28 October 2009
"Why I'm Thankful for Gifted Education"GIFTED ESSAY CONTEST
REQUIRED FOR 4th & 5th GRADE READING CLASSES (optional but encouraged for 4th
GRADE MATH)
This assignment and activity addresses the following gifted strands -
Self Understanding:
* Understand nature of giftedness
* Personal responsibility for ideas
* Confidence in expressing ideas
* Recognizes strengths and differences
* Understanding giftedness
* Self acceptance
* Personal growth
Thinking Skills:
* Compare and contrast
* Critical thinking
* Decision making
* Inductive reasoning
* Deductive reasoning
* Critiquing and evaluative skills
* Analyze various points of view
* Synthesize for new concepts
* Substantiate personal preferences and learning styles
* Clarify point of view
* Takes risks in thinking and in action
* Demonstrates flexible thinking
Communication Skills:
* Discussion skills
* Written skills
* Oral skills
* Creative interpretation
* Organize ideas concisely
* Express ideas appropriately
* Build vocabulary
* Confidence in expressing own ideas
Independence:
* Develop personal responsibility
* Improve self-reliance
* Evaluate knowledge of self
* Follow directions without adult intervention
Interpersonal Skills
* Takes personal responsibility
* Increase confidence in expressing ideas
* Empathize with others
* Promote leadership
* Build cooperative teamwork
"Why I'm Thankful for Gifted Education" Essay Contest
We invite entries for New Mexico Association for the Gifted and the New Mexico
Gifted Advisory Committee "Why I'm Thankful for Gifted Education" Essay Contest.
Contest Guidelines:
1. Entrants must be New Mexico Residents.
2. Entrants must be 18 or under at time of submission.
3. Essays are due to Ms. Brownrigg on Tuesday, November 3 at classtime in
order to be reviewed, corrected and edited before submission.
4. Each entrant may submit only one essay.
5. Essays must be entrant’s original work. No essays previously published
either in print or online will be considered. Essays must not have previously
won any other writing contest.
6. Essay must not exceed 500 words.
7. ESSAYS MUST BE IN A TYPED/WORD PROCESSING FORMAT
7. Upon review, corrections and editions, students and parents will submit
entries online below.
8. Questions may be directed brownrigg@aps.edu before submission then to
lcomallie@gmail.com.
In addition to addressing gifted strands, students have the opportunity to win
an award!
Awards will be as follows:
1st Place K-5 - $125
1st Place 6-8 - $125
1st Place 9-12 - $125
2nd Place K-5 - $75
2nd Place 6-8 - $75
2nd Place 9-12 - $75
The top twenty entries will be published on the New Mexico Association for the
Gifted Website. Winners will be announced November 23, 2009.
October Greetings.
Hard to believe it is already October. Lots of stuff goes on at Bandelier this
time of year! All week long math and reading classes have been taking the DBA
(District Benchmark Assessment). We expect to be completely finished by Monday
the 19th.
4th GRADE MATH students have been researching and critiquing math websites.
They will be presenting their findings next week to the rest of our class
along with guests from other classes. In addition to the DBA assessment, they
continue to develop their fluency with timed multiplication activities along
with collecting data and self-reflecting on their results. They continue
working toward achieving the 4th Grade Every Day Math goals
(http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/about/program_goals/) with differentiation.
4th GRADE READING students are doing independent research projects based on
individuals involved with creating the film, *Where The Wild Things Are*. The
class began with Maurice Sendak's book and have gone on to delve into all
manner of related topics, individuals, activities and ideas. Inspired by
illustrations, the class designed *Where The Wild Things Are* cakes --- ideas
will come to fruition on Friday when they decorate cupcakes based on their
designs. On Saturday the 17th of October, we are meeting downtown at Century
14 to see a 4:45pm matinee of the film.
5th GRADE READING students have been working to make the most of our 35
minutes together each day. The class will finish their DBA assessment on
Monday the 19th. They are moving through Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book"
and are currently at Chapter 5. The book is fantastic and I hope they have
shared with you. If you have time, explore out the author's website
(www.mousecircus.com) with your child. We've been taking advantage of his book
tour videos. While we are experiencing each chapter with his literal voice and
perspective, there are many other extras.
As we have reached midterm, the students will begin their Independent Study
Project on topics somehow related to *The Graveyard Book*. Anything goes as
long as the students can tie their topic to the text. This is an honest to
goodness research project. Students will conduct research, synthesize findings
and develop conclusions using several sources (other than Wikipedia!). They
will present their findings and personal reflections on the information in a
5-7 paragraph paper form. Additionally they will create some type of product
to express their findings and reflections. Please, if possible, support your
chid's research. With our limited time it's hard for me to provide extra time
for Internet research, if they are able to work at home, that would be great!
In keeping with our unit on *The Graveyard Book*, A 5th Grade field trip is in
the works. We will be going to old town for a historic, folkloric Albuquerque
experience in the next few weeks. These tours are relatively inexpensive and
offer history, folklore, legends and even ghost stories on Albuquerque.
Parents are always invited to join us as chaperones. Details to follow very soon.
Welcome Back to School!
Scroll down for information on:
4th Grade Gifted Math
Ms. Brownrigg’s 4th Grade Gifted Math Class
Using problem solving techniques, we student will identify and analyze
problems, learn and apply various problem solving techniques and math
strategies. We will implement solutions, evaluate their effectiveness, and
modify them as needed.
We’ll take advantage of our library, our community, our resource people and
other school staff as resources for the students.
Class lessons are structured in order to allow time for thinking (response
time for students), discussion, tangential material, interdisciplinary
connections, independent study and freedom in selecting and pursuit of problems.
In this class, there is major emphasis on quality of original thinking and
ideas, giving the students practice with various methods of problem solving,
practice, and applying their math strategies and thinking skills.
Our exploration will include the curriculum strands and the implementation of
required standards and benchmarks.
Class created mission statement:
We are here to learn math, to listen, to work together and to have fun.
Class rules and expectations centered on respect:
Respect one another.
Respect the teacher.
Respect the classroom.
Respect Bandelier and the Banda Bear Pledge.
Each student needs to bring his or her agenda to every class meeting. Please
review the agenda for information and sign it if necessary. Homework is
comprised of weekly packets that often include a parent involvement piece such
as timed fluency sheets, interviews, etc. If math students have any problems
or questions on their homework, please have them speak to me about it at
school. Parents please don’t feel obligated to help or teach and know that
students will not be penalized for incomplete/misunderstood work.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me by telephone at Bandelier 255-8744 or by
e-mail Brownrigg@aps.edu.
Ms. Brownrigg’s Web Site is usually updated every week.
Check for announcements, homework, calendar of events, grades, and more
http://TeacherWeb.com/NM/Bandelier/Brownrigg/
Class supplies
Each child must have/bring:
1. Several sharpened #2 pencils
2. Kleenex
3. Accordion style folder for Math work
4th Grade Gifted Reading
and
5th Grade Gifted Reading
Ms. Brownrigg’s 5th Grade Gifted Reading Class!
Using a balanced literacy model these classes will be reading, writing,
researching, creating, thinking and expressing on a level appropriate to their
grade.
We’ll take advantage of our library, our community, our resource people and
other school staff as resources for the students.
The lesson plans are structured so that both the students and the teacher
create goals and activities for achieving the goals.
The lessons are structured in order to allow time for thinking (response time
for students), discussion, tangential material, interdisciplinary connections,
independent study and freedom in selecting and pursuit of problems.
In this class, there is major emphasis on quality of original thinking and
ideas, giving the students practice with various methods of presenting their work.
The students will play a large role in determining objectives, subject matter
and planning of course study/themes. Our exploration will include the
curriculum strands and the implementation of required standards and benchmarks.
Class expectations centered on respect:
Respect one another.
Respect the teacher.
Respect the classroom.
Respect Bandelier and the Banda Bear Pledge.
Each student is required to bring his or her agenda to every class meeting.
Please review the agenda for information and sign it if necessary. Homework
will include nightly reading (which usually occurs already in their regular
education class) and varied assignments. Students are expected to complete
homework by the due date unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me by telephone at Bandelier 255-8744 or by
e-mail Brownrigg@aps.edu. I’m also creating a class website which ought to be
ready very soon!
Each student must have/bring:
1. at least 2 journals (composition notebook NO SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS)
2. blue ballpoint pen (the type with lids to avoid lost of clicking!)
3. kleenex
Welcome to READING!
~ Dana Brownrigg
