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GATE |
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GATE Advisory
Meetings:
The next meeting will be on May 28, 3:30 at the District Office.
All parents are welcome to attend. Agenda
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Gifted
and Talented Education Program
The Gifted
and Talented Education program in Rincon Valley is unique in design.
The program is designed to provide challenge and critical thinking
in the classroom and extracurricular classes and activities for identified
students in grades 3-8 who demonstrate exceptional ability. Volunteer
parents and members of the community who have a professional or passionate
interest in a particular field teach many of the enrichment classes,
facilitated by the GATE Coordinator.
While formal identification
does not occur until the beginning of 3rd grade, professional development
for teachers at all grade levels (K-8) in GATE instructional strategies
and curriculum ensures that classroom instruction is differentiated
and challenging for all students. In addition the GATE program provides
and supports opportunities such as Odyssey of the Mind, Junior Great
Books, and the Academic Scavenger Hunt for students to practice and
develop their creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities.
As
an additional Rincon Valley GATE service, we are continuing
our GATE e-mail network this year. There are two levels
of participation available. The first would be strictly
contained to Rincon Valley information such as reminders
about classes and deadlines, change notices, events happening
in our district, etc. On the second level, you would have
the option of receiving information about the California
Association for the Gifted, on events in the area, information
on gifted education, etc.
An
added benefit to the e-mail network would be the additional
communication path available if you have questions or
concerns about GATE. Some might find this an easier way
to get their questions asked...and receive answers.
This
is not an invitation for added SPAM, since no one other
than the coordinator would receive your e-mail address.
As GATE coordinator of Rincon Valley, I would send you
district information. As the Educator Representative for
the California Association for the Gifted, I would simply
add you to my list to receive the information I send out
regionally about gifted education.
If
you would like to participate, signing up is easy!
Simply e-mail me and let me know which option you choose
—
Merritt Booster, GATE Coordinator
mbooster@rvusd.org
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Current Gate Events and Classes |
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Winter/Spring Classes
As of December
17, 44 registrations have beenreceived for the Winter/Spring
GATE classes. It seems that most students want either Physics
or Cooking. Those in the first 40 who have requested these
classes at this point will get into one of them, but not both.
These two classes are now closed.
If your child requested either of these classes as a first
choice with the other as a second, and if you would like to
alter your second request, email Merritt
Booster.
Classes that are still open include:
Biology
– very well received previously, hands on,
evening class
Latin
– taught by a great teacher – would benefit any
student’s vocabulary development
Drawing
– filling rapidly – a few spots left
Jazz
Workshops – would be great for anyone in Advanced
band – particularly those in Abracajazz
Creative
Writing – always a great class, meets every
other week – lower time commitment
Printmaking
– art outlet for creativity
Mid-Eastern
Dance – learn something new about another culture
and part of the world
If you haven’t
already sent in your registrations, please do so quickly.
The Teacher GATE Certification Program
is continuing during the year with classes on differentiation
for teachers.
GATE Family Excursions will
be scheduled throughout the year as events and localities
come to our attention. If you hear of an event or a place
you think would be of interest to GATE families, please
let Merritt know. If you can help with this, it would be
welcome!
GATE
BiMathlon: March and April, 60 of our top 4th and
5th graders in mathemetics will spend two days out at the
Sonoma County Office of Education.For an example of the
type of activities they will participate in, click
here.
GATE
Writer's Workshops: Writer's Workshops for grades
6, 7, & 8 start in November. See the Fall GATE Newsletter
for details. Creative Writing for grades 3-5 will begin
in January.
Parents
-- if you would like to participate on the GATE Advisory
Board, which meets 4 times during the year after school,
please email Merritt.
We would like a representative from each school to give
input into writing the GATE Plan this year.
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GATE
Library
These books are available at the District
Office for checkout to parents and teachers. We ask that
you return them within two weeks. If you would like to
check out a book, just call or email Merritt Booster (542-7375
or mbooster@rvusd.org).
Focus on parents: (*specifically
appropriate for children to read as well)
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When Gifted Kids Don’t
Have All the Answers *
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The Gifted Kid’s
Survival Guides *
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Worth the Risk *
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Fighting Invisible Tigers
*
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Perfectionism: What’s
Bad about Being Too Good *
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Get Off my Brain *
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Raising your Gifted
Child
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Counseling the Gifted
and Talented
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Growing Up Gifted
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Power and Promise (Gifted
Girls)
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Back issues of “Parenting
for High Potential”
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Teaching Gifted Kids
in the Regular Classroom
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Teaching Young Gifted
Children in the Regular Classroom
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Challenge Math
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Primary Education Thinking
Skills (1 & 2)
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Active Questioning
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The Parallel Curriculum
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Meeting the Challenge
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Lollipop Logic and Primary
Logic
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Back issues of “The
Gifted Education Communicator”
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Back issues of “Gifted
Child Quarterly”
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GATE
Advisory Meeting
Agenda
May 28
- Review of GATE evaluation: 2008
- Review of proposed GATE Plan to be submitted to the
state
- Discussion of GATE 2008-09
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