Jackson, Cochran, Hepburn-Lycoming, Sheridan, Stevens, Round Hills

June 2008Volume 12, Issue 2 The Gifted

Qualities of Effective Future Leaders What skills should be taught to tomorrow’s leaders? The answer was given by guest speaker, Anthony LeStori, at the 2008 PAGE Conference. According to LeStori, there are four areas we need to educate, not only gifted learners, but “high potentials” in our schools.

The first area to educate our students in is content. Our classrooms are focused in the teaching of different content such as math, reading, writing, science, social studies, etc. The PSSA measures the content that has been learned by students. We have many supports in place to academically advance students to at least the “proficient” levels that are required by our state of Pennsylvania.

The second area, where our classrooms are lacking, is process. Process is the explicit teaching and modeling of creative and critical thinking to generate new ideas and to problem solve. Due to the focus on the “content”, “process” has not been a focus in classrooms. Teaching children how to think takes time. Time teachers do not have in the age of “teaching to a test.” The explicit teaching of creativity, analytical reasoning, organizational, and critical thinking skills is imperative for a child to develop into a great leader that deals well with problem solving. The long term problem solving of Odyssey of the Mind, stresses the thinking process the students go through to get to an end result that works.

The third area is in the development of interpersonal skills. Awarness of how others think in relation to ourselves can be a struggle. Interpersonal relationships can become complicated if awarness is not specifically taught. The study of concepts like Edward DeBono’s, Six Thinking Hats, dives into the brain research and concretely shows students how to deal with other peoples’ ideas that are different then their own.

Finally, the fourth area is integrity. Teaching our students to be authentic is a challenge in this day and age where perfectionism is being rewarded. Failure, is no longer accepted. We show this by forcing students to be successful at all costs. Integrity is a learned behavior that develops when students try something, fail, and persevere. Only after that, can students begin to build character.

It is the goal of the Gifted Support staff to help teachers differentiate for “high potentials” in their mixed ability classrooms for the 2008-09 school year. Creating leaders of the future involves much more than simply teaching content to our students.

Visit us at our Web Sites at www.wasd.org

Gifted EducationRick Coulter Gifted Supervisorrcoulter@wasd.org570-327-5500Ext. 3517Ext. 3518

Kim CassidyPrimary Gifted Supportkcassidy@wasd.org

Tricia BowerIntermediate Gifted Supportpabower@wasd.org

Mrs. Cassidy’s students were introduced to the Independent Investigation Method by researching the historic Park Place Building together.

On Tuesday, March 28th students had the opportunity to visit the local landmark and gather information first hand. Architect and co-owner, Tony Visco, began the tour on the back porch, which students learned most people think of as the front porch. The building’s front actually faced the railroad station. They were then led inside to see the Herdic Dining Room, the original marble floors, the main entrance and upstairs to Mr. Visco’s offices.

The day continued with a tour of the building’s exterior by local historian and author, Thad Meckley. Students learned many attributes of the Italianate style of architecture.

The Independent Investigation Method encourages researchers to go beyond the norm of using books and the Internet as resources. It suggests that fieldtrips, interviews with experts, and original sources be utilized.

The students worked hard on their final projects and are excited to display them at the gifted Open House on May 28, 2008.

Visiting the Park Home

Odyssey of the Mind teams for 2009 can now begin to form. Parents must work together to make this happen in their school buildings. Please see your building principal or go to www.odysseyofthemind.com for more information.

To begin a team of your own, you must find at least 1 or 2 adults willing to coach the team. There are a maximum of 7 children that can be on a team. The age of the oldest team member determines the Division of competition. Choose your team based on the following: a willingness to participate, differences in strengths and abilities, creativity, and getting along with others. Students do not have to be in the gifted program to participate.

When your team is formed, contact your school principal and they will contact Tricia Bower at pabower@wasd.org so that WASD can pay the school and registration fees. It is important that once the team is formed they see it through to competition because there are no refunds of the money paid by the Williamsport Area School District. There is a discount given if teams form and notify the district through Tricia Bower before July 1, 2008.

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Duct Tape Inventions Do you know that a division of the Johnson and Johnson Company invented duct

tape? The same company that makes the “band-aid”. During World War II, the military was looking for a strong adhesive to be used during combat. It had to tear easily, without scissors, and be waterproof. Green “Military tape” was invented and used to fix ammunition boxes, jeeps and guns. The fighter planes had this military tape put on the ends of the guns on the wings to help with take off and to see if the gun was working. Later, housing exploded in the US and ductwork was being installed in basements for the heating and cooling systems. Piggy backing off the idea of military tape silver duct tape was invented. There are 3 layers to duct tape, the adhesive, the cotton weaving and the waterproof covering. Many companies manufacture different colors of duct tape today.

In the month of May, during gifted classes, students were given a roll of duct tape. They were instructed on how to make 4 different folds, a sheet, a strip, a pocket and a loop. After learning the “basics” about using duct tape and a bit about the history of duct tape, students were given the challenge of creating their own useful invention using only duct tape. Innovation, creativity, and critical thinking skills had to come together to make the invention a success. Not to mention each invention is 100% waterproof! Below you will see a water bottle holder, a door sign, hula skirt and purses from the 5th grade group at Sheridan Elementary School.

Architecture, the Brain, and Edward DeBono’s Six Thinking Hats

Have you ever rearranged the furniture in your room? Tried to open a window that had been sealed because of climate control? Create a sign for a lost pet? Opened the wrong side of a milk carton? Build a tree house, a sand castle, or a house of blocks? Felt great when something was so easy to assemble that you didn’t need the instructions. Complained to a product manufacturer? Tried to open a door by pushing when you should have pulled? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are aware that design is a result of a series of choices. As a consumer, you play a critical role in the design process. Every purchase you make influences what is manufactured in the future. Design has an impact on you and you can have an impact on design. Studying architecture is not just about building but about learning to make choices.

Your brain has been custom-made for you. It’s an original. One of a kind. And it came fully equipped with everything you’ll ever need and then some! But one thing it didn’t come with is an instruction manual. So it’s up to you to figure out how to use your brain, how to make the most of it, and how to get it to do what you want it to do. Next year we will look at the brain more closely.

Finally, after studying the brain, we will go into training with exercising it and learn how to think. Edward DeBono’s Six Thinking Hats will teach students to see “thinking” as a skill just like math, science, and reading. A skill that can be taught directly. Studying the Six Thinking Hats is a simple and effective way to become a better thinker. Edward DeBono separates thinking into six distinct modes, identified with six colored “thinking hats”. “Putting on” a hat focuses thinking; “switching” hats redirects thinking. With the different parts of the thinking process clearly defined, discussions can be bettered focused and more productive.

* White Hat : Just The Facts* Black Hat : The Down Side,* Yellow Hat: The Up Side* Green Hat : Innovative Ideas* Red Hat : Gut Feelings, emotion* Blue Hat : Meta Thinking

2008-09 Focus in the Gifted Support Classes

Reccomended Summer Reading for

administrators, teachers, and

parents:

Out of Our Minds By Ken Robinson

A Whole New Mind By Daniel Pink

Six Thinking HatsBy Edward De Bono

Odyssey of the Mind teams are now

forming for the fall!School Principals let Tricia Bower know by

July 1, 2008 if you want your school

registered.