DSC High Ability Updates

In the past two years, High Ability (HA) may have looked a bit different. For my older ones, it has not been the same. For those new to HA, you don't even know what to expect!

I wanted to go over several of the basics of what HA will look like this year. My name is Mrs. Koedyker and I am the High Ability Specialist for Duneland. I work primarily with grades K-4, yet occasionally work with the intermediate levels. This is my nineteenth year teaching. I was a classroom teacher for twelve years before taking time off after our son was born. I worked my way back in as a High Ability Aide for two years before taking on my current position. That makes a total of nine years in our High Ability Program. I love what I do!

I'm excited to be working with a full HA team this year! I'm lucky to be working with two amazing teammates again this year. Ms. Losinski will be returning to Yost. Mrs. Marquardt will continue with her Bailly family. I'm super excited to add two new members to our HA team! Mrs. Kline will be working with students at Brummitt. Mrs. Peterson, who may be a familiar face, will be working with Jackson students. Both are great additions to our team. I will continue to work with our students at Liberty.

We will work with your child during their WIN time (What I Need). This is a time set aside for all students in the Duneland elementary level. Different students are pulled out of class while some remain with the classroom teacher. It's a way for each student to have intense instruction in a smaller group environment according to their needs. They are not responsible for what was done while out of class.

We will follow the schedule of Reading/English Language Arts on Mondays and Tuesdays. Math will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays. If your child has been identified for both ELA and math then we will see them on all four days. Friday is a reserved coaching day for me to work with my HA team at Liberty. There are no HA classes on Fridays.

A majority of the work will be done during our thirty minute window. Unfortunately, this didn't work this way for those who did not have an HA team member at your building last year. I'm ecstatic that this year will be different!!!!

We work from a separate curriculum than what students are working on in the classroom. Our standards work around the current grade level and above. We will push their thinking and challenge them whenever possible. Reading/English Language Arts is an exception to the rule for homework. Grade levels doing a novel study will have chapters to read at home. Since we meet on Mondays and Tuesdays, they will have work assigned on a Tuesday that will not be due until the following Monday. Students who come to class having not read will be asked to go back to class to read to catch up. Honestly, many don't want to stop reading and want to go ahead =). Although we are very mindful of their classroom work. That way we can have discussions and do work around what they've already read. Grades are not assigned for HA at the elementary level. Students always do their personal best and work super hard for us!

We use the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE) High Ability Units for our Reading/English Language arts curriculum. Each unit will fall under the study of one concept where all lessons can connect back to it. They are awesome!

For math, we've purchased the Mentoring Young Mathematicians (M2) for first and second grade. Third and fourth grade use Mentoring Mathematical Minds (M3). These are amazing high ability units that students really enjoy learning from. We will also weave in Zaccaro math here and there. The math is presented around a concept, but in a very real world situation. Students can work up the different levels as needed. It doesn't limit them to grade level work which is what our world is all about.

HA at the elementary level is enrichment. Once they start at the intermediate level, they have opportunities to attend higher level classes where grades will count. Often students who are a part of our program at the elementary level do continue in the honors classes, but it for sure is NOT a prerequisite.

• FIRST GRADE: Signs and Symbols: Connections for Making Meaning (no novel study)
• SECOND GRADE: Changes of the Heart
• THIRD GRADE: The Changing Faces of Story
• FOURTH GRADE: Making a Difference

*Our units are designed for a classroom setting, so we tend to jump around in the unit in order to make things fit for us. Some things do not work for our setting since we essentially meet for an hour a week.

• FIRST GRADE: Geometry: Exploring Shape Games
• SECOND GRADE: Geometry: Designing a Shape Gallery
• THIRD GRADE: Awesome Algebra: Looking for Patterns & Generalizations
• FOURTH GRADE; At the Mall with Algebra: Working with Variables and Equations NEW

*We have several units we rotate through to make sure students learn from different concepts. Third grade students will be sad when they learn that they will not be making the Yeti this year. That was last year's unit and this group has already done measurement.

This year, each school will send out weekly blog updates. Last year I did my best to update the district with a general one. You'll find that it becomes much more personal when it comes from the HA Team Member from your school. We will include pictures when we can and give brief updates as to their progress. Remember, we are all following the same HA curriculum during the school year, but it's great to get a little peak into their world while they work in HA.

When there's information that I need to share with all HA parents, I will have my team include it in their school's HA blog or I'll send it out in a S'more Newsletter. You will be working closely with your High Ability Aide during the school year, but I'm always here if anyone has questions!

If your child is out for an extended period of time, we can leave their work in the office. Please communicate that with your HA team member, so they can prepare it. Although there are some lessons done in class that will be difficult to translate at home. No worries if you don't pick it up. We are going to continue with the lessons we've learned on flexibility and do the best we can. We will adjust as needed.

Like last year, students will bring their supply boxes to and from HA class. No need to buy any additional supplies. They will need the basics of a pencil, crayons or colored pencils, scissors and a dry erase marker/eraser. Highlighters are a bonus! Do a check and see if anything needs to be added. Thank you!!!

Liberty Elementary students will begin the week of August 23rd.

My HA Team starts the week of August 23rd with me at Liberty.

All other elementary students will begin the week of August 30th.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FILLED OUT YOUR GOOGLE PERMISSION SLIP. THIS IS NEEDED BEFORE YOUR CHILD MAY PARTICIPATE. LIBERTY FAMILIES, WE START NEXT WEEK!!! THANK YOU =)

• Mrs. Sue Marquardt at Bailly, smarquardt@duneland.k12.in.us
• Mrs. Lacy Kline at Brummitt, lkline@duneland.k12.in.us
• Mrs. Karalee Peterson at Jackson, kapeterson@duneland.k12.in.us (note the ka at the beginning)
• Ms. Amy Losinski at Yost, alosinksi@duneland.k12.in.us

Email: hkoedyker@duneland.k12.in.us
Website: https://lehanews.blogspot.com/
Location: 50-1 West 900 North, Chesterton, IN, USA
Phone: 219-983-3650