At teacher team meetings this month, the focus was differentiating for students with plans that have "a low floor and a high ceiling" so that students can grow successfully without upper limits on learning. Projects that have high expectations and scaffold down for understanding are a successful path of learning for all students. To build upon that form of differentiation, an additional topic of teaching students to go above and beyond by explicitly teaching what that might look like was explored.

Many of our PTP students are curious and driven for success. Going above and beyond gives students creative opportunities to lead and learn at their own level and pace. An example of an assignment that has a low floor and a high ceiling that also asks kids to go above and beyond is the first grade "Donut Shop" project. First grade PTP students have been laughing and learning as they try their best to "get the kids to the donut shop." Simple machines, acceleration, trial and error, persistence, feedback, reflection and a willingness to change our thinking are key elements of this science themed activity. Once the desired result of getting the kids to the donut shop was met, the next expectation of "form and function" asked students to think about not just the engineering of the ramp they built, but also the beauty of the structure. As expected, these students never gave up reaching for these goals!

Developing a student who reaches their potential involves dynamic and organic methods. Teaching students to take on challenges, work hard, and confront deficiencies and correct them are lessons to build on for a lifetime. It's a pleasure watching, responding, and teaching in this way with these precious little humans.

Congratulations to these second grade Noetic Math Winners! Our second grade team had one team winner who also scored in the top 10 percent in the nation. Rex Booth

This team had 16 Honorable Mentions. This score is within the top 50 percent in the nation. They are: Emily Horner, Henry Bloemer, Tally Ferguson, Will Hart, Sulley Davey, Adaline Arnold, Ada Ballou, Penny Fryer, John King, Riya Shah, Ellie Grote, Lex Godshall, Inigo Roble, Henry Kaiser, Audie Dunn, and Carys Hildebrant. Team score: 465.

Congratulations to these third grade Noetic Math Winners! Our third grade team had one team winner who scored in the top 10 percent in the nation: Joel Brinkman. This team had four other National Honor Roll winners: Sam Lusk, John Davis, Avery Orocio, and Barrett Schulz. This team had 18 Honorable Mentions. This score is within the top 50 percent in the nation. They are: Nick Nirujogi, Delaney Fields, Liam Raybuck, Dino Lucarelli, Luca Martinez, Conner Pleiman, Elijah Roland, Sara Warner, Amelia Houston, Cameron Johnson, Lucas Brannon, Parker Danks, Josie McAfee, Lily Schroder, Jasper Bunte, Audra Pohlgeers, and Maggie Yelton. Team score: 450.

ExploreMore! has been serving the tri-state area for over 20 years. This program was created to meet the needs of students who love to learn and wish to go beyond what is taught in the classroom. ExploreMore! courses are for students from K-12th grade. We offer courses that are of high interest to our students in the areas of science, mathematics, writing, visual and performing arts, and technology that offer a learning culture where like-minded students come together to share their passion.

Summer Course Offerings include:

• Animal Adaptations

• Lego Engineering

• Shake It Off

• Dino-Mite!

• Oil and Acrylic Paint-Landscapes

• Slimy Science

• Lego Engineering

• Calling All Superheroes!

• Intro to Robotics

• Escape Room

• Chemical Candy

• Intro to Robotics

• Artifacts and Archaeology

• Matter Mysteries

• Witty Wordplay with Storytelling

Sign up before June 15.

During the break, students can go to gregtangmath.com to complete the activities on the attached game board. The additional game boards are on the site listed below.

This is an enrichment activity. Students who can’t participate will not be penalized in any way. Students who complete the challenge can earn a certificate and a chance to win a personalized signed copy of one of Greg Tang’s books.

It is fine for students to get help from you or someone else if they need it. They can also move to a harder or easier level of the game to make things more or less challenging.

After your child completes a game board, be sure to enter them for a chance to win a prize.

We have plans to add interactive game boards that will guide your children through games that will help them the most. Be on the lookout for the interactive game boards coming this summer!

http://TangMath.com/summer

Challenge Math is designed to hone young students' mathematical problem-solving skills and logical reasoning skills.

Challenge Math gives out challenging word problem assignments weekly. Problems are non-routine problem-solving questions that are adapted to many math competitions, including the Noetic Learning Math Contest.

Challenge Math is primarily designed for gifted elementary students. This unique program

• provides challenge beyond regular school curriculum,

• strengthens creative problem solving, and logical reasoning skills,

• further develops gifted students' intellect in math, and

• helps students excel in national math competitions.

• Detailed step-by-step instructions and solutions are provided for all assignments.

Problem Solving Strategies Covered

Model with Diagrams | Draw a Picture | Make an Organized List | Find a Pattern | Logical Reasoning | Work Backwards | Guess and Check | Solve a Simpler Problem

Topics Covered

Numbers and Operations | Geometry and Measurement |Probability and Statistics |Data and Analysis | Algebraic Thinking

(For students going into grades 3-7)

Save 20% by registering before June 1 with this offer code: THNKPWR22

Explore. Grow. Relax. Enjoy.

We'll see you in the new school year!