Updates from AAC - Innovation


Learning Log: What is growth mindset?	Many teachers elect to focus on growth mindset as part of their initial classroom community-building. It is important that students know that ability is not fixed; rather, abilities can be developed through effort and persistence. You can support this mindset at home by embracing the “power of yet” and tweaking your language to praise effort, not achievement. To learn more about growth mindset, this 10′ video is a great starting point.
W&M Saturday Enrichment Program	The Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary is again offering their popular Saturday enrichment program this fall, both virtually and in-person. From anecdotal accounts, SEP is a worthwhile investment of time and money! If interested, please visit this page for more information and registration information.
APS Advanced Academics and Talent Development fall information session	Recording available at this link.
Innovation Advanced Academics fall information session	October 17, 2023 in library or on Teams; presentation available at this link. (Please watch video above before attending!)
Learning Log: Asking probing/open-ended questions	During class, small group interactions are prime opportunities for students to dig more deeply into content. In your home family “small group” environment, you can ask your children open-ended questions about topics being studied. Give your student the opportunity to explain their thinking processes and newly acquired understandings in their own words. Ask probing questions like, “Why?” and “How do you know?” and “What made you choose that strategy?” and “Did this surprise you?” and “What might happen if?” One of these will likely lead to a rich exchange of ideas!
Learning Log: Quarter 1 Differentiation Report	“Differentiation is simply a teacher attending to the learning needs of a particular student or small groups of students, rather than teaching a class as though all individuals in it were basically alike.” – Carol Ann Tomlinson Teachers use many differentiation strategies every day, and the facilitation thereof looks different across classes due to the unique needs of the students in each classroom. Some strategies provide opportunity for choice in product or response, others facilitate open-ended discussion, still others push from understanding to analysis or application, and many utilize flexible grouping during learning stations or workshop activities. We provide a differentiation snapshot at the end of each grading period to showcase our efforts to engage all students in higher-level thinking opportunities. Here is Innovation’s First Quarter Differentiation Report.
Tell Congress: Don’t Eliminate Javits Funding	The Javits grants and gifted education funding may not be supported by our elected officials. If you would like to share your concern, we encourage you to let your representatives know you care about this issue. The National Association for Gifted Children, working with the Council for Exceptional Children, launched an advocacy action campaign for advocates to easily contact their members of Congress and tell them to save Javits funding. Click here to make your voice heard!