Gift Rap

Hi Guys!

What are you thinking of The Race by Dave Shields these days? Do you think it made the book more enjoyable to go and see the Tour of Missouri? Do you think you might cycle seriously some day? If not, what is your passion? Do you have something that you love as much as Ben loves cycling?

Mrs. L

Since this seemed to be a theme of our fixed mindset strategies, here’s a pretty cool take on it….

http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

Okay…so we’ve been reading about Mindsets. Most of us feel that we already have a “growth” mindset. I know that in general I do feel that I have a growth mindset. Look at me, I’m 48 years old and I still go to school! That’s pretty good dedication to growing! Still…there are areas where I definitely exhibit a “fixed” mindset. It is these areas I want to mine for myself — figure out how to move from fixed to growth.

The first question I’m going to ask myself is this…what behaviors do I exhibit when I have a fixed mindset?

1.  I divert my own attention.

2. I make excuses to myself in my mind.

3. Have some ice cream!

4. Get sad, sleep, or get on the computer.

5. Phone a friend. (Usually my sister.)

Now it’s your turn…what do you do when you are having a fixed Mindset?

I will be pulling all of you out of classes during second hour within the first week of school. I am sorry that I was unable to get the necessary strings pulled to get this in place before school starts, but you are the guinea pigs, so first years are sometimes different. Anyway, I will email your teachers and have them send you to my room (101). If all is approved, as I fully expect it to be, I will give you the information about the 2nd hour elective class we will be offering (beginning this year) in gifted ed. at the high school. At that point, you will be offered the opportunity to change your current schedule so that you can take the class. If you do not opt to take the class, I will still serve as a resource to you and I will arrange with your 2nd hour teachers to pull you out of class at least once a month or more when necessary.

Please come by my room whenever you like! I will be there every day before school through 2nd hour. I look forward to seeing you all!

I am back!!!! As in… back in Branson and ready to get to work for you guys.

Re all the questions about the HS class…

1) Anya: No, Mr. Arnette has definitely not changed his mind. They just put us on the school where we are officially “on staff” (which means where we have duty and are required to go to faculty meetings). Note that Mrs. Boen is only on one school as well, although she serves several buildings. So…you are stuck with me! And I am happily stuck with you guys.

2) Aimee: The HS gifted will be for THIS year.

3) Everybody: I am going to try to meet with Mr. Arnette, counselors, and whomever else I need to on this very day to see what we need to do as far as getting scheduling, etc. going for the class. You will all receive notice and I am all over getting it going ASAP.

So…continue to wait patiently (partymetroid and others), and I’ll be right with you!

Thanks for all the summer news! Kira Koi, so glad I will get to see your pasty white face again soon! I have to say that I have developed a nice little farmer tan with all the walking I have done this summer! It’s very attractive!!!

See you soon!

Mrs. L

Jeff C and other interested folks,

Sorry you haven’t yet received info on the HS gifted class. I’m afraid I can’t give you anymore specific info right at the moment. Things are going to have to wait at least another week or so. Rest assured that if you want to take the class, you will be able to. I need to meet with Mr. Arnette and the HS counselors to work out the particulars before you can sign up. The counselors are not back in their offices until August.

Thanks for your patience!

Today in my research class my professor shared the following list and it reminded me of you (my students). In fact, all my professors remind me of you — so, I guess one of the possibilities for your future might be university professor.

Dr. Denny attributed it to William Saffire of the New York Times from Fumblerules. I did a little more research and found that various forms are posted on the internet, so I’ll have to get a copy of the book itself to find the real deal, but the idea is from Saffire, in the section “Fumblerules of Grammar”.

Here’s that list — helpful when writing an expository paper, such as a thesis or dissertation:

Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.

No sentence fragments.

It behooves us to avoid archaisms.

Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.

Don’t use no double negatives.

If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times: Resist hyperbole.

Avoid commas, that are not necessary.

Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

Writing carefully, dangling participles should not be used.

Kill all exclamation points!!!!

Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Take the bull by the hand, and don’t mix metaphors.

Don’t verb nouns.

Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

A writer must not shift your point of view.

Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.

Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.

Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language.

Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.

Write all adverbial forms correct.

Last but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.

Howdy!

Well….we have already spent 5 weeks of our summer. We have about 6 more to go! Do you feel half-way ready to go back to school? I am back in Arkansas and will be staying here for almost all of the rest of July. I have class every morning from 7:30 to 9:30 and every afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00. I am looking forward to getting a lot done. But…I will miss my family and my dogs.

I wish I had time to read fiction this summer….I really don’t. I did, however, see several movies with my family over the 4th of July weekend, so it’s not like I’m not having any fun. We had a big family party at my brother-in-law’s ranch… got to float in the swollen creek, eat great food, and enjoy a fireworks display. It was all very traditional and patriotic. I hope you all had fun for Independence Day.

My brother and his family came to visit me for a week. I miss him so much, since he lives in California. Can you imagine how it would be to not see your siblings for a year? I know it probably seems like it would be heaven for some of you, but, trust me, you won’t like it so much if and when it actually happens.

I’m getting back to work now. I wanted to share something with you, though. The National Association of Gifted Children produced the Gifted Children’s Bill of Rights written by Del Siegle, its President. You can find it at:

http://www.nagc.org/uploadedFiles/PHP/Bill%20of%20Rights.pdf

Please post your thoughts / comments!

Here are some of the things I would like to include in the class. Please let me know what you want and need in terms of this elective class.

1.  Possible Book Studies:

        Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

        More Than A Test Score

        Philosophy for Teens: Questioning Life’s Big Ideas

        Fighting Invisible Tigers

        Welcome to the Ark

        Other novels featuring gifted teens…….?

2.  Leadership Skills

3.  Individualized Projects such as: Writing for publication, Science or Technology projects for submission to organizations like ExploraVision, eCYBERMISSION, etc., Submission for National History Day 2009 Contest, American Mathematics Contest …. whatever students have an interest in.

4. Affective Issues of Gifted Individuals

These are my ideas…..what would you like to see take place in our class? Please post your comments and tell your friends to visit the blog and post theirs as well.

Thanks!

Here you go, Eighth Graders. (Those of you who have already been through may comment as well….I welcome your input.)

This is the basic calendar we will follow in terms of 8th Grade English:

You can see that this doesn’t give us a whole lot of time for “gifted” activities; however, if we move quickly I will often follow the regular 8th English class in terms of what we are studying, but I will add in affective issues such as: impatience, boredom, underachievement, perfectionism, disorganization, multipotentiality, asynchronous development, peer pressure, sensitivity, excessive self-criticism, and other fun things. I will try to integrate these issues in with appropriate readings and also deal with them as they come up for students.

Last year we had “Gifted Day” every other Friday. On that day we either did a special project, a critical thinking activity, or an affective objective.

Now, for YOUR part….what suggestions do you have that you believe will make your 8th grade gifted class most beneficial for you? Please comment with your ideas, thoughts, and helpful suggestions.