Laree+Smith

//Laree Smith Mead Elementary School Gifted and Talented District GT Coach//


 * __PROJECT PROPOSAL

Essential Question:__** In what way can I inform and educate parents, along with fellow educators, more about Mead Elementary's GT program, as well as engage students in a blogging site with other enirchment and gifted students in the district. __**History:**__ Since becoming a gifted educator, I have always wanted to create a web page for parents. Early on in teaching gifted classes, I never really thought about using technology for project based learning. Attending the technology fair and seeing what some of my own students were doing, I knew I had to get moving in the area of technology. I also have been watching my own eight and eleven year old daughters in the world of technology and of course, want to know what they are doing and wanting to do. I am married to a systems technician who has helped me in many ways, yet gets extremely frustrated with me at times. He's a great teacher, but I'm certainly not his brightest student in the area of technology. WIth this website idea on my mind, I was pushed further along after Student Services was audited by the state a few years ago. The state department audit concluded that the gifted department needed to do the following: work to identify more bilingual and underprivileged students and develop ALP's for elementary and middle school students ( this year we add high school) As a department we also needed to build parent communication, educating parents about gifted children. This stuck with me, remembering I wanted to create a website. Cyber Camp was the place for me!

__**Description of Project :**__ My project is a GT site that will inform parents, as well as being interactive for students. This site will include the following: NAGC - National Assocation of the Gifted Child CAGT - Colorado Association of the Gifted and Talented SENG - Supporting the Needs of the Gifted
 * District GT events including permission forms and descriptions
 * St. Vrain Valley's ALP form for parents to view and become familiar with
 * Links to national associations in which parents can further educate themselves
 * Parent and Teacher Links to websites for students
 * Student blogs based around district events and book talks

__**Technology Goals**__: This summer I discovered that I would be getting 5 computers and drops in my "space". This will allow me to have students use what I have created on the virtual campus. I need to do much more planning, being thoughtful about what I am having students do and learn. My principal is also purchasing as least two smart carts, so I am anxious to use this in my teaching as well. I am looking forward to working together with some of my colleagues at Mead in the area of technology. Since my principal was also in Cyber Camp, she is certainly already planning for this coming year. There are many exciting things yet to come.


 * __Completed Tasks:__**
 * Creating a blog through Cyber Camp
 * Creating a delicious account
 * The beginning of my Virtual Campus website, including several items from my Project Description, as mentioned above.
 * Finding familiarity with Atomic Learning
 * Understand more about podcasts


 * __Future Tasks:__**
 * Continue work on my Virtual Campus site.
 * Adding to my delicious account
 * Continue to blog on the site throughout the summer and school year
 * Use DTS services for my own learning and pass knowledge onto students
 * Use Atomic Learning to increase my understanding
 * Create podcasts with my students

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