Sunday 19 May 2013

Last Week of Classes

It was our last week of classes for the school year.  Here is what we did... This Week In Gifted!

Invention Showcase

In each of the classes students shared their inventions with each other.  

For the Wednesday afternoon K - 2 class students checked out each others' playground inventions and decided on the top four that they would purchase if they were buying new equipment for their school.  It was a tough job because there were so many excellent inventions!  

In the Tuesday and Thursday morning classes students presented to the whole class.  Some students had prepared Power Point slideshows, animations, radio advertisements, or brochures.  The audience responded to each presentation with questions and / or appreciations.  Kudo's to Chloe and Tyler in the Thursday am class for providing such great feedback!  They were both very specific and positive in their comments.  

In the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon classes we rotated around the room and students shared what they had produced.  We saw student created Scratch computer games, Pivot Animations modelling how different inventions worked, hand drawn brochures, and Ashley from Thursday pm brought in a life sized model of her lamp that charges cell phones.

It was a great final week of classes!  Each of the classes has really gelled as a group.  

Reports Sent Home

Students were sent home with their spring term reports.  If you did not receive the report for your child, please contact me and I will e-mail you a copy.

Parent Interviews

For the last two weeks of May I hope to meet with the parents of all the students in the gifted program.  The goal of the meetings is to review how the year went and to update your child's IEP (Individual Education Plan) for next year.  Paper copies of the interview schedule were sent home with your child a couple of weeks ago and a digital copy was e-mailed on Friday.  If you cannot make the time I've set for you please contact me to make alternative arrangements.

And What About TWIG?

Thank you for taking the time to read TWIG and to see what we've been up to over the year.  I won't be posting weekly updates any more, but I am planning on writing a few more posts before the summer break.   

   

Saturday 11 May 2013

Open House

Here are a few of the things that we did... This Week in Gifted!

Open House

Last week it was the field trip for the grade 3 - 5 students, and this week it was Open House for the classes with grades K - 2 students.  We were lucky to have moms, dads, grandma's, grandpa's, great aunts and uncles, little brothers and sisters, nannies and a puppy drop by to visit us!  A big thank you to everyone who was able to make it!  It was busy, and crowded and a little chaotic at times, but we hope that you got a good glimpse at some of the things that we do each week.  I know that the children were pleased to show our visitors what they've been up to.

Finishing up Projects

The Tuesday morning and the Thursday classes spent a large part of their time putting the finishing touches on their inventions.  Glitter glue was applied to packaging, animations to advertize inventions were produced and  Tori, Ronesca, and Stephanie did a live performance of the advertisement for their robot invention.  The Tuesday and Thursday morning classes were also introduced to the wiki that James (a student in grade 5) set up for us.  Students added information to their pages detailing what their invention is called, what it does, and how much it costs.

Last Week of Classes & Interviews

Coming up is our last week of Gifted Program classes.  Where has the time gone?  The following week parent interviews begin.  I sent home a schedule of times with your child this week.  If you are unable to attend at the time I have down for you, please contact me to arrange a different time.  I look forward to those meetings; we'll have a chance to talk about your child's progress this year and to review their individual education plan in preparation for next year.

Monday 6 May 2013

Field Trip

Last week was a different week in gifted.  Regular classes were cancelled and the grade 3s, 4s and 5s went on a field trip to visit the Engineering Labs at the University of British Columbia campus in Kelowna (UBC-O).

Field Trip

The folks at UBC-O put on a wonderful morning for us.  A big thank you to Renee Leboe who organized the day and to all of the faculty, staff and students who showed us some of the amazing things they do in the Faculty of Engineering!  Thank you also to the parents who volunteered: Jo-Ann, Tammy, April, Simone, Jennifer, Christina, Petra, Geof, Christine, Jason, Julie, Dave, Roberta, Sarah, Angela, and Lisa.  Your help was much appreciated!

It was a whirlwind tour.  There were 5 stations, but due to time constraints some groups were only able to visit 4 of the stations.  I tried to touch base with all of the groups and take photos; please have a look at the slideshow below or go here.



Here is a quick run down of the stations:
  • Wonderful World of Light with Dr. Jonathan Holzman and Graduate / Undergraduate Students
    • here students saw:
      • a table sitting on a cushion of air to prevent building movement from impacting the experiments
      • different coloured lasers!
      • transmission of data using visible light
  • Alkalinity Determination of Tap Water by Titration with Dr. Deborah Roberts and Michelle Tofteland, Laboratory Technician.  
    • here students got to get hands on:
      • wearing lab coats, goggles, and gloves
      • performing a chemistry procedure to determine the pH of tap water
      • things turning colours! 
  • Demonstration of Wind Tunnel and the Diesel Engine with Dr. Hamayoun Najjaran and Dean MacLellan, Laboratory Technician.
    • here students saw:
      • how a wind tunnel works
      • how diesel engines are tested and tweaked to improve fuel efficiency
  • Lasers!! with Ryan Mandau, Laboratory Technician
    • Ryan showed the students what the $300,000 laser he uses can do such as
      • boring a tiny hole through a penny
      • etching tiny writing on a penny
  • Campus Tour with Engineering Undergrad students Shelby Ravestein, Sandra Iroegbu, and Muriel Chidzambwa. 

Open House

For students in the Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon classes, we are having an Open House this week on May 7th and 8th.  Parents and Guardians are invited to join us during their child's class time (12:30 - 2:30) to get a glimpse at some of the things we do.  You are welcome to drop in at any time and to stay for as long as you are able.  Hope to see you there!  Note: this is just for students in the afternoon classes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Last Week of Classes and Interview Times

Next week is the last week of Elementary Gifted Program classes (May 14th, 15th and 16th.)  Once classes are over I will be meeting with parents to discuss how the year went and to plan their child's Individual Education Plan for next year.  A schedule of times will be going home with your child this week.