This year, I am offering two book clubs in the Challenge Centre and we have been reading the following books:
1. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry
3. The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird
4. Holes by Louis Sachar
Why these books? All are a great story, and I found them accessible and each one unique. I am also suggesting another book: "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate.
This book made me cry my eyes out. What a beautiful book and truly deserving of the 2013 Newberry Medal. My debating group is going to be debating the proposition, "Animals should not be kept in captivity", which ties right into the book. Many of the students were horrified that in 1964, a Silverback could be privately bought, taken from the Congo, and placed in a mall in Tacoma! How times have changed.
You can read about the real Ivan here and here .
As well, as these 5 books, I am also suggesting the group read as much as possible and bring in their suggestions for our second meeting. Happy reading, everyone!
Over the next two weeks, I will be selecting the students for the following programs: The Write Stuff Grades 4/5, Engineering Grades 3/4, and Animalia Grades 3/4. Thank you, gifted contacts for filling out the forms and for being so detailed! You will be hearing whether or not a student from your school has received a spot soon. Thank you all for your patience!!
For the other programs in term three ( Design Your Own Universe, Gizmos and Gadgets, Fairy Tale Adventures), I will be notifying schools in March and April.
If you do not get an email invitation, your student has not been accepted. Again, I will not be sending out wait-list letters, and I do apologize. I am looking at better ways to let you know whether or not a student is accepted in the future.
Finally, Participation Certificates for programs in term one and part of term two are being sent out over the next few weeks. Why the delay? I have changed the report card to a more general "Participation Certificate" that demonstrates:
1. That the student participated in the program2. How the student did in the program (anecdotal comment)3. Whether or not the student was a good candidate for the program
Finally, I have just finished working with students in the Great Debate Grade and Mind Your Math. Both programs were very exciting to teach and the students were exceptional. I will be offering both programs next year. In both of these programs, students did not create "projects" so I didn't take any photos. Next week I am continuing to work with the Engineering students.
Have a great weekend!
I wish I was a superhero and could magically put every student in a program; however, that is not the case. For every program offered, I now accept 14 -16 students (in the past it was 10-12). Unfortunately, for each program, I usually have 15-45 students that are not placed.
In the past, I would put the students on a "wait-list" that meant they could potentially get a spot if one of the accepted students could not come. Usually, there would be on average 15-50 students on a wait-list, per program. In most cases, a spot would not open up, so technically, there was little movement on the wait-list!
The wait-list letter also explained why the student did not get a spot: the school had some servicing already, the student was not a first priority (some schools would send in 3 or more applications per program, and I would always try to service the school's first priority), or the student had some form of "enrichment outreach" in the past.
After I figured out the students that I would invite, next, I would send out wait-list letters to the schools so that they could be informed the student did not get a spot in the program, and they could place this letter in the student's file, for future reference.
This year, after much contemplation, I decided sending out the wait-list letters in paper format was too time consuming and a great waste of paper. I receive about 500 applications for all of my programs and I handle all of the paperwork. The more time I spend on paperwork, the less time I can spend working with students!
However, it seems schools want to know the status of the student and why the student did not get a spot. I understand this completely, and I fully sympathize with gifted contact teachers and classroom teachers who are handling this paperwork and want to know!
So as a solution this year:
1. If you haven't heard whether a student is in the program, via email to the gifted contacts, then the student did not get a spot in the program.
2. At the end of the year, I am going to send out summary sheets to each school that basically tells the school: how many students were seen in the challenge centre, and how many students did not receive a program. This is so that the schools have the big picture of how many students were referred, whether or not they received programming, and finally, the students they may want to refer the following year. This will also be helpful for me!
3. The gifted team will re-look at this process at the end of the year and re-evaluate this plan.
I know that the process is not perfect, and I really appreciate the patience schools have shown in not knowing whether or not a student has been placed.
That said, thank you for sending in applications and for working so hard on behalf of your students.
Right now, I am finalizing the Engineering 5/6 program, and will be sending out invites this week, and tomorrow, I will start working with The Mind Your Math students!
What did we do in the Creative Think Tank Program with grade 3 students? The program was designed to have the grade 3's think about their learning and provide them with possibilities. We learned how to SCAMPER, we learned about multiple intelligences, and Bloom's Taxonomy of higher order thinking skills. We figured out or strengths, and then we put our strengths to the test with a variety of challenges. Also, we learned about famous artists like Picasso, Dali, and Matisse, and discussed their art and their styles... We created art and participated in junkology, and practiced making speeches, and working collaboratively. We created playgrounds for insects, our dream desk and chair, and designed cross species of animals.It was amazing and rewarding!!
Hello parents, students, and teachers....how has your holiday been? I've been spending some time skiing, but lots of time trying to get over my cold that began at the beginning of winter vacation!!!
I am gearing up for a very busy term....I will be starting the first book club next week, and then the Mind Your Math Program, followed by the Great Debate for Grade 6 students.
Also, on January 23rd, applications for programs from March-June will be accepted. More information will follow about these programs. I am looking forward to working with parents, teachers, and students in 2013! May this be a great year for everyone...and I hope all your dreams, plans, and ambitions come true!!
It has been a very busy term and at the Challenge Centre, and I have just finished working with the grade three's. In the new year, I will be starting my Book Clubs, as well as an exciting math program, and rounding out January with a debating seminar for grade six students. I wish all my colleagues and parents and students a wonderful, relaxing, and renewing holiday season. Spend your time with those individuals important to you and recharge your batteries. Here are some photos of the Gingerbread Houses at Sutton Place Hotel...our family tradition is to visit and vote on our favourite gingerbread scene. There are many lower mainland schools that participate in this event through their culinary arts programs. This year, I especially liked the one above...of Gastown! Look at the detail in the windows and the cobblestone sidewalks!
The one below, was also a favourite...created by Tupper students. I loved the simplicity and the strong linear shapes and the fantastic Christmas Tree.
See you in 2013!
Ever feel like you are crawling to the finish line called "Winter Vacation"? I am definitely in that mode and hopefully I can get everything done at work on time...
At the Challenge Centre, I have just finished working with some great Grade 7 debaters....fantastic work, everyone! Next week, the Grade 3's are here for a four day program.
Also, I have added two programs:
1. Notable Novels: there are now two programs offered and I will review the dates here so everyone knows:
Notable Novels Group 1: Jan. 9, Feb. 25, April 17, May 29
Notable Novels Group 2: Feb. 4, March 4, April 24, May 22
Note: I also made a mistake concerning Group 2: the first novel you are reading is called "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper - not Laura Draper as I stated in the letter that went home. Sorry about the confusion!
I have sent home invitations for both groups and I am looking forward to working with these keen readers. Also to note, I have the books if you need them; just email me.2. I have added a Grade 6 Great Debate Program: the dates for the Grade 6's are as follows: January 28, 29, 30, 31st/ 2013
Please note that the original dates for this program were: Jan. 24, 28, 29, 30th and that we have changed the days so the students can be with me for 4 continuous days. We have contacted the schools and families about this change.
Thank you for being supportive with all these little glitches and changes at this time. Hope your wind down to the Winter Break is going well!
