March Gifted and Talented Newsletter

Dear Parents,

One of my goals this year as an educator in RSU 12 is to keep parents informed of what is going on in the Gifted and Talented program.  I will be posting a newsletter monthly with specific information in regards to each group I am currently teaching in the four elementary/middle  schools. I am enjoying learning more about the gifted population in education. It is truly rewarding to work with the gifted students here every day.  The National Association of Gifted Children have developed the Pre K- Grade 12 Gifted Programming Standards. After posting each unit, I have also posted the programming standards covered.  These units also cover the learning standards for the district.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Irza

Gifted and Talented Teacher

kirza@svrsu.org

Windsor Elementary School

Grade 1-2 Overall Academic

Literacy and Science Unit Based on Marshmallow by Claire Turlay.

1.1 Self-Understanding. Students with gifts and talents demonstrate self-knowledge with respect to their interests, strengths, identities, and needs in socio-emotional development and in intellectual, academic, creative, leadership, and artistic domains.

1.3 Self-Understanding. Students with gifts and talents demonstrate understanding of and respect for similarities and differences between themselves and their peer group and others in the general population.

Grades 3-4 Overall Academic

We have been reading Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express  by Margaret K. Wetterer and are now exploring the concept of theme in literature.  Students will be exploring the theme of a book of their choosing and creating a symbolic object which they may use to try to promote the book. Students will provide information about the object including how it is related to the theme.

1.6. Cognitive and Affective Growth. Students with gifts and talents benefit from meaningful and challenging learning activities addressing their unique characteristics and needs.

Grades 5-7 Math

We have been working on “Math People” The students have made a miniature person who is proportional to an actual person, drawn a person to scale and calculated stride length for their  math person. Next, these “people” will travel to a place of the student’s choice. Students will calculate their stride length to travel by foot to this place, collect facts and design a souvenir from their trip.  They will also make clothing for their person by calculating surface area.

3.3. Talent Development. Students with gifts and talents develop their abilities in their domain of talent and/or area of interest.

Grades 5 ELA

We have been reading Afternoon of Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle.  Students will be exploring the traits of the characters and choose one character to to whom they will give a gift.  They will write about the gift and why they have chosen to give this gift to the character given their specific traits.

1.3. Self-Understanding. Students with gifts and talents demonstrate understanding of and respect for similarities and differences between themselves and their peer group and others in the general population.

3.3. Talent Development. Students with gifts and talents develop their abilities in their domain of talent and/or area of

Interest.

Grades 6-7 ELA

After reviewing similes and metaphors, we will be continuing our study of figurative language with oxymorons and euphemisms.

3.3. Talent Development. Students with gifts and talents develop their abilities in their domain of talent and/or area of interest.

4.5. Communication Competence. Students with gifts and talents develop competence in interpersonal and technical communication skills. They demonstrate advanced oral and written skills, balanced biliteracy or multiliteracy, and creative expression. They display fluency with technologies that support effective communication