Nurturing Gifts

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Ocean Commotion Videos

Week of September 22th This week we will explore the zones of the ocean. Here are two videos we will view. You may want to watch them later, especially to assist with your homework assignment.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Homework for the Week of September 15, 2014

1st - 2nd Graders Creative Writing Write a story about a water molecule that travels through the water cycle. Draw a picture or a diagram to go along with your story. Please use the rubric you were given to assist you. You may view the Magic School Bus Wet All Over

to learn more about the water cycle and ways to conserve water. 3rd-5th Graders

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Homework for the Week of September 8, 2014

M. A. Jones

1st - 2nd Task: Complete your readings on the 3 other spheres of the Earth. Fill in the remaining parts of your graphic organizer. Next week, we will make a book based on your findings.

3rd-5th Task: Refer to your handout related to your area of inquiry. Use the provided sources to add more information to your Window Notes Organizer. Create your assigned project type from your notes.

Cascade 1st-2nd Finish reading your 4 spheres packet that we went over in class and complete your graphic organizer about the differences between the spheres. Be sure to write neatly and make your illustrations colorful!

3rd-5th Use your charts related to your area of inquiry for ice cream research. Evaluate the sources and turn your findings from research into a project (poster, Glogster, Power Point, timeline, cartoon or other previously approved choice).

Ice Cream Article

Read the article and follow your instructions provided by the teacher.

Ice Cream Day Article

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Homework for the Week of August 25, 2014

M. A. Jones ES 1st-2nd

3rd-5th

Cascade ES 1st-2nd

3rd-5th

Friday, August 22, 2014

Homework for the Week of August 18th

1st-2nd Grades Sea Creature Fact Hunt Due: 8/27/14 (Cascade ES) What sea animal would you like to know more about? Sea Anemone Sea Star Coral Reef Squid Jellyfish Sea Urchin Blowfish Octopus Whale Task: Circle its name. You may add one to the list if the one you would like to explore is not listed. Visit the websites below to find 2 interesting facts if you are in 1st grade and 4 interesting facts if you are in 2nd grade about your creature. Include one fact that describes your sea creature’s relationship with another sea animal or plant that is an example of its interdependency. Display your findings and image of your sea animal on a poster, using technology, on paper, or with a model. Be prepared to present your findings to the class. Helpful Websites to Use www.factmonster.com www.super-kids.com www.britannica.com

3rd-5th Grades Liquids Are All Around Us Due: 8/26/14 (Jones ES) and 8/28/14 (Cascade ES) Review: This week you learned to use safety rules and procedures when conducting laboratory experiments, ho to apply scientific inquiry to solve a problem, and that that liquids vary in color, acidity, smell, etc. Task: For homework your task is to make a list of different liquids not including those from the experiment. Put them in various categories of your choosing. Be creative with categories and names. You list should contain at least 25 entries and have a minimum of 5 categories. Choose your method of presentation. Just be creative! Here are some ideas: poster, PowerPoint, Bookr, drawing, collage, or Pixton.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Homework for the Week of August 11. 2014

Homework for the Week of August 11, 2014

Directions: Using the information you learned about creativity, complete one of the activities below. 1. The most creative person in the world is.... Explain why. Research and find out about this person. 2. How are you creative? Compare yourself to one person that you admire that you consider creative. What characteristics do you share with this person? What contributions would you like to make to society?

Welcome Gifted and Talent Development Students and Parents!

DicksonSyllabusAug2014.15 by globetrek@1

Parent Testing Flyer 14-15. ENG-SPAN Pub by globetrek@1

Identification%2520and%2520Assessment%2520FAQ%252014 15 by globetrek@1

Identification and Assessment FAQ 14-15 by globetrek@1

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Homework for the Week of May 5, 2014

1st-2nd Grade Homework

Create a food chain that is unique to Georgia. You should include organisms (animals, plants, and people) that live in Georgia only. Use the following links as resources. Include the following vocabulary words: producer, consumer, decomposer, predator, and prey).

Georgia's 7 Natural Wonders

http://prezi.com/rkmymiw4ddc9/7-wonders-of-georgia/

Georgia Plants

How Plants Grow, 19:00 minutes

A First Look: Plants, 17:00 minutes

Georgia Animals

Animal Groups: Beginning Classification, 16:00 minutes

Additional Resource

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Georgia_Habitats&video_id=152755

(Georgia Habitats)

3rd-5th Graders

Prepare for your culminating project, the mock trial that will take place next week. Finish your The Case of the Hungry 5th grader packet. You should have your 12 arguments for both the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney, your opening, and your closing statements. Your speech organizer should reflect 3 persuasive strategies that you will use to win the case. These strategies can be found below. They are claim, big names, ethos, pathos, logos, kairos, and research.

Persuasive Strategies

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Homework for the Week of March 24th

M. A. Jones

1st-2nd Grades - You were assigned one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Georgia. Complete your Jigsaw reading assignment and form to show you are an expert on the topic. When we return to class, you will be re-teaching the information you learned to a classmate.

3rd-5th Grades - Complete your persuasive essay using your guidelines and rubric. Bring it in typed or you may email it to me.

Cascade

1st-2nd Grades - Conduct research on one of the 7 types of soil that we did not investigate today that are found in your article. Give specific details about what makes it unique, where it is found, what grows best in it, and any other relevant information. You may present your findings with a speech, report, drawing, or using technology.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Homework for the Week of March 17th

M. A. Jones 1st - 2nd graders (My Big Back Yard)

Students give yourselves a pat on the back! You did a wonderful job investigating the three types of soil we studied in class that are found in Georgia (loamy, sandy, and red clay). Your triple Venn diagrams were impressive.

Here's your homework task:
1. From the article we read, choose one of the types of soil that we did not investigate and research more about it. You can find out where it is found, what grows well in it, and other special facts about it. You may create a diorama, report, drawing, or speech to bring in.

Click here for the article in case you lost yours. Hopefully, it is in you Challenge Binder.

Click here for the link to the videos we watched in class and more!

M. A. Jones 3rd-5th graders (Law and Order)

Super job explaining the difference between a combative argument and debate. You also did a great job picking a stance about school uniforms and providing evidence during your mini debate session.

Homework Tasks
1. Remember your "Dream Job" interviews are next week. So bring in your artifacts for your
"You Portfolio" (mock resume, work samples, pictures, etc).

2. Also, complete and bring in one of the tasks from your Three Branches of Government Tic-
Tac-Toe Menu.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

No Gifted/Talent Development Classes February 3rd - March 14th, 2014

Classes will not meet during this time due to gifted testing. Students, please use this time to complete any unfinished tasks and assignments. Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you back in class in March! Classes are scheduled to resume on March 17th.

Teacher Bio

Certification: Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Howard University, Master of Education in Educational Psychology (Gifted & Creative Education) from the University of Georgia

Teaching Philosophy: For students to be successful in a global 21st century environment, teachers must ignite students’ passion for learning while transforming them to become critical thinkers, advanced communicators, creative problem solvers, and advanced researchers of the future.

Special Interests: Mrs. Dickson enjoys reading, decorating, arts and crafts, family activities, traveling, and spending time with her family and dog.

As your Gifted Teacher, you can expect the following: I will provide students with meaningful and engaging opportunities to develop their abilities and explore academic subjects and interests with both rigor and creativity.

My Focus: Creating opportunities to expose all learners to gifted and talented pedagogy in an effort to improve achievement and increase the identification of underrepresented students in the program.

About This Class

Click here for the Atlanta Public Schools Office of Gifted and Talented Website

Welcome to our class blog

Class Overview

Welcome parents and students to the Gifted/Talent Development Program! I am Mrs. Dickson and I will provide Gifted and Talented as well as Talent Development instruction beginning the week of August 14th. The classroom will be a place the gifts, talents, multiple intelligences, and learning styles of both gifted and Talent Development students alike are embraced, while critical thinking and problem solving skills are better developed. Classroom curriculum is developed from interdisciplinary, differentiated, and standards-based lessons and activities for high ability learners. Units of study are aligned with the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, as well as the Atlanta Public School’s Gifted and Talented Program Standards, which focus on advanced communication skills, advanced research skills, creative thinking and problem solving skills, and higher order critical thinking skills.

Curriculum

Supplies/Student Expectations

To ensure academic success, all students must come prepared every week on their assigned Challenge day with 1) a 2-inch wide three ring binder (new or recycled) with paper, 2) pencils, and 3) a composition book for journaling. Without these materials students will not be able to complete tasks, assignments, or the end of the unit project. The projects require students to synthesize all learning gained through note taking, handouts, discussions, research, and experiences documented in the binder. One project will be expected at the end of each large unit of study. Projects related to the mini units of study will be completed in class. Although homework tasks will be reviewed in class weekly, students may also visit the class blog (QR code linked below), to retrieve assignments and participate in any posted tasks or discussion questions. EdModo will be a classroom collaboration tool. Students will be expected to retain their login information and abide by the Edmodo Code of Conduct whenever they are utilizing this tool to collaborate about learning tasks, either at school or home. All behavior standards and expectations in the gifted and Talent Development classroom reflect and mirror those of the school.

Lastly, the class newsletter will keep you abreast of what is taking place in the classroom, celebrate student successes, such as becoming student of the month, and share essential gifted education news and resources. As always, I look forward to having a successful year of teaching and learning with our students. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.