GREAT THINKING THURSDAY
For Klein ISD Educators of Gifted Learners
December 12, 2019
Advanced Academics Architectural Design Team Update
Klein Teacher Leaders Reimagine Learning for Advanced Learners
By Donald Brunell
Teacher Leader
Cain High School
Modern World History Advanced Placement
The Advanced Academic Architectural Design Team (AAADT) met on December 11th, 2019 to discuss the district goal of re-imaging learning for advanced academic learners for Klein I.S.D. The topic of the day was assessment within the advanced academic classes for maximum impact and efficiency to help advanced learners. The meeting started with the Albert Einstein quote "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it was stupid." The quote shows the impact of what assessment can do and potential limitations that can inhibit student's learning and self-awareness.
The group of fellow teachers then used the "Zero Draft Method" for reflection over Chapter 5 shared reading book Architects of Deeper Learning by Lissa Pijanowski. Chapter 5: Inspection of Results, discuss types of formative assessments which can most impact students for summative assessment and deeper understanding and student learning based on sound pedagogy. Fellow teachers then were tasked to summarize the chapter based on multiple means and modes of teaching and learning. Task 1: discuss the teacher and student roles in assessment FOR, OF, and AS learners. Task 2: discuss the development of rubrics, including a single point rubric to properly assess students in a formative manner. Task 3: create a student learning plan to maximize progress and feedback. Task 4: proper and effective feedback for students.
The individual groups then presented their findings and tasks to the entire AAADT teachers. Each member of the teams used various methods to present their findings including self created posters, web quests, manipulatives, Google docs, and video presentations. Although each group had the same four tasks to summarize the same information, it was truly amazing how each member presented the materials in different styles and focused on different parts of the important information presented in Chapter 5, just like in our class rooms.
The cohort meeting concluded with a focus on the advanced academic plan of Klein I.S.D. and the power and responsibility we have to our fellow teachers and most importantly our students. The AAADT continues to focus on the students, teachers, administrators, parents and numerous other stake holders within Klein I.S.D. for the true meaning of education and knowledge is based upon sound practices, pedagogy and evidenced based research.
MAGNIFICIENT MCDOUGLE LION
By Kristy Adams
Teacher Leader
GT Advocate
GT Guiding Coalition
McDougle Elementary
Gabriel Quintana Carmenate is a 2nd grader at McDougle Elementary School who loves Math, Science and Legos. I knew Gabriel was a special child when I met him last year in 1st grade. His teacher insisted I meet him. Gabriel says he has had a love of Legos for as long as he can remember. He is now a 2nd grader in Mrs. Ocaña’s and Mrs. Treviño’s and classes. Mrs. Treviño and Mrs. Ocaña say that they can count on Gabriel to finish their sentences when they can’t find the words to say. He also enjoys helping his classmate with difficult concepts.
After attending the GT Expo last year he was so excited to be able to do a project and present this year. At the beginning of the year when I inquired about his GT project for this school year he told me that he wanted to build a robotic arm from Legos to test the pressure it would take to push an object. Woah! I wasn’t expecting that! His teachers were just as amazed as I was, because we weren’t sure how we could or would be able to assist him with what sounded like a monumental task to take on. He informed me that he had been inspired by a teen from Spain named David Aguilar. He learned of Mr. Aguilar from a YouTube channel called Rank Smashers where Mr. Aguilar was being recognized as a person who has done incredible things. Gabriel is encouraged to explore his passion for building and creating robots using the Lego Mindstorms kit, and we can’t wait to see what he has to present at Expo this year.
FUN Christmas Crafts for Kids!
Lollipop Ornament
Milk Carton Gingerbread Village
Cinnamon Stick Trees
International Baccalaureate Program Application Link
Happy Computer Science Education Week!
Chance the Rapper Teams Up with Coding Students!
Collaborator:
Amy Miller
Executive Director, Teaching and Learning
This year, we're excited to celebrate student coders in Chicago Public Schools alongside Chance the Rapper and his nonprofit, SocialWorks.
Since we teamed up two years ago to support computer science and art curriculum in Chicago Public Schools, the community has been busy with educator professional development, family creative coding nights, and lots of hard work in and outside the classroom. Recently, students at six elementary schools worked hard on creating a video game in Scratch, a creative coding platform for kids. Chance the Rapper was so impressed that he decided to name it the “official video game” (because anyone can make a music video!) for the song, I Love You So Much.
Watch the trailer for the SuperMe game!
Now it’s your turn. If you’re a teacher (or know one), you can help students code their own heroes in the classroom for CSEdWeek too!
Code your Hero is a one hour coding activity from CS First, Code with Google’s free coding curriculum for the classroom. Students can choose heroes in their lives and use code to make them fly! The activity is free and comes with a detailed lesson plan and an optional planning activity that supports ELA standards. Video instruction is available in English and Spanish.
No computer science experience is necessary to teach the activity. Show us what your students make by tagging #CSFirst and #CodeYourHero on social media! For more coding projects to try this week and beyond, check out activities from Applied Digital Skills, Grasshopper, and other Code with Google initiatives.
Google for Education team
CommonLit Holiday Gifts for Educators!
Excerpt from "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
How Santa Claus Found the Poor House by Sophie Swett
The Gift of the Magi by O.Henry
The Kids Should See This Gift Guide
The Ultimate Gift Guide from The Kid Should See This!
OVER 500 SMART GIFT IDEAS FOR ALL AGES!
Source:The Kid Should See This:
https://tksstgiftguide.tumblr.com/
Here are two of the 500 available gifts:
Mind Your Numbers:
⭐️ AWARD-WINNER ⭐️ I love this math game by Hyderabad, India-based educational game company Kitki. Mind Your Numbers is for two players or four with a second box, ages 8+. Combine your 9 numbers and 12 symbols to earn as many points as you can over 9 rounds. The mystery numbers add a layer of luck and planning to gameplay, and some suspense when tallying points. Simple yet strategic, which hooked my kids.
It’s a 2018 Mensa Mind Games Competitor and a Parents’ Choice Recommended Award Winner.
The Art of Curiosity
NEW ⬆️️ Reading through The Art of Curiosity: 50 Visionary Artists, Scientists, Poets, Makers & Dreamers Who Are Changing the Way We See Our World from our friends at San Francisco’s Exploratorium is a wee-bit like what I’d hope a TKSST book might look like: Choc-full of creative people and their stories; beautifully designed with illustrations and engaging info; peppered with activities and ideas.
I love the glimpse into these conversations about and connections to curiosity and creativity. Find it online at The Exploratorium Store or on Amazon. Pair it with The Art of Tinkering.