Gifted ResourceGifted ResourceLanguage Arts/MathLanguage Arts/Math

Welcome to Curriculum Night!Welcome to Curriculum Night!

Shari Solberg-AyersShari Solberg-Ayers

A Bit About Mrs. Solberg-A Bit About Mrs. Solberg-AyersAyers

• Teaching experience in CA, Arizona and Connecticut, Teaching experience in CA, Arizona and Connecticut, Classrooms 2Classrooms 2ndnd-5-5thth grades, Gifted and SEI. grades, Gifted and SEI.

• Home state of California – Family of TeachersHome state of California – Family of Teachers• Masters in Elementary Education, emphasis in Masters in Elementary Education, emphasis in

Multicultural Education from ASUMulticultural Education from ASU• Masters in Geographic Education, March ‘09 from ASU. Masters in Geographic Education, March ‘09 from ASU. • Gifted Endorsement, K-8 CertificationGifted Endorsement, K-8 Certification• Family: Husband, two kids, 17 & 15 (for another Family: Husband, two kids, 17 & 15 (for another

month!) one dogmonth!) one dog• Love to travel, learn languages, cook (if someone else Love to travel, learn languages, cook (if someone else

cleans up!), hike in the mountains, run on the beach, cleans up!), hike in the mountains, run on the beach, write and read.write and read.

Reading:Reading:

• Goal: We want kids to enjoy and choose Goal: We want kids to enjoy and choose reading. We want them to actively reading. We want them to actively construct knowledge while reading and construct knowledge while reading and be emotionally connected to literature; be emotionally connected to literature; able to participate in discussions.able to participate in discussions.

Literature is chosen that encourages a Literature is chosen that encourages a lifelong love of reading. We may read lifelong love of reading. We may read seven novels and 24 Jr. Great Books seven novels and 24 Jr. Great Books stories in the year. Move at a good clip.stories in the year. Move at a good clip.

Literary ResponsesLiterary Responses

• What is a Literary Response? The little voice What is a Literary Response? The little voice in your head that talks to you, things you in your head that talks to you, things you observed, feelings you had while reading.observed, feelings you had while reading.

• Locus of control is with students not teacherLocus of control is with students not teacher• It’s natural and enjoyable, encourages It’s natural and enjoyable, encourages

interaction with text, active reading.interaction with text, active reading.• Students write on sticky notes, transfer on Students write on sticky notes, transfer on

to paper, turn questions in.to paper, turn questions in.• Use Self Evaluations, asking questions such Use Self Evaluations, asking questions such

as “Did I complete reading on time? Did I as “Did I complete reading on time? Did I write On the Lines, Between the Lines, write On the Lines, Between the Lines, Beyond the Lines?”Beyond the Lines?”

GR program is about the last two.GR program is about the last two.

Kinds of Responses: Practicing Kinds of Responses: Practicing Process SkillsProcess Skills

• Questions you had while readingQuestions you had while reading

• PredictionsPredictions

• Words you didn’t understand and what you think Words you didn’t understand and what you think it might meanit might mean

• Words or phrases you liked and whyWords or phrases you liked and why

• Quotes with page numbers, what you think it Quotes with page numbers, what you think it meant.meant.

• Use the author’s name when making observations Use the author’s name when making observations (I really like how Oscar Wilde said…)(I really like how Oscar Wilde said…)

• Write about the moral, or theme in one response.Write about the moral, or theme in one response.

• If it’s from the heart; there’s no wrong response.If it’s from the heart; there’s no wrong response.

Literature DiscussionsLiterature Discussions• Written responses brought to the discussion.Written responses brought to the discussion.• Students learn to share the air time, after Students learn to share the air time, after

speaking they need to let someone else speaking they need to let someone else respond.respond.

• Students use eye contact (listener and Students use eye contact (listener and speaker), speaker),

• Use the text, stay on the subject, speak Use the text, stay on the subject, speak loudly and clearly, respond to what is said loudly and clearly, respond to what is said (acknowledge with head nod, or comment, to (acknowledge with head nod, or comment, to show you were listening). show you were listening).

• Students learn to invite people in….What did Students learn to invite people in….What did you think of that Stacy? Do you agree…?, etc.you think of that Stacy? Do you agree…?, etc.

Reading ExpectationsReading Expectations

• Students Students must must do the reading and do the reading and write their responses. They cannot write their responses. They cannot participate if they don’t.participate if they don’t.

• Responses must be done neatly, with Responses must be done neatly, with sentences written correctly, hand sentences written correctly, hand written with pencil or typed.written with pencil or typed.

• Papers should have proper headings.Papers should have proper headings.• They will always have 2-4 days to They will always have 2-4 days to

complete reading and responses.complete reading and responses.

Vocabulary DevelopmentVocabulary DevelopmentWordSmithWordSmith

• Biweekly Vocabulary developmentBiweekly Vocabulary development

• Greek and Latin stemsGreek and Latin stems

• Master List : 2 – 3 year word cell listMaster List : 2 – 3 year word cell list

• Instead of just prefixes, roots and Instead of just prefixes, roots and suffixes. This gets at the meaning of suffixes. This gets at the meaning of those parts or cells. (Hyphen those parts or cells. (Hyphen placement is important to meaning).placement is important to meaning).

• E.g., Tele- (from afar) Vis (see) E.g., Tele- (from afar) Vis (see)

-Ion( -ing, act)-Ion( -ing, act)

WordSmithWordSmith(Continued)(Continued)

• Flash Cards – Great way to studyFlash Cards – Great way to study

• Possible projects – creativity can come Possible projects – creativity can come out, practice presentation skills.out, practice presentation skills.

• Word-’O – Review game we’ll play.Word-’O – Review game we’ll play.

• Spelling comes from daily writing.Spelling comes from daily writing.

• Parents: Quiz using flashcards, Parents: Quiz using flashcards, practice at home on words, ask about practice at home on words, ask about progress.progress.

Wordly Wise – Wordly Wise – Vocabulary and Vocabulary and ComprehensionComprehension

• Booster shot for vocabulary developmentBooster shot for vocabulary development

• Help students meet state standards for Help students meet state standards for vocabulary and reading comprehensionvocabulary and reading comprehension

• Emphasizes learning from contextEmphasizes learning from context

• Uses prefixes, suffixes, rootsUses prefixes, suffixes, roots

• Uses graphic organizers and semantic Uses graphic organizers and semantic mapsmaps

WritingWriting

• Daily writingDaily writing

• Writing Folder, organization and processWriting Folder, organization and process

• Writer’s Workshop, journals, choice piecesWriter’s Workshop, journals, choice pieces

• Teacher directed lessons on different genresTeacher directed lessons on different genres

• PoetryPoetry

• Grammar lessonsGrammar lessons

• Six Traits WritingSix Traits Writing

• Lessons pulled from Literature or text booksLessons pulled from Literature or text books

ProjectsProjects

• High Interest ResearchHigh Interest Research

• HistoryHistory

• PoetryPoetry

• OthersOthers

• Optional: Year-long research project Optional: Year-long research project on topic of personal interest. on topic of personal interest.

HomeworkHomework•20-30 minutes a night per 20-30 minutes a night per

subject areasubject area•3-4 nights a week3-4 nights a week•Assignment Calendar, filled out Assignment Calendar, filled out

dailydaily•Not prepared/missing Not prepared/missing

assignments – Parents notified.assignments – Parents notified.

MathMath

Students must demonstrate Students must demonstrate mastery of grade level mastery of grade level curriculum.curriculum.

Then Then Accelerated CurriculumAccelerated Curriculum

Acceleration has proven to be Acceleration has proven to be twice as powerful as enrichment twice as powerful as enrichment when dealing with gifted students.when dealing with gifted students.(gifted students generally work a grade above (gifted students generally work a grade above their peers)their peers)

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Math – Adopted MaterialsMath – Adopted Materials

1. Investigations in Data, Number, and Space– encourages students to think creatively – develops critical thinking skills– supports a deeper understanding of the

mathematical content 2. Scott-Foresman Mathematics text

– a traditional textbook approach – encourages problem solving, practice and

spiral review3. Fosnot Materials

– problem solving approach– uses real-life situations to model

mathematical ideas

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Math UnitsMath Units

Number Sense: Expressions and Number Sense: Expressions and Estimation, Number Theory, Estimation, Number Theory, Fractions (Multiplication, Division of), Fractions (Multiplication, Division of), Decimals, Integers and Rational #’s, Decimals, Integers and Rational #’s, Ratios, Rates, Proportions, Percents, Ratios, Rates, Proportions, Percents, Measurement, Geometry, Data Measurement, Geometry, Data graphing, Probability, Discrete Mathgraphing, Probability, Discrete Math

NonverbalNonverbalStudents work in their classrooms for nonverbal.Students work in their classrooms for nonverbal.

•Puzzles (jigsaw or Rush Hour type)•Taking things apart and perhaps …putting them back together•Building things (Legos or blocks)•Paper crafts (origami, paper airplanes, Rube Goldberg books, etc.

Children placed in gifted for nonverbal reasoning typically enjoy:

Gifted Wish ListGifted Wish List• Colored highlightersColored highlighters

• Crayons, colored pencilsCrayons, colored pencils

• Colored gel pensColored gel pens

• Pretty colored paper for publishingPretty colored paper for publishing

• Sticky notes in different colorsSticky notes in different colors

• Large Large BaggiesBaggies for books for books

• College ruled writing paperCollege ruled writing paper

• ¼” graph paper¼” graph paper

• Index cardsIndex cards

• Clear sheet protectors for 3 ring bindersClear sheet protectors for 3 ring binders

• Trinkets from Dollar Store, etc. - Quarterly Trinkets from Dollar Store, etc. - Quarterly AuctionAuction

Home-School Home-School CommunicationCommunication

• Conferences are two times per year to Conferences are two times per year to review progress and set goalsreview progress and set goals

• Voice mail/phone (may take 24 hours to Voice mail/phone (may take 24 hours to return, email is faster)return, email is faster)

• Check grades on GenesisCheck grades on Genesis

• Web PagesWeb Pages

• Weekly Student Reflection SheetsWeekly Student Reflection Sheets

• Email questions anytime: Email questions anytime: ssolbe@kyrene.org

GR Schedule of ClassesGR Schedule of Classes

•MATH: MATH: 8:00 – 9:30 8:00 – 9:30

M, T, TH, FM, T, TH, F

•Reading: 9:45 – 11:05 Reading: 9:45 – 11:05

M, T, Th, FM, T, Th, F

Looking forward to working Looking forward to working with you and your child.with you and your child.

Thank you for coming.Thank you for coming.

Mrs. Solberg-Ayers: ssolbe@kyrene.org