Gifted)
Another explanation for overexcitabilities that I just came across this morning. I love this way of explaining them.
Calvin: The Unexpected Gifted Kid
As the new year began, one of the articles that I had the 8th graders read was the one linked right below about existential depression in gifted individuals. I think that this works best with this grade level because we spend time in class future careers and discussing topics such as global warming and recycling.
Summer Opportunities for Gifted Kids
Discover Engineering Day (targeted to elementary students)
I recently got an email about this event coming up in February in Springfield. It is targeted for elementary students, but I still wanted to pass it along.
COST: FREE TO ALL, no RSVP required.
INFORMATION: Every year in February the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) hosts a “Discover Engineering” event targeted to elementary-aged students and people elementary-aged at heart. The event has many different activities and booths that show different aspects of engineering.
LOCATION: The Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business
Development, downtown Springfield 406 N. Boonville Ave.
PARKING: In the parking lot on the east side of Boonville and Mill Street intersection.
CONTACT: If you have questions or are interested in having a
display or booth contact: Matthew Pierson (417) 837-2320 or
Saturday, Feb 27, 2016, 12:00 PM
Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business--Springfield, MO
Mrs. Pennington
Email: ppennington@nevada.k12.mo.us
Website: www.penningtonweb.net
Phone: 417-448-2040