Monday, October 27, 2014

Mystery Skype

We've been enjoying Mystery Skype, a global guessing game, with classes all over the world!  Last week 5th and 6th grade students Skyped with students in Jacksonville, Alabama.  This week, 4th grade Skyped with Barcelona, Venezuela!

We are THINKING!

A student from Venezuela asks us a question.  

Students synergize to eliminate locations.

A student from Venezuela asks us a question.
Students eliminate locations as they ask clues.

Sixth grade students created some great questions to ask our Skype partners.


Students use Google Maps to help narrow down their mystery location.

Students keep track of clues on the board.  

Students from Venezuela ask us questions.

Students synergize to locate their mystery location.

They found their mystery city and school!


Sixth grade students talk with students from Jacksonville, Alabama.  

Monday, October 20, 2014

Parent/Teacher Conferences

We'll be holding our Parent/Teacher Conferences in an Open House format again this year.  It seemed to work out well last year.  Please stop by and visit me at your convenience during the times below:

Tuesday, Oct. 26 - 4:30pm - 7:30pm
Thursday, Oct. 30 - 3:30pm - 6:30pm

If I'm with someone, please wait outside our room until we are finished.  There will also be literature for you to view on a table outside our classroom.

Thank you, and I hope to see you then!

Sunday, October 19, 2014

GAM - Action Alert

Write Governor Nixon
October 18, 2014
GOVERNOR NIXON IS WITHHOLDING FUNDING FOR THE ACADEMIES!!

GAM needs your action today, to urge Governor Nixon to release the funding ($750,000) for the 2015 Missouri Scholars Academy and Missouri Fine Arts Academy.

The good news is that the Missouri General Assembly (with the leadership of Senator Kurt Schaefer) increased the funding for the Academies to our original funding level of $750,000.  The bad news is that Governor Nixon is not releasing the funding so we can move forward with planning the Academies for 2015.  Without the funding, the Academies will be forced to charge students tuition to attend, and not allow for quality programming/instructors.

Here is a sample letter:

The Honorable Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon
Missouri Governor
State Capitol
Jefferson City, MO  65101

Dear Governor Nixon:


Please release the full funding for the 2015 Missouri Scholars Academy and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. 

The Academy funding is one of the few state programs that help Missouri's gifted students.  Educating our potential high learners should be a priority for Missouri.

Respectfully,

YOUR NAME

Or you can call his office at 573-751-3222

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND FORWARD TO OTHER GIFTED ADVOCATES!!!


  
If you have questions, please contact kynaiman@earthlink.net
          
Kyna Iman
Governmental Consultant
Gifted Association of Missouri

Pen Pals in Kenya

The fifth grade class has been writing to students from Obwororo Academy in Kenya. My students have been learning how different our lives are from theirs. So far they have discussed, environment, war and conflict, poverty, and technology. This week they will be discussing education.  We look forward to learning more about them!