Gifted ResourceGifted ResourceLanguage Arts/MathLanguage Arts/Math

Curriculum PresentationCurriculum PresentationRuth E. McLennanRuth E. McLennan

Estrella ElementaryEstrella Elementary

480-541-3132480-541-3132

rmclen@kyrene.orgrmclen@kyrene.org

About Ms. McLennanAbout Ms. McLennan

• 26 years of teaching experience26 years of teaching experience

• Family: Two sons, Matt and AustinFamily: Two sons, Matt and Austin

• Enjoy all sports, traveling, music, hiking, Enjoy all sports, traveling, music, hiking, running, and weight training running, and weight training

Characteristics of the Gifted Characteristics of the Gifted Learner Learner Is intense Already knows Draws inferences Is a good guesser Asks the questions Has wild, silly ideas Is keenly observant Constructs abstractions Manipulates information Discusses in detail, elaborates Is mentally and physically involved Enjoys learning (but NOT necessarily school) Shows strong feelings, emotions, and opinions Plays around, yet tests well (versus works hard) Initiates projects (versus completes assignments) Creates a new design (versus copies accurately) Typically needs only 1 or 2 repetitions for mastery Is highly self-critical (this often translates into perfectionism)

ExpectationsExpectations

What You Can Expect From me: Best practices in teaching Open communication Differentiation for your child’s individual needs Enthusiasm Creativity Respect Honesty Fairness

Expectations cont.Expectations cont.

What I Expect of You and Your Child:

Ongoing home-school communication Timely completion of homework and

classwork Respectful collaboration Initiative Creativity

Common Core StandardsCommon Core Standards

Common Core Standards in ELA (English Language Arts) and Mathematics are designed to prepare students for college and career.

Collaborative planning with the gifted team using curriculum maps to guide instruction based on the standards

Reading/ELA ResourcesReading/ELA Resources::

Harcourt Trophies Junior Great Books Literature Studies – Kyrene adopted trade books Word Study (Spelling and Vocabulary) – Wordly Wise and

Wordsmith (“Groovy Bob”) Nonfiction – content area informational text, textbooks, and

articles Write From the Beginning Thinking Maps Many opportunities to present, speak, and listen

Literary ResponsesLiterary Responses

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

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 Words you didn’t understand and what you think it might meanthink it 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 Use the author’s name when making observations (I really like how Gary Paulsen observations (I really like how Gary Paulsen said…)said…)

• Identify the moral, or theme Identify the moral, or theme

Vocabulary DevelopmentVocabulary DevelopmentWordSmith and Wordly WiseWordSmith and Wordly Wise

•Greek and Latin stems (WordSmith)Greek and Latin stems (WordSmith)

•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. E.g., Tele- (from those parts or cells. E.g., Tele- (from afar) Vis (see) afar) Vis (see)

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

WordSmith/Wordly WiseWordSmith/Wordly Wise(Continued)(Continued)

• Learning Keys – Great way to studyLearning Keys – Great way to study

• Wordly Wise: Vocabulary Wordly Wise: Vocabulary DevelopmentDevelopment

• Spelling comes from daily writing, Spelling comes from daily writing, Wordly Wise and the classroom.Wordly Wise and the classroom.

• Parents: Quiz using keys, Word lists, Parents: Quiz using keys, Word lists, practice at home on words, ask about practice at home on words, ask about progress.progress.

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 twice Acceleration has proven to be twice as powerful as enrichment when as powerful as enrichment when dealing with gifted students.dealing with gifted students.

(Gifted students generally work a (Gifted students generally work a grade above their peers)grade above their peers)

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Math Adopted ResourcesMath Adopted Resources

Investigations Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Holt Middle School Mathematics Fosnot units Hands-On Equations Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) Number Talks Additional adopted supplementary resources

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 – Coordinate with assignments – Coordinate with classroom Fun Fridayclassroom Fun Friday

ProjectsProjects

• Research Projects throughout the Research Projects throughout the yearyear

• Book Studies (First one: September)Book Studies (First one: September)

• Menus that support both math and Menus that support both math and readingreading

• Opportunities for oral presentationsOpportunities for oral presentations

Resource for Students and Resource for Students and ParentsParents• Ms. McLennan’s Teacher WebpageMs. McLennan’s Teacher Webpage

– Online sites for parents and studentsOnline sites for parents and students

• Gifted Kyrene webpage ResourcesGifted Kyrene webpage Resources– Kyrene Home PageKyrene Home Page Departments Departments

Exceptional Students Services Exceptional Students Services Gifted Gifted

School To Home School To Home CommunicationCommunication

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

• Voice mail/phone (may take 24 hours Voice mail/phone (may take 24 hours to return, email is faster), to return, email is faster), 480-541-480-541-31323132

• Web PagesWeb Pages

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

GR Schedule of ClassesGR Schedule of Classes

•MATH: MATH: 7:55 – 9:25 7:55 – 9:25

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

•Language Arts: Language Arts:

10:10-11:30 10:10-11:30

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

Thank you for coming. I’m Thank you for coming. I’m looking forward to a great looking forward to a great

year!year!