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As we reach the end of the school year, we can look back and reflect upon a full school year unlike any other. While the 2019-2020 school year suddenly stopped and changed in March, it impacted only the last quarter of the school year. The 2020-2021 school year was different for the entire year, from August through June. Many people, including families, students, and teachers, are looking forward to the summer to enjoy some activities and/or travel that have been limited over the last year. It is a welcome diversion from the intense situation that we have all experienced - in our work, school, or home.
This summer, why not try some family endeavors at home or on the road that start with a book and lead to a fun family activity? Research is clear that reading aloud to a child is one way to greatly improve their literacy skills. It builds reading skills, and improves vocabulary skills, among other things. So, why not read a book together, and do some fun activities with some learning benefits at the same time? Since gifted children tend to like to investigate things in a deeper manner, and to learn answers to the endless question of “why,”these books and activities are perfect to do together. This allows children to independently pursue some specific investigation of their interest from the book, and brings everyone back together to share their findings and enjoy the fruits of their labor. In May we lost two beloved contributors to children’s literature. Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert passed away. Carle is the author of many, many children’s books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar. He was a prolific author and illustrator and introduced a new way to write and illustrate children’s literature. Carle’s stories taught values, and centered on learning themes such as colors, counting, shapes, opposites, rhythm, and rhyme, to name a few. There are many resources on the Internet about Carle’s works. Here are a few to explore: Official Eric Carle Website (Has booklists with books in several languages, activities, downloads, etc.) https://eric-carle.com Interview: Eric Carle Discusses 50 Years of The Very Hungry Caterpillar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYwE8qALm9M Eric Carle Reads: The Very Hungry Caterpillar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkYmvxP0AJI The second person important in children’s literature, and featured in this article, is Lois Ehlert, illustrator of the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Did you know that Ehlert was born in Beaver Dam, WI? While Chicka Chicka Boom Boom may be her most popular work, it is not her only work. Ehlert wrote other books, including some that teach skills such as colors and the alphabet in a garden setting. Here are a few Internet resources that explore Ehlert’s work, with ideas for follow-up exploration and activities learned in the books. Lois Ehlert Biography: https://loisehlert.weebly.com/biography.html Video Interview with Lois Ehlert https://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/ehlert Growing Vegetable Soup Children’s Read Aloud Picture Book Read by Mr. Chad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq_jRn4v0pk **Activity-Cook vegetable soup together Pie in the Sky Video Read Aloud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TceUMI4jBpE **Activity-Make a cherry pie with your family. The recipe is part of the text of the book. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Video: Story Time at Awnie’s House Alphabet-upper case and lower case. **Activity-Keep the beat by snapping in rhythm to the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdrTXRD090U A few other books by Lois Ehlert: Planting a Rainbow Eating the Alphabet Lots of Dots In My World I hope these books give you a place to start to enjoy these two authors/illustrators who are no longer with us, but whose works will remain favorites of children and parents everywhere. Dr. Wanda Routier Former WATG Board Member
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This spring has been a mix of weather, ranging from sunshine and warm temperatures to snow and storms. During a virtual meeting, a few gifted students noted the weather at their home and were comparing it with the weather others had at their home in various locations around the state. The students found it rather interesting that while some of them had trees and flowers with leaves and blossoms, others of them still had “winter trees,” devoid of signs of spring. They decided to track the weather and plant growth for three weeks so they could continue to compare their locations and the rate of spring’s advance in Wisconsin. It was a welcome distraction, given the pandemic and the restrictions of the past year.
There were many things that students learned through this weather and growth analysis. First, it was completely student-driven. It was their idea, and their follow-through. They told their parents about the endeavor, and the parents were eager to support them. Next, students used inquiry to explore and record the weather and plant growth. They also used reading, writing, math, science, and measurement skills. When the students got back together virtually to compare notes, graphs, and charts, they were using communication, technology, and collaboration skills. Students enjoyed performing distance research and comparing the weather and plant growth across the state. These students were able to go deeper into the weather patterns and plant growth, as many gifted students do. Parents were also excited with the engagement of their students, the collaboration with peers in other places, and the analysis the students did together. Parents expressed that this activity provided a unique learning opportunity which was fun and allowed their students to learn in new ways, all stemming from a casual virtual meeting. Additionally, parents were pleased with the positive efforts of the students and the virtual learning that was accomplished. Often a casual friendly encounter can turn into something exciting and engaging, and a positive learning experience that is also fun.These teachable moments are valuable for families. Here are some websites that provide scientific information about the weather, and growing things. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Includes local weather information. https://www.noaa.gov National Weather Service Includes local weather information. https://www.weather.gov WI Vegetable Entomology, UW-Madison https://vegento.russell.wisc.edu/crops/ WI Horticulture, UW-Madison Division of Extension https://hort.extension.wisc.edu Garden Calendar for May https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/garden-calendar-for-may/ The Old Farmer’s Almanac-WI Planting Calendar https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/WI The Old Farmer’s Almanac-Weather https://www.almanac.com/weather Dr. Wanda Routier A few young gifted adults were talking with me recently, and the topic wandered to taking tests. These young adults compared notes from high school and college and shared how they disliked tests in school because the tests frequently required memorization of information that didn’t seem to relate to the topic or the real world. Once the test was over, they had little application of the memorized information and quickly forgot it. However, classes in which they did projects and applied information in the depth and breadth they desired were a different story. They could remember all of the details of those projects even though high school was years ago.
Next, these young adults talked about their college days, both undergraduate and graduate levels. This group of young adults all pursued STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors and careers and talked about the difficult tests in high-level STEM classes. They spoke of learning how to take online timed tests because there is a method to it. They all shared that their universities, all of which were different, gave tests in STEM subjects online, and students had a certain period of time to complete the tests, usually over several days or a certain number of hours.The young adults said they learned how to take these tests to plan their approach, maximize their time, and pass the tests. They shared some tips that worked for them. First, before they started the test, they were sure to have all the allowed resources in front of them so that they didn’t have to waste time looking for a book, notes, calculator, or a tool; it was right there for them to use. They also made sure their laptop or other device was working properly. Next, when they began the test, after reading the instructions, they took a brief amount of time to review the entire test so that they knew if some questions would take longer than others because of the content, or because of the type of question it was.Then they determined which question needed the most time (and usually had the most points), and started with that question so they were sure it was finished with time left to complete the other questions. If they had time left after answering all questions, they reviewed certain questions to ensure they did not forget to include anything. These young adults then told me that learning how to take challenging, online timed tests helped them learn the material, show what they knew, and prepared them for complex projects and deadlines in their careers. They all shared that the surprising benefit of the challenging online timed tests was that they were able to transfer what they learned from taking the tests, both the process and the content, to the real world of work in highly technical careers. These shared tips are good tips for students taking tests at any grade level, especially tests that require application and synthesis of knowledge rather than just memorization. Below are a few of the many test-taking web pages found online that may provide additional tips to help your student take tests. Test Taking Strategies https://www.educationcorner.com/test-taking-strategies.html Test Taking Tips https://www.usu.edu/academic-support/files/TestTakingTips.pdf Test Taking Strategies http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/tests.htm Tips for Taking Online Exams https://blog.cengage.com/tips-taking-online-exams/ Tips for Taking Online Exams https://www.brockport.edu/academics/tutoring/online_exam_tips.html How to Prepare for and Excel On Online Tests https://www.straighterline.com/blog/successful-online-test-taking/ Dr. Wanda Routier Past WATG Board Member It is often the case that as we go through life, we lose track of people who were once very important to us. People such as a childhood friend, our friend groups in middle school and high school, college buddies, adult friends, and others. Sometimes losing track of these friends leaves one wondering about a particular person for many years. Now, with the wide use of social media, it may be easier than ever to find long lost friends and rekindle friendships, but that is not always the case.
While speaking with a friend, I recently learned of the life path of several children with whom I worked who are now adults. Now grown, they graduated high school and college, and entered the workforce and adult life. These children were important to each other as friends as they maneuvered life in the community together. They were in some of the same community activities: youth sports, county fair, church, scouts, and library activities, to name a few. While they did not attend the same schools, they saw each other often at activities outside of school. A few of the children who were not readily accepted by the whole group were gifted children who stuck together during these activities. Most of them were either not identified as being gifted, or were misidentified as needing special education services. It was interesting to learn of the lifepath some of the children have taken. Most of the larger group either found a job or joined the military reserve after high school, remained near their home town, and are still pursuing those endeavors today. A few went to college and returned home to find a job, most outside of their major area of study. The gifted youth, who were not accepted by the larger group growing up and thought to be a bit odd, all went on to college across the country and pursued STEM study, graduated from or are in graduate school now, and have careers with major companies where they are thriving working in complex high-level fields. These were the children and youth who did not fit in, who most adults and children in the community and school thought were rather slow and were not going to amount to much. I am not judging any person’s path to adulthood nor their effort to work and make a life for themselves and their family. All of us generally do the best we can. What strikes me, however, about learning about these gifted children who are now adults, is the striking difference in their path compared to their peers. What also strikes me is that even though most people, kids and adults alike, thought these gifted children and youth would never amount to anything because they didn’t fit in; clearly they were wrong. It is another example of gifted children and youth being misunderstood, underestimated, misdiagnosed, and yet overcoming how everyone else treated them to go on and follow their interests and their own path. They persisted and persevered because their innate giftedness would allow nothing less. My message for us is to remember that each person has value, and children and youth who don’t fit in should not be judged or underestimated. They could have gifted abilities that preconceived judgments miss. Each child and youth should be given opportunities to thrive, especially those who others may think are not gifted. Last year at this time, we were starting to hear about the pandemic. Many people were hopeful that after a few months of closing down, we would be able to get back to “normal” and life would go on. Here it is a year later, and we are still in the midst of a global pandemic. One of the institutions that has been affected in a major way is our schools.
Parents have had a choice in how to educate their children for many years in WI, the details of which depend upon where one lives. February 1 started the state-wide open enrollment period, the time when parents can apply for their children to attend a school outside of the district in which they live. The open enrollment period is from February 1 to 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2021. Open enrollment is one way that parents can determine where and how their children attend school. I recommend carefully reading the DPI website on public school open enrollment to learn about it, download a brochure, get deadlines and requirements, and obtain an application. The website is: https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment Generally, there are two types of schools in open enrollment: a regular public school, or virtual charter schools operated through public schools. During the pandemic, much has been said about virtual learning. One of the problems of virtual learning during the pandemic is that most public schools were unprepared to implement virtual learning full-time. Issues of reliable Internet and device hardware access were magnified. Both teachers and students did not know how to do virtual teaching and learning effectively. Teachers were not trained to provide instruction online, students were not taught how to learn online, and families were not oriented to the features of virtual learning. In a virtual school -- where online learning is done well and teachers, students, and families are taught how to do it successfully-- students can thrive and succeed in ways they never did in a face-to-face classroom. This is especially true of gifted students in the right virtual school, where they are empowered to learn at their own depth, breadth, and rate, with good teachers who know how to teach gifted learners. Check out the DPI website about virtual charter schools to learn more if you are considering open enrollment in a virtual school: https://dpi.wi.gov/parental-education-options/charter-schools/virtual-charter-schools The website has a list of virtual charter schools that operated during the 2020-2021 academic year, and is a useful guide for applying to a virtual school via open enrollment. As with any open enrollment, it is worth considering the year the virtual school opened, attending their information sessions, and talking with teachers and parents of currently enrolled students. Virtual schools that do it well do not have students spending hours a day at the computer. Learning is done in a variety of ways, including face-to-face interaction with field trips, and other events. It is important to note that enrolling in a virtual charter school is different from homeschooling. Virtual charter schools have licensed teachers who direct the education of the students, whereas when homeschooling, the parent is solely responsible for the curriculum and all other aspects of education for the student. The reasons for choosing open enrollment are many, and it is a very individualized decision for each family; however, it can be a good solution for students who need a different school to better meet their needs. Each February I write a blog post about open enrollment with tips, and other information. For previous blog posts, please see the archives in the blog post menu, “Ask the Doctor.” While the end of the year brings a time to reflect upon events from the past year, the new year often brings resolutions to perhaps do things to improve oneself, to spend more time doing an activity, or to change a habit, among other things. Given the fact that over the past year we have lived through very different times navigating a pandemic, there are lots of stories to tell. Over the past few months, I have read many oral histories describing how people have coped during the pandemic. These included stories about New York City and various other geographic areas, patients and staff in health care facilities, people in specific jobs, stories about teaching and learning, and personal stories from many individuals. Many of the people told how their experience provided time for personal growth. I have always known about the power of stories to reach people and aid learning, but it wasn’t until two years ago when I started work on an oral history project with a colleague that I became aware of the formal discipline of oral history. The Oral History Association is a great resource from which to learn. Universities, libraries, government agencies, and others are involved in gathering oral history (see links below). Even school children can gather oral history stories. Gifted learners are often very sensitive to current events such as the pandemic. They care about how such an event impacts people, including their family and others, and can be quite affected by their intense emotions, anxiety, worry, stress, and behaviors. Perhaps doing something to document the experience during the pandemic would help them feel some sense of control over their environment. Gifted students may want to create an oral history of their own family, their neighborhood, their class, or school. It doesn’t have to be a big project; it can be accomplished with just one or two people. This may help gifted students feel as though they have some impact in the midst of our current situation. Below are some examples of oral history projects, hints and tips for gathering oral history, and resources for teachers and students to help with an oral history project. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of resources, and there are many more resources available for you to investigate on your own. Happy New Year and best wishes on beginning an oral history project! Utica College Pandemic Oral History Project Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institute Pandemic Oral History Project Smithsonian Pandemic Oral History Project Interviews DEMI, Pandemic Oral History Project, Archives of American Art, 2020 Linda Lomahaftewa, Pandemic Oral History Project Kay WalkingStick, Pandemic Oral History Project, Archives of American Art, 2020 Oral History Project: Pandemic Stories, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MO Oral History Project: Pandemic Stories Columbia University NYC COVID-19 Oral History, Narrative and Memory Archive — INCITE Oral History Society, University of London Advice on oral history interviewing during the Covid-19 pandemic Oral History Society, University of London A guide to oral history for schools and youth groups COVID-19 Oral History Project, Tufts University COVID-19 Sample Oral History Questions | DCA The Oral History Review, Vol. 47, Issue 2, 2020 Socially Engaged Oral History Pedagogy amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Wired Magazine Tell Us Your Pandemic Stories for Our Oral History Oral History Program, UW-Madison Oral History Program | UW Archives and Records Management Oral History Association (OHA) Oral History Association Oral History Association Resources: Technology: Oral History in the Digital Age Web Guides to Doing Oral History Oral History Association Educator's Resource (Examples and Sample Lesson Plans) Oral History, Grades K-5 Oral History: A Writing Workshop Teaching Guide Oral History: A Writing Workshop Oral History Interview Guide and Worksheet Supporting Your Gifted Child During COVID-19 In late November I read an article about the new class of Rhodes Scholars that was recently announced. There are 32 U.S. students who were selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2021. Among the new Rhodes Scholars is Santiago Potes from Miami, Florida who graduated from Columbia University in May 2020. He has a broad background, with a major in Asian Studies and Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and interests in physics, philosophy, social psychology, neuroscience, leadership, and languages. He also has published widely about DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
The main point that struck me about Santiago was what he said about his elementary school gifted and talented teacher who worked with him from second through fifth grades. He credits this teacher with the success he has had throughout his life because she exposed him to a rigorous education, even though Santiago was classified as a DACA student under American immigration policies. As a child of illegal immigrants, Santiago was educated and succeeded in Miami because, in part, his elementary gifted and talented teacher recognized his gifts and helped him flourish. The fact that Santiago publicly credits his GT teacher with his success is such a gift to his teacher. Most teachers toil daily and seldom hear about the outcomes of their efforts with students. GT students may stay in touch with teachers who had meaning to them more than other students, but still most teachers never hear from their students. It is touching that this young man, now a Rhodes Scholar, gives credit to his elementary GT teacher and urges a national discussion about the importance of elementary school teachers, since they have such an influence, either positive or negative, over young minds. As we try to identify and reach gifted students who have diverse culture, language, disability, race and ethnicity, religion, gender, age, socioeconomic status, immigration status, sexual orientation, or other characteristics, it is important to remember that the effort is worth it, for if we reach even one student like Santiago, just imagine the impact on the world. We can improve the lives of others in exponential ways we will never know. That is the essence of teaching, and working together with students and parents -- our collective impact on others to improve their life is assured. During these challenging times, given how we must teach and learn during a pandemic, take heart that teachers and parents are of value, and are working together to influence our children and youth. They are always watching. I wish you and yours a blessed and joyful holiday season. Rhodes Scholar https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/26/us/santiago-potes-latino-daca-rhodes-scholarship/index.html American Rhodes Scholars-elect for 2021 Santiago Potes, District 7, Florida https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/media/45256/winners_list_2020.pdf Many students who are gifted have an incessant curiosity for knowing how things work. For many, it is not just a curiosity, but a vital need from deep within. These students explore everything until they know or figure out how it works. If you live with one of them, you know what I mean. It is exhausting to parent them as children because they may not consider danger in their explorations, they just need to know how things work. Anything that isn’t locked down or off-limits is fair game to them, and often being locked down or off-limits is meaningless, (or an additional challenge). In my household we learned very early on, (in toddlerhood), that we should keep shelves of items that were available to be taken apart at kid height, and other things that we needed intact had to be hidden away. Curiously, we found that everything that was taken apart was put back together correctly, or it was improved upon.
This week I saw a news story and video about an historic building in Shanghai that was moved to a new location to preserve its historic value, rather than knocking it down to make way for a new commercial center. The headline read that the building ‘walked’ to its new home. That intrigued me because I knew the move was an engineering marvel and required an enormous amount of advanced physics, math, and other technical skills. It is incredible to me that any building can be moved, but to see this 5-story concrete building ‘walking’ down the curved street was truly astonishing. Having an engineer in the household (all that taking apart led to a career), I knew that the brain power, technology, and skills that were used to move the building were astounding. I thought about the learning that students could experience once they viewed the video and read about the task. This is the type of story that motivates students to delve deeper into STEM subjects and real-life uses of ordinary classes they have every day, classes that often become boring and tedious. Courses like algebra and physics are essential to moving a building, and related equations would be much more engaging than pages of worksheets. Working on a challenge to move something in their classroom or outside, or to simply figure out how the engineers accomplished it in Shanghai could provide the motivation for students to relate their learning to real-life problems. Even elementary students learn algebraic and physics concepts. Of course, advanced STEM skills were used, but the challenge for all students, including those who are gifted, is to figure out how things are done, and apply it to their world. Other experts were also involved, so subjects beyond STEM could also be involved in an interdisciplinary study. After all, someone had to dream up the idea of moving the building, write proposals to gain the permits, write the story and shoot the video for the news, among other tasks. These are the types of student activities teachers should consider for lessons and units. Through them, students will learn, apply, and use STEM subjects. It is always within your purview to make a suggestion to your student’s teacher. Better yet, let your student work up a plan for an interdisciplinary unit, using a story such as the ‘walking building’ to delve deeper into STEM and other subjects. Encourage your child to share the plan with his/her teachers. Imagine all the learning and differentiation that could occur in this type of exploration! 1) Old Chinese Building ‘walks’ to New Location to Make Way for Shanghai’s New Commercial Centre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwu4ovaSiQY South China Morning Post 10/20/2020 2) A 5-Story Building in Shanghai ‘walks’ to a New Location https://www.cnn.com/style/article/shanghai-relocate-building-preservation-intl-hnk-scli/index.html CNN Style, Architecture Published 10/29/2020 Jessie Yeung, CNN Serenitie Wang, CNN by Dr. Wanda Routier |
Ask the Doctor
Dr. Wanda Routier,
Former WATG Board Member
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