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Help. I just received a phone call from admin and

by evidently I will be the gifted cluster teacher next

Jul 27, 2010

year in 4th grade.

I've been a teacher for years and I think I do a good job with differentiation, but I've never taught a cluster class before.

What advice can you give me?

What books should I read to help me prepare for my next challenge?

TIA

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Melanie There's a great book by Susan Winebrunner called The Cluster Grouping Handbook that you can order from Free Spirit.

Jul 28, 2010

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Gifted Websites

by teresa

Jul 31, 2010

I want to find some good websites where I can read about gifted and talented students in the elementary school. Are there some good sites that you like?

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teresa thanks!

Aug 2, 2010

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Barbara Branch On 7/31/10, teresa wrote: > I want to find some good websites where I can read about > gifted and talented students in the elementary school. Are > there some good sites that you like?

Aug 26, 2010

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Has anyone used Jacob's Ladder?

by Victoria

Aug 3, 2010

I just wondered if anyone has used the Jacob's Ladder books and if so, how did you incorporate them in your room? I teach 2nd through 8th grade gifted at a small rural school and must teach reading skills to my 7th and 8th graders since they take the gifted class in place of reading (I teach process skills, etc. for intellectually gifted the remain...See More

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Gifted Lessons for 1st grade reading

by Panic in 1st grade!

Aug 3, 2010

Help! I am looking for gifted lesson plan ideas for a student I have that will by in my 1st grade class that reads at a 3rd grade level. Web sites and resources wanted!!!

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Where to begin???

by Gayle

Aug 5, 2010

I've just been hired as the gifted teacher for the district (k-6th.) There is no curriculum in place. All I've been told is what the teacher did the year before which was very ineffective. I need your help! I need to have some direction or ideas on what types of things you do that's successful. The district wants differentiation built into the prog...See More

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parent and GT teacher What are the district's goals for the gifted program? What do they hope students will accomplish that one day you meet with them? What do they expect classroom teachers to do to differentiate the other four days?

Aug 7, 2010

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Melanie National Association of Gifted Children has a book on it's site you might be interested in. It also has program standards. In my program, I plan units that are based on my students interests but involve research, critical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving at higher levels of thinking (we use depth of knowledge levels 3 and 4). Some gr...See More

Aug 8, 2010

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Gifted Program Legal Rights in Divorces Iowa

by Mom and teacher

Aug 15, 2010

First of all I am a teacher but also a mom and divorced. My children are with their abusive father because he has more money. This is not the place to debate my divorce. I retain equal managerial legal custody. The only superiority he has is the roof over their heads per legal documents. My ex is an abuser of the highest order with extreme intellig...See MoreFirst of all I am a teacher but also a mom and divorced. My children are with their abusive father because he has more money. This is not the place to debate my divorce. I retain equal managerial legal custody. The only superiority he has is the roof over their heads per legal documents. My ex is an abuser of the highest order with extreme intelligence. In the past 5 years he has moved into 4 different states and school districts and each time I have to approach the Principal, get them to actually recieve an entire true copy of the divorce degree, suggest they show all 100 pages to their legal department before establishing that yes I have the exact same education rights as my ex. At this point I find out that he has filled out paperwork detailing he has sole custody and made false statments that his wife has legal guardianship as well. Of course by then he and his wife have filled the heads of normally intelligent people with stories of my wild psychotic breaks with reality and that I'm termanilly insane and don't have my children because of this. In reality I am very sane according to a whole bunch of professionals and extensive testing. The only ones saying I'm not is him and one mental health professional who has not met me. She will call the principal and school and exhert her "authority."

My 11 year old has been causing problems for him because she has reported to CPS on a variety of real abuse. They have just moved to Iowa this past month (unknkown to me until now) and my daughter on her own already called CPS and reported a new situation on Iowa soil. Currently 3 states have active files. But the principal won't know this as they have not been closed yet and 2 just opened this past week. While the officials investigate he has decided to punish her by denying her the gifted and talented part of her IEP. She is in Iowa and I am unsure of their policies and would like to know my rights as a parent before making the phone call to try to correct this.

I have the right to sign her permission slips but in this case I know that he will fight. If it were a trip to sea world who cares and not worth the fight but this is gifted and talented as part of an official IEP from several years of testing and acceptance. His only motivation is punishment.

Is this something I can fight legally and win in Iowa? Is gifted and talented thought of the same as special education? I can not say much more about the nature of abuse in that home as it will identify the child and CPS is just starting their current inviestigation.

In the meantime I just need to know if my child has the legal right to Gifted and Talented being continued on her IEP and what will the outcome be when the two divorced parents with equal legal power to object or approve these services.

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cavey You should contact the gifted coordinator of the school division to seek their help.

On 8/15/10, Mom and teacher wrote: > First of all I am a teacher but also a mom and divorced. > My children are with their abusive father because he has > more money. This is not the place to debate my divorce. I > retain equal managerial lega...See MoreYou should contact the gifted coordinator of the school division to seek their help.

On 8/15/10, Mom and teacher wrote: > First of all I am a teacher but also a mom and divorced. > My children are with their abusive father because he has > more money. This is not the place to debate my divorce. I > retain equal managerial legal custody. The only > superiority he has is the roof over their heads per legal > documents. My ex is an abuser of the highest order with > extreme intelligence. In the past 5 years he has moved into > 4 different states and school districts and each time I > have to approach the Principal, get them to actually > recieve an entire true copy of the divorce degree, suggest > they show all 100 pages to their legal department before > establishing that yes I have the exact same education > rights as my ex. At this point I find out that he has > filled out paperwork detailing he has sole custody and made > false statments that his wife has legal guardianship as > well. Of course by then he and his wife have filled the > heads of normally intelligent people with stories of my > wild psychotic breaks with reality and that I'm termanilly > insane and don't have my children because of this. In > reality I am very sane according to a whole bunch of > professionals and extensive testing. The only ones saying > I'm not is him and one mental health professional who has > not met me. She will call the principal and school and > exhert her "authority." > > My 11 year old has been causing problems for him because > she has reported to CPS on a variety of real abuse. They > have just moved to Iowa this past month (unknkown to me > until now) and my daughter on her own already called CPS > and reported a new situation on Iowa soil. Currently 3 > states have active files. But the principal won't know > this as they have not been closed yet and 2 just opened > this past week. While the officials investigate he has > decided to punish her by denying her the gifted and > talented part of her IEP. She is in Iowa and I am unsure > of their policies and would like to know my rights as a > parent before making the phone call to try to correct this. > > I have the right to sign her permission slips but in this > case I know that he will fight. If it were a trip to sea > world who cares and not worth the fight but this is gifted > and talented as part of an official IEP from several years > of testing and acceptance. His only motivation is > punishment. > > Is this something I can fight legally and win in Iowa? Is > gifted and talented thought of the same as special > education? I can not say much more about the nature of > abuse in that home as it will identify the child and CPS is > just starting their current inviestigation. > > In the meantime I just need to know if my child has the > legal right to Gifted and Talented being continued on her > IEP and what will the outcome be when the two divorced > parents with equal legal power to object or approve these > services.

Aug 21, 2010

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Resources for teaching debate?

by Novice

Aug 19, 2010

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this but I have never really participated in a debate. The process was never taught to me and so I feel more than a little uncomfortable thinking about how to teach it to others.

Are there any good websites or resource books that would help me teach this skill to my students?

Thanks!

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DR Just came across this website. Look through it - lots of great ideas. [link removed]

On 8/19/10, Novice wrote: > I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this but I have never really > participated in a debate. The process was never taught to > me and so I feel more than a little uncomfortable thinking > about how to teach it to others....See More

Aug 28, 2010

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Advanced Placement

by kimel

Aug 19, 2010

Hello Everyone,

I have a question about how teachers determine recomendations for advanced placement.

My daughter has always down well in math. She was tested in 5th grade and found to be gifted in math. 6th grade she was in her advanced math class and has all A's. She also scored in the advanced level on the state acheivement tes...See More

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My experience The district I teach in (and that my son attends school in) has a very clear AP/pre-AP policy with their classes. They have guidelines for entry into pre-algebra in the 7th grade and also the pre-AP English. However, it says very clearly that even if a student does not meet the required number on the rubric, that student can still enter the pre-AP ...See MoreThe district I teach in (and that my son attends school in) has a very clear AP/pre-AP policy with their classes. They have guidelines for entry into pre-algebra in the 7th grade and also the pre-AP English. However, it says very clearly that even if a student does not meet the required number on the rubric, that student can still enter the pre-AP program at the parent's wishes.

My son entered pre-AP English, Science, and Social Studies this year. He was not recommended for pre-Algebra and in his case, it was appropriate. He could use another year in math to solidify his understanding. With your daughter, it seems like that would be unnecessary.

I would definitely contact the administrator and ask about it. With my son, the school kind of grouped English and Social Studies together and Science and Math together. While I knew his math was weaker, his science always has been fairly strong so I emailed the principal to ask about why he wasn't placed. That's when I found out that a parent can request they be added, regardless of rubrics or teacher recommendation.

Good luck! I hope you can get this resolved for your daughter!

On 8/19/10, kimel wrote: > Hello Everyone, > > I have a question about how teachers determine > recomendations for advanced placement. > > My daughter has always down well in math. She was tested > in 5th grade and found to be gifted in math. 6th grade she > was in her advanced math class and has all A's. She also > scored in the advanced level on the state acheivement > test. This year when I checked her schedule, I noticed she > wasn't in the advanced class. When I asked the secretary > about it to see if her schedule was right, she checked the > list of the teacher's recommendations and said she was not > recommended. How can this be? She has never struggled > with her work and her interests outside the classroom are > math related. She wants to go to college in a math related > field. She was so proud to be in the advanced class, and I > know this will affect her. I feel she's being let down by > her school.

Aug 21, 2010

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Leah I would also contact the administrator. Parents do it all the time for far less concerns.

Aug 25, 2010

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Duke TIP--do you refer?

by Victoria

Aug 21, 2010

I received information about this program during the past week and I'm considering sending off for a few packets. Is the program beneficial? Also, my one concern with this is that I have about 3 students who I think would possibly have the scores required for the program, but I have 10 identified intellectually gifted students. I am hesitant to sen...See More

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Edith Yes, it is worth it. You have to send packets to the ten students, even if you feel that some of them won't qualify.I have experienced for my kids a similar program (EPGY), and it is intense. Even if they pass the test, they need the motivation and the ability to focus to complete the program.

On 8/21/10, Victoria wrote: > I received in...See More

Aug 21, 2010

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YKW I would send packets to all 10, or at least a letter pointing them in the right direction. (We live in CTY territory, and only send information for the parents to request packets themselves). It's a beneficial process, and there is much to be gained even if the child doesn't qualify for top level programs. Let the parents decide. A few years, we ha...See More

Aug 21, 2010

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1st graders

by Artsiegurl

Aug 24, 2010

I teach an enrichment program and I have 8 students M-F. Does anyone have a site for lesson plans? I have been searching for 1st grade level project for these students. We have c-scope curricilum but I have to expand on that...Basic level skills. I am an art teacher..please help!!!Thank you in advance. I have starters but no curriculum.

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