Sinking of the Sultana Brown Bag Lunch

C Day students had a special speaker named Alicia Scott visit last week.  She spoke about the sinking of a steamship named the Sultana after the Civil War.  Our eyes were opened to a frequently forgotten part of U.S. history.  Did you know that more people died when the Sultana sank, than when the Titanic sank?!  Mrs. Scott brought a unique perspective to the event as her great grandfather was a Sultana survivor.

Here is a link to more information about the steamboat Sultana: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/0501_river5.html

Germany Brown Bag Lunch

A Day students had a special speaker named Toby visit yesterday.  He spoke about his native country of Germany.  Students learned about the geography, history and language. Dankeschön, Toby!

GEM Day 2013

The GEM Day date and location have been set!  The student registration booklets will be available in February with all of the details, but I wanted you to know in advance so you could mark your calendars.   

GEM Day 2013

Gifted Enrichment & Motivation Day

Sponsored by The Gifted Association of Missouri - District C 

Saturday, March 9, 2013

William Jewell College

Liberty, MO

9:00-11:15

What?

GEM (Gifted Enrichment & Motivation) Day is a one day enrichment program sponsored by gifted education teachers in GAM (Gifted Association of Missouri) District C.  This is our way of providing special activities for gifted students and their parents in our area.

Who?

GEM Day activities are offered to all students in kindergarten through ninth grade who are considered academically and creatively gifted and talented.  Parent workshops are also offered to the parents of enrolled students.  Students and parents participating in the activities must be residents of District C, which includes the following counties: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Ray, and Worth.

Gifted Association of Missouri (GAM) Student Contests and Gifted Education Week

-------Go to www.mogam.org for more details. GAM STUDENT CONTESTS ARE HERE! ENTER TODAY! CONTEST DEADLINE FEBRUARY 1, 2013 Students: It is time for you to advocate for GAM!  Do you like to make videos?  Do you love to write?  We have a contest for you.  This year, our student contests are going online.  See the information below on how to enter and get started on your video or essay today! To Enter: 1.  Read the GAM Student Contests Guidelines carefully. 2.  Read carefully and complete the online entry form. 3.  Print and complete the GAM RELEASE FORM and keep on file at school. 4.  EMAIL ALL VIDEO AND ESSAY ENTRIES TO Dr. Robin Lady at  r.e.lady74@gmail.com. 5.  Entries will not be considered unless all steps above are complete. 6.  CONTEST DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2013! PLEASE ENTER THE CONTEST ONLINE, however, if you need to enter by mail, please download the entry form and contact Dr. Robin Lady at robinelainelady@yahoo.com

		Gifted Education Week 2013 is February 25-March 1!
		Advocates for gifted children are needed now more than ever.  We need support for gifted education at the local, regional, state, and national level.  One way to advocate for gifted education is to participate in Gifted Education Week and come to the Capitol on February 28, 2013.
		Legislative Visits will take place in the morning.  Introduction of students will take place in the House and Senate Chambers at 10:00 a.m, so please be in Jefferson City by 9:30 a.m.  Awards for the GAM Student Contests will take place following introductions, in the 1st Floor Rotunda.  We hope to see you there.

Taking Initiative

This past week we learned that taking initiative is recognizing and doing what needs to be done before being asked.  We discussed ways to take initiative in our everyday lives.   The next time we find ourselves complaining we will try to find a solution.  Each student's "homework" is to take initiative at least once this week and share how they took initiative on their next SAGE day.  I was impressed with the students as I noticed many started taking initiative that very day!  What a wonderful group of students!

Underachievement Topic Study

Please take time to read the post about underachievement in gifted children on the "Topic Studies" page.

Creative Problem Solving: Building a Bridge

In creative problem solving activities, students use the types of creative thinking (fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration) to solve a problem.  Generally, they also practice their collaboration skills as they have to work in groups to solve the problem.  We finish our creative problem solving activities with individual and group reflection about our successes and how we can improve.

For this problem, students worked in pairs or groups of 3 to build the bridge that could hold the most weight (pennies).