This year we have asked for schools to submit applications for students who are in need of programming, and our team has decided to create programs around the interests and abilities of these students. So, we asked schools to have conversations about their high ability students.....who needs a program? Who would benefit from an enrichment program? Who needs to meet other like minded students in order to make connections in their learning? Who would benefit from being challenged in an intellectual environment?
From there we have grouped students via their area of needing enrichment and extension. We have found, via this process, that the interests fall into some common academic areas such as writing, math, science, critical and creative thinking, reading, and leadership. So, instead of publishing our programs and schools signing up for the programs, we are creating programs based on need.
Over the next two weeks, schools will be sent invitations for our programs. We are starting the year by servicing our grade 6 and 7 students and we will be offering the following programs:
Speech Arts
Math
Writing
Engineering
Book club
Special projects
We will be letting schools know about grade 4 and 5 programs and the primary programs over the next week.
Programs will begin in early November. We look forward to working with students!
For classroom, resource teachers, and administrators that could not attend one of our nine Family of Schools Contact Meetings, our deadline for all programs this year is October 10, 2013.
We have chosen this date early in the year so that we can place students in programs and let the schools know by mid November whether or not a student has received programming for the 2013-14 school year. Unlike previous years, we want to let the schools know their programming options for the entire year, and not staggered, like before. This is part of our job to refine our servicing model for schools.
So please tell your schools to be mindful of the deadline: October 10th, 2013!
For classroom, resource teachers, and administrators that could not attend one of our nine Family of Schools Contact Meetings, our deadline for all programs this year is October 10, 2013.
We have chosen this date early in the year so that we can place students in programs and let the schools know by mid November whether or not a student has received programming for the 2013-14 school year. Unlike previous years, we want to let the schools know their programming options for the entire year, and not staggered, like before. This is part of our job to refine our servicing model for schools.
So please tell your schools to be mindful of the deadline: October 10th, 2013!
Part of my job is to help program, teach, and provide support for our Twice Exceptional Learners, which are our gifted students that have another exceptionality. A great link is this blog called the 2e Newsletter. This blog has links to articles, current research, and events in the 2e community. It is a great resource for teachers, counsellors, and parents.
As well, you can subscribe to the newsletter, which will be sent to you in pdf format. Here's a link to the actual 2e newsletter.
Happy Teaching!
As we finish off our first three weeks of school, our team has met with resource, classroom teachers, and administrators in an attempt to discuss program options and how we are developing our response to the needs of schools.
1. First of all, the "advanced differentiation team" as we now call ourselves (we are trying to phase out the term 'gifted') is in the process of holding nine different meetings throughout the district informing resource teachers, classroom teachers, and administrators about our new programs and the new process for applying to our programs. We have moved forward from holding "one" information meeting at the end of September to branching out and meeting elementary school teams in their "family of schools" areas. We are trying to meet with teams to dialogue, answer questions, and to make the connection around our highly able students who need programming. We have already held five meetings and we are in the process of meeting with more schools in the upcoming week. Here is our schedule:
We are asking elementary schools to come in their Family of Schools area - basically under the umbrella of the high school they are part of.
Date: Location of Meeting: Elementary Schools Serviced Under Family of Schools Umbrella:
1. September 11th: Sexsmith Elementary Hamber/Churchill schools
2. September 12th: Kerrisdale Elementary Point Grey/Prince of Wales/ Magee schools
3. September 16th: Mackenzie Elementary Kitsilano/King George schools
4. September 17th: Mackenzie Elementary Killarney/Windemere schools
5. September 18th: Mackenzie Elementary Britannia/Templeton/Van Tech
6. September 23rd: Mackenzie Elementary David Thompson/Gladstone 7. September 24th: Mackenzie Elementary John Oliver/Tupper schools
8. September 25th: Dr. A. R. Lord Elementary Family of Schools Catch Up
9. September 26th: Queen Mary Elementary Lord Byng/ Uhill schools
2. We have significantly revised our application form for programs. Traditionally, an application was filled out for each program for each student, and for some schools, we would receive many applications that would take an vast amount of time to complete. So we have made the application process more stream-lined, and we have asked the schools to submit applications once the schools have talked about the needs of their students. We are trying to change the process. Often, teachers are searching for a "grade specific" program for their students, and fill out applications so that "something" is done for the students. We are asking the schools to look closely at the needs of their pupils, and create a learning profile of their kids, and submit the application to us with a priority list that details who really needs the service. Thus, we are not asking schools to apply to a particular program, but rather, to apply to a specific area of interest for the child, and we will create the program around the needs of the students.
These two major changes are what we are working on right now. We will fill you in with updates as we move through the year. We are also in the process of developing a newsletter that will provide information about programs, resources, and professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Thank you for bearing with us during these exciting times. We will continually keep you updated with our new processes this fall. Welcome to Autumn!
Welcome back to the school year. There will be significant changes in our programming in 2013-14, and we will be letting the schools know about these exciting developments soon.
I hope everyone had a restful summer. I took a break from blogging, as I needed to regroup and disappear for a while.
I am well rested and ready to begin the year. Have a wonderful first week, everyone!
This year has gone so quickly....I am in need of a lovely summer break to spend time with family. On reflection, I saw approximately 250 students in the challenge centre! It was great to work with students and their families, and I met lots of fantastic people. Next year, I have lots in store for students, and teachers! We are refining and tweaking our services, and are making it more easier for teachers to refer students to programs. We are changing our referral practices, and I will be updating schools about this in August.It is going to be an exciting year! Thank you to all our students, teachers, and parents in Vancouver...I wish you a relaxing summer vacation!
