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Bill T 6 NC - Do you work with GATE students???
Luc13ky - Yes, just in my classroom. We have a pull out program. It just gets off and running in grade 3.
Bill T 6 NC - Ths about how it works in North Carolina. I have some gifted 6th graders.
Luc13ky - I have very few GATE students. I think most are over achievers at this age. # were ID this year. Probably was truly GATE.
Luc13ky - Well, that made no sense. I told you I can't type. I had 3 ID and only 1 was truly gifted.
Bill T 6 NC - My 6th grade team only has 16 out of 78, but we were able to form one class of gifted and high achievers
Luc13ky - Do you make a class of them, so just for a certain period of time?
Bill T 6 NC - No, actually, I am on a three person team. We form our 78 students into three classes and those classes travel about together.
cathie/NC - I am a Carolina mom!
cathie/NC - daughter is a junior there!!
Bill T 6 NC - We were just discussing arrangments of gifted classes
cathie/NC - I will be moving up to third next year and know that's when the kids start the gifted program.
Luc13ky - Are you 2 out of school for the year? I have been out for a week now.
cathie/NC - yes, I am out, one more workday tomorrow
cathie/NC - Bill, where in NC are you?
Bill T 6 NC - I did third for ONE year and went running back to middle school. Yeah, I know...I'm crazy. We get out Tuesday, Luc13
Bill T 6 NC - Near Greensboro
cathie/NC - I am in Iredell-
Bill T 6 NC - I know where that is.
Luc13ky - We start GATE pullout in Grade 3. Our Gate teacher does some thinking classes for the whole room. Helps at testing time!
cathie/NC - Bill, how are they identified in third grade?
Bill T 6 NC - We start back earlier in August next year and will be getting out in late May
cathie/NC - teachers go back July 30
Bill T 6 NC - All third graders are given the test of cognitive abilities. At least, thjey are in my county. That and teacher (or parent) request.
Luc13ky - Oh my cathie!!!
Bill T 6 NC - Ugh. July????
cathie/NC - oh, ok. I know I had several second graders that were AG.
cathie/NC - yes, UGH!!
Luc13ky - I hope you are air conditioned. We aren't and we roast in mid August.
Bill T 6 NC - It's so hard to really ID them that young.
cathie/NC - I am taking an AG creative teaching workshop this summer
Bill T 6 NC - We are.
cathie/NC - yes we have AC
Bill T 6 NC - sounds interesting
Bill T 6 NC - Is that something given through your school system???
cathie/NC - yes
cathie/NC - it is for the AG teachers but is offered to classroom teachers too
Bill T 6 NC - I am attending a NASA workshop for two weeks in June
cathie/NC - that sounds like fun. what subject do you teach in sixth or are you self contained?
Luc13ky - Im have retired this year but will work a 2/5 job in Math. I will employ some thinking skills and problem solving I hope!!
cathie/NC - sounds good Luc13ky. My students always are weak in problem solving with these new math assessment tests that they give here
cathie/NC - what is a good resource to teach problem solving? I would like to give them a problem a day to solve.
Luc13ky - We do a full battery of Math, Reading and Writing. State funding will soon be tied to scores. Here you can score more points on a math problem if yo wrote a good explanation and got the wrong answer than if you wrote a poor explanation and got the correct answer. Go figure!!
cathie/NC - here too
cathie/NC - Luc, do you know a good book that has problems for the second and third grade
Bill 6 NC - I do science & social studies this year as part of a three person team. Nexct year I will be doing math/science
Luc13ky - I will use a variey of things. An old math series had a problem a day and our State Board puts out some interesting problems. We will use Saxon math this coming year. I like the way they teach problem solving.
cathie/NC - Ashley, what do you teach?
Bill 6 NC - Is Saxon a good series???
cathie/NC - I taught Saxon Math this year but there were no problems like there are on the assessments
Bill 6 NC - Ah yes...the blessed EOGs...
cathie/NC - well, in second grade we have different assessments, they had 73 questions on the last test
Luc13ky - Well, I like it. It has its faults. I think it is weak in Geomerty and we will need to beef it up, but I like the way it spirals all skilss - keeps reviewing them. WE shall see. After this new year we may hate it. We thought it was worth a try. Our old series was not doing the job.
cathie/NC - it was a brutal test for second graders
Bill 6 NC - A special ed teacher at my school thinks highly of Saxon
Bill 6 NC - I think any test is brutal for a 7 year old
cathie/NC - oh, Saxon was wonderful but to fit it in our curriculum I had to supplement some skills, but the children retained the skills better
cathie/NC - I loved the sheets to do in class and then they do the back side at home
traveling teacher - Saxon is a great source for basic skills. I believe it is lacking in problem solving
Bill 6 NC - Our special ed teacher is hoping I will try and use it next yer.
Luc13ky - I have collected many problems over the years. I am on a listserv for math teachers. i will probably be begging for help. We will start out slow in K-2. Grade 3 will hit it hard in October.
traveling teacher - A great source for problem solving is Gourmet Curriculum.
cathie/NC - is that a book?, traveling teacher?
Bill 6 NC - Can't say I have heard of it
Luc13ky - Do you know who publishes this traveler?
traveling teacher - It is a huge three ring binder of games, activities, worksheets, etc.
cathie/NC - where can one get it?
traveling teacher - We have been using Saxon but, feel that we have out grown it. Another series is Excel. Let me look in my files for an address.
cathie/NC - ok, thanks
Luc13ky - I am glad to hear these pitfalls of Saxon. It will make my job easier next year to know what to expect.
Bill 6 NC - Well y all...got to slip off into the night. It was good talking to you!
Luc13ky - Thanks, Bill for the chat.
traveling teacher - I do not have the address at home. It is Gourmet Curriculum Press, Inc. I believe that it is in Texas. If you will email me at harrisk@gower.net, I will send it to you next week when I am in the office.
Bill 6 NC - See you again sometime!!
Luc13ky - Thanks, Traverler. I will e-mail you. I am interested.
traveling teacher - Using Saxon and Gourmet this past year our fourth and fifth graders had 100% mastery on TAAS (State Assesment)
Luc13ky - WOW!! I have heard so much about TAAS. I really want more info.
cathie/NC - I better go, thanks.
traveling teacher - We are looking for an assessment for k-2 on math that covers the Texas curriculum TEKS. Does any know of one?
Luc13ky - Me, gotta do some laundry. I am still ridding my room out at school. ## years of "stuff" is a chore!!
Luc13ky - Well
traveling teacher - I guess everyone has gone! I will look for your email. Good Night.
Luc13ky - The # was to be 33.
