Volume 26 Issue 5 03 Mar 2017 5 Adar 5777

Primary Gifted and Talented

Colleen Elkins – Gifted & Talented Co-ordinator

Emanuel teachers are highly trained in differentiation and are adept at applying this practice within their classrooms.

On top of this, we are very fortunate to have a number of staff members who are qualified in Gifted Education. This allows for us to plan and implement rich extension learning experiences for students who fall into this category in all classes from Years K-6.

These extension lessons have begun in most classes in English and Mathematics. Whether a withdrawal group is taken out of the classroom, or small group work is conducted within the classroom, depends on the nature of the learning.

Continuous communication around planning and student progress takes place between specialised teachers and classroom teachers. Goal-setting for individual students is also an important part of this.

We have many extra-curricular activities that lend themselves to students who enjoy intellectual pursuits such as debating, chess, music, coding and robotics and I would encourage your child involved in one of these.

Watch this space for more information about our MakerSpace which is STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) and should be introduced to students in Term 2.

Also coming up are auditions for the Da Vinci Decathlon. We will enter one Year 5 and one Year 6 team, with eight students in each. Students should listen out for announcements about this. This event will take place at Knox Grammar School on 27 May.

Please let us know if you feel there is a niche within the extra-curricular program that could be filled. We would love to consider any new ideas – keeping in mind that when I asked a Year 6 student what club he would like to have at school that does not exist, he responded with: ” Sleeping Club.” 

In the meantime, here is some information about a writing competition for those budding writers in Year 5 and 6.

www.whitlam.org/the_program/what_matters_writing_competition/what_matters_2017

Please be in touch should you have any questions.

Colleen Elkins, Gifted and Talented Teacher

celkins@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au