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Welcome to the Advanced Academics Classroom

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Welcome to the Advanced Academics Classroom

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Welcome to the Advanced Academics classroom page.  Here you will find all the information you need throughout the school year.  Select the MOOSE page to view our weekly assignments and notes.  You can also find our Advanced Academic Newsletter, links to helpful website, and a ton of other fun information we will be using for learning throughout the year.  Please take note of this web address and make a shortcut on your device as you will be expected to use this page often through the year.

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Unit 1 Newsletter

Welcome Back to School!

The 2017-2018 school year begins Wednesday, August 23! The Advanced Academic classes have much to look forward to this year. I cannot wait to hear all about your summer and to share what books you enjoyed. Advanced academic parent newsletter will be sent out each unit. Units usually last 9 weeks.

5th Grade PEAK

Unit Theme: Influence

Novel Study: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Assignments:

Digital Readers Response (DRR) - Each student receives a digital notebook in Microsoft Power Point that contains all the resources and assignments for the unit. After reading the book during class time, the student will be given one class day to complete the digital readers response in the notebook. Due dates for the DRR vary depending based on the calendar and are subject to change based on the reading pace of the students. Please see calendar and MOOSE for up-to-date due dates.

Across Disciplines - During this unit the students will be studying and completing in class projects that uninitialized not only the area of reading but also math, social studies, and science. We will be exploring ancient burial methods through non-fiction reading of Egyptian Tombs. In addition, we will create global awareness as we look at Dia De Los Muertos and the significance of sugar sculls. Our problem solving and logic skills will be put to use as we tackle an educational based escape room!
Homework:

Nightly reading - Working towards the 40 book challenge. It is suggested to read between 35-45 minutes a each night in order to prepare for the higher level reading required in advanced academic classes. Students are able to either record in the reading journal or digital on their personal form (the QR Code located in their MOOSE).

Vocabulary / Spelling- The vocabulary for this unit is based on words found in the book. Before reading the Chapter, the student receive in class time to discover word meanings and work with the new words. Please review the words meaning and spelling at home as their is a test.

40 Book Challenge Project - Due October 6 Select projects from the grid that total 100 points. Click here for Gird. The projects are assigned on day one of the six weeks and can be worked on anytime during the 6 weeks.

Due Dates:

Vocabulary Journal 1: Chapter 1-3 Due Sept. 1 - Test is Sept. 1

Vocabulary Journal 2: Chapter 4-6 Due Sept. 21 - Test is Sept. 21

Vocabulary Journal 3: Chapter 7-8 Due October 13 - Test is October 13

40 Book Challenge Project Due October 6

4th Grade PEAK

Unit Theme: Influence

Novel Study: Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick

Assignments:

Digital Readers Response (DRR) - Each student receives a digital notebook in Microsoft Power Point that contains all the resources and assignments for the unit. After reading the book during class time, the student will be given one class day to complete the digital readers response in the notebook. Due dates for the DRR vary depending based on the calendar and are subject to change based on the reading pace of the students. Please see calendar and MOOSE for up-to-date due dates.

Across Disciplines - During this unit the students will be studying and completing in class projects that uninitialized not only the area of reading but also math, social studies, and science. Students will explore the science of Hurricanes and the impact devastating storms have on the community. The students will explore math found in nature such as Fibonacci's Rabbit problem and The Golden Mean.
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Nightly reading - Working towards the 40 book challenge. It is suggested to read between 35-45 minutes a each night in order to prepare for the higher level reading required in advanced academic classes. Students are able to either record in the reading journal or digital on their personal form (the QR Code located in their MOOSE).

Vocabulary - The vocabulary for this unit is based on Greek and Latin prefix, suffix and root words. The students receive in class time to discover word meanings and work with the new words. The students are given in class time to work on their vocabulary journals. Any unfinished journal work should be completed at home. Please review the words meanings at home as their is a test.

40 Book Challenge Project - Due October 6 Select projects from the grid that total 100 points. Click here for Gird. The projects are assigned on day one of the six weeks and can be worked on anytime during the 6 weeks.

mework:

Due Dates:

Vocabulary Journal 1.A Due Sept. 7 - Test is Sept. 8

Vocabulary Journal 1.B Due Sept. 21 - Test is Sept. 22

Vocabulary Journal 1.C Due October 5 - Test is October 5

40 Book Challenge Project Due October 6

Vocabulary Journal 1.D Due October 19 - Test is October 20

STEPS - Serving Kindergarten to 3rd Grade

Kindergarten

Identification is in full swing. Students are completing activities in class that bring out gifted tendencies. Letters for permission to test should arrive before January.

Differentiation provided by classroom teachers - All kindergarten teacher are required to have 30 clock hours serving gifted and talented students. The majority of the GT services for this grade are provided by the classroom teacher.

Mrs. Howey visits with a group of high level readers two days a week to provide enrichment.

1st Grade

Identification is in full swing. Students are completing activities in class that bring out gifted tendencies. Letters for permission to test should arrive before January

Introduction of Learn a Dollar - Students complete curriculum enrichment activities that contain different coin amounts to "Learn" (earn) a dollar. The activities link to the learning already done in class. Learn a Dollar can be done in the GT classroom or in the student general education classroom.

Stations activities: Reading to Self, Reading with Teacher, Computer (Research interests/GT Websites), Advanced Skills Station (independent research, creative thinking, Learn -a -Dollar etc.)

Student visit the Advanced Academic Specialist 30 minutes daily Monday - Thursday.

Differentiation provided by classroom teachers - All GT students are place with a teacher who has 30+ hours of training on how to provide services to gifted and talented students. The majority of the GT services for this grade are provided by the classroom teacher.

2nd Grade

Identification is in full swing. Students are completing activities in class that bring out gifted tendencies. Letters for permission to test should arrive before January

Introduction of Learn a Dollar - Students complete curriculum enrichment activities that contain different coin amounts to "Learn" (earn) a dollar. The activities link to the learning already done in class. Learn a Dollar can be done in the GT classroom or in the student general education classroom.

Stations activities: Reading to Self, Reading with Teacher, Computer (I-Station/GT Websites), Advanced Skills Station (independent research, creative thinking, etc.)

Student visit the Advanced Academic Specialist 30 minutes daily Monday - Thursday.

Differentiation provided by classroom teachers - All GT students are place with a teacher who has 30+ hours of training on how to provide services to gifted and talented students. The majority of the GT services for this grade are provided by the classroom teacher.

3rd Grade

STEPS curriculum given in Mrs. Jackson's Reading Classroom

Differentiated Instruction provided by Mrs. Howey in Writing/Science Rotation for 30 minute twice a week.

Differentiation provided by all classroom teachers through rotations. All GT students are place with a teacher who has 30+ hours of training on how to provide services to gifted and talented students. The majority of the GT services for this grade are provided by the classroom teacher.

Advanced students should always strive to achieve advanced levels in their learning. Reading at higher level (SRI 700+) and achieving Level III on STAAR/Benchmarks helps students prepare for the advanced content in the upper grades. Be sure to read every night books on your reading level to grow as a reader.

Important Links

Listed below are the website we often use in class. Students are able to have access at home as well.
Office 365
All HEB student are assigned an Office 365 account. In Advance Academics, we use the account to share files, to collaborate on project, and above all else as out digital portfolio and data folder. Each 4th and 5th grade Advanced Academics, will receive their username and password within the first two weeks of school. This is not a private email account. Parents and teachers have access to the account at any time. Digital Readers Response (DRR) will be shared through this site. If you have questions about how to access student work, please contact Mrs. Howey.

Contact Mrs. Howey

Donna Park Elementary - Mission Statement Excellence based on individuality! HEB ISD Mission Statement for Teachers of Gifted and Talented HEB ISD teachers of gifted elementary students are dedicated to developing reflective, critical thinkers and communicators with a broad focus on intercultural understanding, thus preparing our gifted students for success in the district's competitive International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs.

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Design and share beautiful flyers just like this one! Spread the word with an online flyer. They're easy to make and impossible to mess up :) Try it now Unit 1 Newsletter The 2017-2018 school year begins Wednesday, August 23! The Advanced Academic classes have much to look forward to this year.

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Coming Soon

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Attached is the 4th Grade PEAK Calendar. Please note this is a living document and changes often.  Student have a hard copy of this in their MOOSE.

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Attached is the 5th Grade PEAK Calendar. Please note this is a living document and changes often.  Students have a hard copy of this in their MOOSE.

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If you would like to contact me, you can do so by emailing me directly at: KarenHowey@hebisd.edu calling the school and scheduling a time to speak with me 817.285.3285. If you scan the QR code below, it will populate your phone with my contact information.

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Here is a list of websites we will be using throughout the year:

4th Grade Vocabulary

5th Grade Vocabulary

Digital Readers Response Information

Padlet

Online Student Resources

Home Access Center

Video Parent Handbook for Advanced Academics

Donna Park Homepage

40 Book Challenge Project Choice Board

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Donna Park Elementary has been my home for 9 years! This year looks to be the most exciting thus far.  I am looking forward to teaching my sixth year in Advanced Academics (STEPS and PEAK).  In 2006, I obtained my master degree in education from University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.   In Minnesota, I taught first grade and special education.  My husband Fred and I moved to Texas in August 2007.  During the 2007 - 2008 school year, I became a substitute teacher for the HEB School District.   I was a 4th grade substitute teacher at North Euless Elementary for the first part of the year and a long term substitute teacher in GT/Pre-AP at Shady Brook Elementary for the end of the year.  During the 2008 - 2009 school year, I was the Advanced Academic Specialist for Donna Park Elementary. In December 2013, I recieved a second Masters Degree in Gifted and Talented Education from Hardin Simmons Univeristy.   In 2012, I recieved the Teacher of the Year award from Donna Park Elementary.  In addition, my classroom was named an HEB Demonstration Classroom. I look forward to an exciting year with the students at Donna Park! Please feel free to contact me via e-mail.