Gifted Symposium in Napa County, Sat 11/2

Posted on August 29, 2013 by MVGate

Last year MVGATE sponsored four MVSD teachers to attend the Northern California Symposium from the California Association for the Gifted. They came back filled with new ideas and practices to help our kids.

This year with your help we’re offering ten grants.

The symposium is not just for teachers — you can go, too. It’s only 40 minutes away, on a Saturday.

Now is a time of great change: The new Common Core State Standards will hit the classroom this year. And our district has identified in-class differentiation as one of its strategic objectives.

Learn the latest thinking about GATE and serving the needs of our most advanced learners. Or support MVGATE so we can send teachers.

2013 Northern California Symposium from the California Association for the Gifted
Sat Nov 2, 2013, 8:15am-4:30pm
American Canyon High School, 3000 Newell Drive, American Canyon, CA [map]

Posted in in-class, in-school, meetings, parent-education | Tagged grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8, grade K | Leave a comment

Mini Maker Faire in Greenbrae 9/14

Posted on August 25, 2013 by MVGate

This looks cool:

Greenbrae Mini Maker Faire (Sat Sep 14) will be Marin’s largest “Do-It-Yourself” festival, showcasing local makers with activities, show-and-tell, and exhibits on arts, crafts, science, robotics, music, technology, sustainability, education, food, and creativity. Continue reading →

Posted in out-of-school, science, tech | Tagged grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8, grade K | Leave a comment

Dan Peters has a blog

Posted on July 31, 2013 by MVGate

Dan Peters, founder & director of the Summit Center gifted consultancy, has a blog offering interactive advice on parenting and gifted education. Continue reading →

Posted in parent-education | Tagged grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8, grade K | Leave a comment

Summer Odyssey and Beyond

Posted on July 12, 2013 by MVGate

SODU Year-Round Odyssey

Greetings to our members & friends & neighbors starting Summer Odyssey at Dominican University.

We love that program. For two weeks each summer, it’s ground zero for GATE in Marin…

But what do GATE kids do the other fifty weeks of the year?

New for 2013:

Super Saturdays at Dominican University, starting November 16
Marin GATE Parents’ Summit
Community-Initiated Enrichment Events
and more! Continue reading →

Posted in admin, meetings, out-of-school, survey | Tagged grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8, grade K | Leave a comment

NYT: Grouping students by ability regains favor in classroom

Posted on July 10, 2013 by MVGate

The New York Times reports that Grouping Students by Ability Regains Favor in Classroom. Summary:

After falling out of favor in the 1990s, ability grouping has re-emerged in classrooms all over the country. Of 4th grade teachers nationwide, 71% grouped students by reading ability in 2009, up from 28% in 1998. In math, 61% grouped in 2011, up from 40% in 1996. (see graph)
Teachers and principals who use grouping say it has become indispensable, helping them cope with widely varying levels of ability and achievement. Done judiciously and flexibly, they say, grouping can help all students.
A 4th grade teacher in NH and her principal describe “dynamic grouping,” in which she begins each unit with an initial assessment, forms three or four groups of kids, then revises the groups frequently and flexibly as they proceed.

Continue reading →

Posted in in-class, in-school, survey, tech/comm/research | Tagged grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8 | Leave a comment

Pizza and Pages Middle School Book Club (7/16)

Posted on July 5, 2013 by MVGate

Pizza and Pages Middle School Book Club
Grades 6-8 – Advance registration required
Tuesday July 16, 2013 from 6:30-7:30pm
Mill Valley Public Library, 375 Throckmorton Avenue

The next meeting of the mighty “Pizza and Pages Book Club” will be Tuesday July 16, 2013. Read “Tangerine” by Edward Bloor and then join your fellow readers for a lively discussion over pizza and dessert.

You can borrow Tangerine from the library (of course) or buy a copy from The Depot or Amazon.

UPDATE: Last night’s club tied our attendance record: sixteen middle schoolers, boys and girls, came on a summer evening to enjoy each others’ insights. We’re pleased to welcome new faces, too, as incoming middle-schoolers joined in the fun. Congratulations to MVGATE parent instigators Bruce Berrol and Elizabeth Leane, and to our fine Mill Valley Public Library. Mark your calendar for the next Book Club: Tue Oct 15, 6:30-7:30, when we’ll read and discuss “Ship Breaker” by Paolo Bacigalupi.

Posted in arts, english, out-of-school, parent-initiated | Tagged grade 6, grade 7, grade 8 | Leave a comment

Differentiating the Common Core

Posted on June 30, 2013 by MVGate

The Mill Valley School District views the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as the new framework for doing in-class differentiation. (We assume the Kentfield and Reed districts, with which MVSD is collaborating to roll out CCSS, feel the same.)

The NAGC has come out with guidelines on how to differentiate within CCSS. We encourage all GATE parents to become familiar with these suggested best practices, to seek them out, and to promote their use within our schools. Here’s a summary from Gifted Child Today:

Continue reading →

Posted in english, in-class, in-school, math | Tagged grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8, grade K | Leave a comment

Build Your Own Computer

Posted on May 9, 2013 by MVGate

An in-house workshop developed by MVGATE parents. Build your own Linux computer on the Raspberry Pi platform from Cambridge University. It’s yours to keep for your future projects. Learn to administer your computer and to program in Scratch and Python. Time permitting, we may pursue programming topics such as softbots and search engines. For elementary and middle-school kids (maybe parents, too).

SESSION ONE
For kids entering grades 6-9
June 17-21, from 10:00-2:00
At San Domenico School in San Anselmo
Registration & info here

SESSION TWO
To be announced – watch this space

Day One of Hacker's Camp: the computers are done, now the campers program animated games

Day One: the computers are done, now the campers program animated games

Posted in math, out-of-school, parent-initiated, science, tech | Tagged grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8 | Leave a comment

Marine Science Sailing Adventure on SF Bay returns 6/1!

Posted on May 5, 2013 by MVGate

REGISTER HERE

The Marine Science Sailing Adventure on SF Bay last November was a terrific time, full of science and ecology and seamanship, and an opportunity to make new friends and welcome new kids to MVGATE. Our sold-out cruise was a magnificent day for kids and parents alike. The science & sailing adventure returns Saturday June 1!
Continue reading →