Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Session 2 - Question 2

From this session of reading select 3 web-sites in your teaching field that you could see yourself using with gifted students. State the page numbers and why you selected the sites.

15 comments:

  1. P 58: Edventures Robotics Contest: http://www.edventures.com has online contests. I have been looking for ‘off season’ robotics competitions and this one does not require travel!

    P 63: First Steps to Nobel Prize in Physics; http://www.ifpan.edu.pl My AP kids really need to learn how to do research and write scientifically! I think this could be a better motivator than a grade – maybe? While the site is in Polish, they will translate it.

    P 89: Mathcounts: http://www.mathcounts.org. I helped with Mathcounts in Oklahoma and it is a terrific program! The kids have a lot of fun doing cool mathematics.

    P 144: West Point Bridge Design Contest: http://bridegecontest.usma.edu. I did this while teaching in Oklahoma and it was a lot of fun. They even have software where you can design and build your own bridges. Each year, we would have a contest to see who could build the strongest, most expensive and least expensive. Believe it or not, the most expensive was the hardest and most competitive for the kids!

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  2. Page 75 International Student Media Festival: http://www.ismf.net would be a useful program. It allows students to use diffent multi media tools to complete and design websites, animation, photography and video. With the big push for technology this seems like a great contest to enroll and it covers math, language arts, science and social studies.

    Page 83 Kids Bookself Contest: http://www.kidsbookshelf.com. I would like to try and look into this contest for poetry and short stories. We do an extensive poetry unit and I believe this would really tie into the curriculum nicely. Children are selected on the basis of creativity, style and originality.

    Page 83-84 Kids Can Write Contest: http://www.netasx.com is another site that allows for creativity using poety that cannot rhyme. I this would be very informative after teaching all the different poem types. This will allow the students creativity in a non-structured scheme. It takes place in April and that is good time of the year.

    Page 116 National Science Olympiad: http://www.soinc.org. I found that this site might be good as it has four competitive divisions. It can meet the needs of many students and their intersts. Questions evaluate science knowledge and concepts for processing, application and technology. I feel this would really tie into our science curriculum.

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    Replies
    1. Stacey- All of your choices were the same as mine, except the Olympiad. I will have to look into that one. It sounds very interesting especially since there is a big push in science. Anything with word Olympics always sparks the interest of the children.

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    2. Brandi, My choices also were the same and I will look into the Olympiad. With the Olympics so near I think it would be a fun way to incorporate learning in many areas. Studying the Olympics, encompasses such a braodband of subjects, including math, science. writing, history.

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  3. Stacey L: National Scienc Olympiad does tie into our curiculum. It is more broad based, but I think it could also help not getting the same kinds of questions from their one teacher. Different scientists word things differently. The new EOC tests will really challenge our kids with this.

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  4. Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (http://www.jshs.org/) pg. 81-82

    Kids Are Authors (http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activity/kids-are-authors-contest) pg. 82

    Laws of Life Essay (http://www.acelebrationofspirit.org/) pg. 85

    I chose these three competions (sites) based what I have taught in the past (Elementary with character education, writing, math and problem solving.) These specific competitions are diverse, like most of my students have been, and when I was in a self-contained class I used a lot of learning menus and I feel if I was doing competitions, there is something here for everyone.

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    1. Katie- I too love the idea of the Kids Are Authors website. I think it is a good motivator for kids to write in teams and work together.

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    2. I totally agree that it encourages students all across the board. There seems to be something for everyone and I like the team effort too. This teaches cooperation for those who do not want to carry the full load of producing on their own.

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  5. In response to Stacey L: I also looked at the KidsBookshelf Contests for the same reasons you did. With the new standards focusing on more diverse writing, I think this would help inspire some of our students to take more risks.

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  6. 1. George and Stella Knight Essay Contest (p.68)- I find this contest very beneficial for my GT students because US History is what we study in Social Studies. The idea of having students write about events that shaped American history and they have to be linked to either the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the Constitution is wonderful. This is a self motivating activity that could really spark some learning.

    2. Kids Can Write Contest (p.83)- I really like this contest because students can participate on their. It gives them a challenge of writing and submitting no less than 10 poems, but they can't rhyme. I find this challenging because students really want to make their poetry rhyme. This is a must do next year!

    3. Kidsbookshelf Contest (p.83)- This is a wonderful contest because it has poetry and short stories. I like that the students can submit a piece once a month. This allows for the students to be motivated to continue to write all year long.

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  7. On pg. 68 I found the website for the George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest very worthwhile to look in to for my high school students in preparation for the SAT essays.The contest is based on writing about how Amercian history events shape our country. So much of what the college entrance essays look for is for students to tie historic events to the theme of the essay. i want to investigate it further.
    On Pg. 75 Invent America was another great resource for essay writing. Students have to solve a real world probalem and it is for all grades which was unusual for this book.I can think of a student I will have this coming year who might really enjoy participating in this contest and I am looking forward to sharing it with him!

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  8. Pg. 68-I already stated this website because I had some students in mind but as for a large group this is great as well. American History is the fifth grade curriculm and this website woudl give students a chance to broaden the direction of the curriculum.
    pg. 83-Kids Can Write Contest-Great venue for students to be creative and get results from their works, if they win. So many think poetry is about rhyme and this contest is a true way to show that creativity comes in all forms.
    pg. -82- Kids Are Authors- Children love to write stories and this competiton encourages children to be artistic because they can write and illustrate their own book. A great competiton for multi grades, including little ones. Also I likes the way it was fiction and non- fiction.

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    1. Just like Barbiep said I like Kids Can Write Contest pg. 83 is a great contest for kids to enjoy the beauty of poetry.

      I also like Kids Are Authors pg. 82 like you said kids love to hear stories and some of them love to write them and others love to illustrate them, so if they work together is perfect.

      Kidsbookshelf Contest (p.83)- I really like this website because is an ongoing contest it helps them keep the stamina going all year long.

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    2. in response to BarbieB, I also like these contests, especially the Kids Are Authors one. Having to work as a team to create a story sounds like a great competition for all ages.

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  9. It seems that most of the competitions on these pages are primarily for secondary students, but I did find some that seem interesting for elementary students.

    P75: Invent America! Website is incorrectly stated; it should be inventamerica.org. I already have a great unit on Invention that I teach with PGP students, and this competition would add so much to it.

    P87: Letters About Literature Competition. This competition helps students think about how authors have influenced them, and gives them a chance to express thanks.

    P75: International Student Media Festival. Fees are different from what is listed in the book – $22 for projects uploaded & $30 for those mailed in. Project samples are available to view at the website. Copyright & fair use guidelines are reinforced and teacher resources are available on the website.

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