This blog is currently in recess.
Thanks for your interest.
Elaine
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, October 12, 2009
Welcome back
I would like to express our deepest sympathy for any of our colleagues and students who have been affected by the pacific tsunamis. May there be light at the end of the tunnel that you face.
Save the Children: tsunami education resources
Suitable for primary and secondary school students, lesson plans include activities such as brainstorming what things people need each day for survival and for full development e.g. education and play, and how to decide what would be a priority to provide if you were working for Save the Children. The site also has ideas on how a school fundraising event, and shows how schooling has already started in some of the afflicted countries.www.savethechildren.org.uk/scuk/jsp/resources/details.jsp?id=2402&group=resources§ion=education&subsection=details&pagelang=en
http://www.tki.org/ has other resource links for teachers and students but they are more suitable for older students
www.nationalgeographic.com/field/grants-programs/emerging-explorers.html
This link is to inspiring adventurers, scientists, photographers and storytellers who are making a difference in the world. Projects in the spotlight include the Megafishes Project which is a world wide attempt to document and protect the world's largest freshwater fish before it is too late.
Save the Children: tsunami education resources
Suitable for primary and secondary school students, lesson plans include activities such as brainstorming what things people need each day for survival and for full development e.g. education and play, and how to decide what would be a priority to provide if you were working for Save the Children. The site also has ideas on how a school fundraising event, and shows how schooling has already started in some of the afflicted countries.www.savethechildren.org.uk/scuk/jsp/resources/details.jsp?id=2402&group=resources§ion=education&subsection=details&pagelang=en
http://www.tki.org/ has other resource links for teachers and students but they are more suitable for older students
www.nationalgeographic.com/field/grants-programs/emerging-explorers.html
This link is to inspiring adventurers, scientists, photographers and storytellers who are making a difference in the world. Projects in the spotlight include the Megafishes Project which is a world wide attempt to document and protect the world's largest freshwater fish before it is too late.
Here is the link to the latest Good Teacher Magazine. For an interesting read and a free copy go to : http://www.goodteacher.co.nz/
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Purposeful Inquiry
Idea for the week :
Ask your students to brainstorm words or phrases that describe ...
What they would like people to say about your classroom
What kind of things that would have to happen if people were to say those things
How all of you would have to think and behave if everyone in the class was to get that of experience.
Reflection :
Use the ideas that are generated to create a classroom environment that makes everyone want to be there. Ask the students to come up with a plan for putting it into operation. This will increase the chances of behavioural buy in and change where necessary. Review, Revisit and Revise as you go.
Listen to the students. They will tell you everything that you need to know to motivate them to learn.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Conference report
The 18th World Council for Gifted Education Conference was held in September of 2009 in Vancouver, Canada. It was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with an international network of educators committed to promoting the wellbeing of gifted and talented students and their teachers through the exchange of ideas and experiences based on research and best practice.
The conference venue was The Sheraton Wall Center. This is a large venue ideally situated in downtown Vancouver, with three floors of conference rooms available for the more than 600 delegates who attended from more than 40 countries, including a number from New Zealand.
Five pre-conference workshops featured a selection of ‘names’ in the field, including our very own Dr Lynn Beresford of the Assessment and Counseling Centre for Gifted and talented in Auckland, and Rose Blackett, President of the NZAGC. On a personal basis I attended the session offered by Dr Don Treffinger, Director of the Center for Creative Learning in Florida. This was a very practical and enjoyable session. The focus was on creativity. In fact, all of these sessions were well attended and well received.
In keeping with World Council tradition, the opening ceremony and reception showcased a range of gifted musicians including a truly awe-inspiring classical piano and violin duo known as Diva Musica. If you ever have an opportunity to hear Rosemary Siemens and Victoria Gomon any time in the future then you will find yourself really in for a treat. (either as soloists or together). Other performers of note included a young 12 year old flautist, and eight year old vocalist, a pianist who made her debut with the Vancouver symphony orchestra at the age of eight, and a First Nations dance troup.
The keynote speakers presented food for thought on a range of challenges being faced by educational systems all over the world as they deal with rapidly advancing technology and changes to traditional views of learning theory and service delivery, with an emphasis on the curriculum needs of gifted. A number of presenters offered examples of differentiated learning experiences, while others offered organizational models and strategies supporting underserved populations.
A considerable amount of interest was generated by the presentation by Professor Jack Naglieri from George Mason University in Fairfax, USA. He shared research findings from his alternative test to the Ravens Matrices, known at the NNAT2 (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, aimed at evaluating general ability without requiring the child to know a specific language or have prerequisite academic skills. A sample test is available to view by typing NNAT2 Online into your search engine.
A wide range of conference themes were on offer, allowing delegates to make choices from a large selection of areas ranging from characteristics, assessment and identification, creativity and the talent dimension, social and emotional aspects of giftedness to teacher training and parent and community interest. New Zealand practitioners were well represented with presentations from Lynn Beresford, Brenda Bicknell, Rose Blackett, Deb Clark, Ann Easter, Deb Fraser, Lynda Garrett, Mary Irvine, Elaine Le Sueur, Sara Meadows, Louise Tapper, Janna Wardman and Sonia White. From a presenter’s point of view the conference technological support organization was superb, particularly in relation to managing up to three presenters within a single one and a half hour session slot!
Thursday evening was rounded off by a conference dinner presenting further opportunities for international networking and discussion followed by speaker, Dean McFlicker who is a young, talented award winning primetime television producer and director based in Los Angeles. Our table included a group of chatty educators from Great Britain, two of whom were being married (to each other) the next day and continuing with their intercontinental trip as a honeymoon ! A great opportunity for celebratory drinks all round. Another topic of interest was a mutual fascination with the television programme ‘Time Team.’ It was exciting to meet a group of people who had first hand experience with organizing a group of students to participate in one of the ‘Time Team’ digs.
The conference closed with a introduction to the incoming Executive Committee of the World Council, and an address by the new president, Professor Taisir Subhi Yamin. This was followed by a presentation by the winning bid for the next World Council Conference which will be held in 2011 in Korea. As with any successful conference, it was with a sense of renewed purpose but some sadness that we all left to go our separate ways on the final day. I am sure I speak for all my New Zealand colleagues when I say that I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with those who share a similar vision and resolve. Now it’s time to put ideas into practice and start saving for the next one.
The conference venue was The Sheraton Wall Center. This is a large venue ideally situated in downtown Vancouver, with three floors of conference rooms available for the more than 600 delegates who attended from more than 40 countries, including a number from New Zealand.
Five pre-conference workshops featured a selection of ‘names’ in the field, including our very own Dr Lynn Beresford of the Assessment and Counseling Centre for Gifted and talented in Auckland, and Rose Blackett, President of the NZAGC. On a personal basis I attended the session offered by Dr Don Treffinger, Director of the Center for Creative Learning in Florida. This was a very practical and enjoyable session. The focus was on creativity. In fact, all of these sessions were well attended and well received.
In keeping with World Council tradition, the opening ceremony and reception showcased a range of gifted musicians including a truly awe-inspiring classical piano and violin duo known as Diva Musica. If you ever have an opportunity to hear Rosemary Siemens and Victoria Gomon any time in the future then you will find yourself really in for a treat. (either as soloists or together). Other performers of note included a young 12 year old flautist, and eight year old vocalist, a pianist who made her debut with the Vancouver symphony orchestra at the age of eight, and a First Nations dance troup.
The keynote speakers presented food for thought on a range of challenges being faced by educational systems all over the world as they deal with rapidly advancing technology and changes to traditional views of learning theory and service delivery, with an emphasis on the curriculum needs of gifted. A number of presenters offered examples of differentiated learning experiences, while others offered organizational models and strategies supporting underserved populations.
A considerable amount of interest was generated by the presentation by Professor Jack Naglieri from George Mason University in Fairfax, USA. He shared research findings from his alternative test to the Ravens Matrices, known at the NNAT2 (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, aimed at evaluating general ability without requiring the child to know a specific language or have prerequisite academic skills. A sample test is available to view by typing NNAT2 Online into your search engine.
A wide range of conference themes were on offer, allowing delegates to make choices from a large selection of areas ranging from characteristics, assessment and identification, creativity and the talent dimension, social and emotional aspects of giftedness to teacher training and parent and community interest. New Zealand practitioners were well represented with presentations from Lynn Beresford, Brenda Bicknell, Rose Blackett, Deb Clark, Ann Easter, Deb Fraser, Lynda Garrett, Mary Irvine, Elaine Le Sueur, Sara Meadows, Louise Tapper, Janna Wardman and Sonia White. From a presenter’s point of view the conference technological support organization was superb, particularly in relation to managing up to three presenters within a single one and a half hour session slot!
Thursday evening was rounded off by a conference dinner presenting further opportunities for international networking and discussion followed by speaker, Dean McFlicker who is a young, talented award winning primetime television producer and director based in Los Angeles. Our table included a group of chatty educators from Great Britain, two of whom were being married (to each other) the next day and continuing with their intercontinental trip as a honeymoon ! A great opportunity for celebratory drinks all round. Another topic of interest was a mutual fascination with the television programme ‘Time Team.’ It was exciting to meet a group of people who had first hand experience with organizing a group of students to participate in one of the ‘Time Team’ digs.
The conference closed with a introduction to the incoming Executive Committee of the World Council, and an address by the new president, Professor Taisir Subhi Yamin. This was followed by a presentation by the winning bid for the next World Council Conference which will be held in 2011 in Korea. As with any successful conference, it was with a sense of renewed purpose but some sadness that we all left to go our separate ways on the final day. I am sure I speak for all my New Zealand colleagues when I say that I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet and collaborate with those who share a similar vision and resolve. Now it’s time to put ideas into practice and start saving for the next one.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Quotes from the conference
Hi again everyone.
Thought you'd like a few quotes from the conference so I've put together a PowerPoint.
More to come but this is a start !
Thought you'd like a few quotes from the conference so I've put together a PowerPoint.
More to come but this is a start !
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday Features #12
A Reminder that our next Tools4Talent focus group meeting is at Bailey Rd School on August 12, starting at 4pm. I hope to be the bearer of new ideas from the 18th World Conference in sunnyVancouver, but may be a bit shell shocked as I don't get back until the morning of the 11th. If necessary then Robyn will be there to take over ! LOL
Regards
Elaine
Four recommended sites for the week :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/btn
An Australian based news programme aimed at students, with a downloadable teachers pack of activities that link into thinking skills as well as current events.
BBC Children - Stories for junior students. Play on your class data projector and discuss.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/drilldown/stories/4/1/1
http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/
Simple Machines- A fun interactive website
http://captaincuriosity.net/teacher-lab
This is a blog but it is full of science ideas to use in the classroom.
Regards
Elaine
Four recommended sites for the week :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/btn
An Australian based news programme aimed at students, with a downloadable teachers pack of activities that link into thinking skills as well as current events.
BBC Children - Stories for junior students. Play on your class data projector and discuss.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/drilldown/stories/4/1/1
http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/
Simple Machines- A fun interactive website
http://captaincuriosity.net/teacher-lab
This is a blog but it is full of science ideas to use in the classroom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
