NC Gifted Learning in Action 

August 2025 Update
-SPARK is going on in full force for grades 2-5 &  SAGE 6th ELA is rolling forward, crushing it as the quarter moves on too!  You can ask your child what they are doing in SPARK/SAGE ELA or check the grade level pages here for more detailed information about what we do during our time together.    See above for our  NC Gifted Learning in Action - August 25 video  for a sneak peek at all we did this month!  
-Fall Gifted Testing and Walk Up Math Testing at NC is now complete!  We added a few new students to SPARK, a few new gifted identificaton areas for some kiddos, and some new math walk up eligibilities based on this testing.
-1st Grade NGAT (Naglieri) Gifted Testing will happen for ALL 1st Graders  unless their  families opt out.  That testing takes place in November  with families getting information from classroom teachers in October about how to "opt out" if you'd prefer children not take part.
-2nd Grade CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) Gifted Testing will happen for ALL 2nd Graders unless their families opt out.   That testing typically takes place in January with families having a chance to opt out of this testing in December.  More information will come from your classroom teachers as we get closer to those dates.
-If you aren't taking advantage of our DVUSD Gifted Parent Seminars, please check them out.  They are free and offer a great opportunity to meet with other gifted families and talk about topics that you may all have in common as families of gifted learners.   I put info about them on our @norterracanyon_gifted instagram account as it becomes available.  The next date will be September 18th, but the speaker has not yet been announced.   

❤️🏴‍☠️Thank you to the following Pirate Families for helping with our SPARK Wishlist🏴‍☠️❤️
The Savone Family (they have us set on clorox wipes and tissues now)🎉
The Kumpf Family (magnet making materials now ready to go)🎉
The Craft Family for desk basket pencil sharpeners, staplers, and stickers (kids love and use all of it!)🎉
The Doudna Family for a brand new class pencil sharpener, desk sharpener, mini stapler and colorful grading pens
The Armstrong Family for a tiny sharpener, staples and stickers
  Click here to see my Amazon Wishlist

July 2025 Update

When will SPARK begin this year?   Grade levels have asked for different start dates as they all want to work to build community in their own classrooms and they also have  several required assessments that must be given at the start of the school year.   So 4th, 5th and 6th will begin SPARK and SAGE on August 4th, while 1st and 2nd Grade will begin on August 18th, and 3rd grade will begin on August 11th.  

Curious about the curriculum we use in SPARK and SAGE ELA.... We use DVUSD Board adopted supplemental gifted curriculum in SPARK.  That includes:  Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprhension Program, Junior Great Books, Wordly Wise for high level, systematic vocabulary instruction, Study Sync and No Red Ink (6th SAGE ELA) , GreatBooks Roundtable, CommonLit, Think Law, College of William and Mary Center for Gifted Education Reading Curriculum and associated novel studies.  I also use breakoutedu.com for collaborative and independent problem solving and critical thinking .   Additionally we use the Dimensions of Depth and Complexity and Habits of Mind in all we do in Gifted.    

As a reminder, SPARK is a non-graded time for enrichment for the kids.  They will not miss grade level content to attend SPARK.  We have it all planned so that the kids who need to stretch and grow in gifted ways can work with me, while students who may need more time in small groups for additional support and intervention can be with their teacher during this same time.   New to us this year is 6th Grade SAGE ELA, that is a content replacement course for students who are eligible to take part.  In that class, I am the teacher of record and will give all reading and writing instruction, assessments and grades as I will have those kids for 90 minutes of their school day.  Again, they come to me when others are doing 6th Grade ELA with Mrs. Sears, so they are not missing any content. 

All about Mrs. Olson:  

Dear Pirates & Families,

Hard to believe this will be my 23nd year of teaching in Arizona and my 31st year as a certified teacher.  

I am so appreciative of the phenomenal support of our students, their families, and our entire staff here at NC for the last seven years. I worked at Paseo Hills as their Gifted Specialist for 3 years before coming here and in Cave Creek Unified School district as a Gifted Cluster Teacher in both 2nd and 5th Grade for 12 years before that.  I also get to work with our gifted cluster/advanced ELA teaching team to make sure they all have opportunities to expand their knowledge and use of gifted strategies, which actually can benefit ALL learners. 

In 2009, I successfully achieved my National Board Certification as an Early/Middle Childhood Specialist in Literacy. In 2018, I successfully renewed my NBCT certification, going through the process of self reflection of my teaching practices once again!  Since I believe we should never stop learning, I’ve also earned endorsements as a reading specialist, an early childhood specialist, and as a Structured English Immersion specialist. I'm also certified as highly qualified to teach middle school ELA. 

In coming to teach in DVUSD, I feel I've come home, as I attended Park Meadows, Deer Valley & Desert Sky Jr. High, and Deer Valley High School. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Arizona and worked in the world of technology for several years. I later returned to school to earn my Post-Baccalaureate in Elementary Education from Arizona State University.

Outside of school, I have much to keep me busy! I love the outdoors, so most weekends find me hiking or kayaking. I’m also an avid reader and gardener.  My husband and I are the proud parents of two pretty incredible sons and an amazing daughter-in-law.  My oldest graduated from the University of Arizona in 2016, while my youngest graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2019.  

Families are always so kind and generous in support of me and our SPARK/SAGE program at Norterra Canyon and I'm forever thankful for that support. 

Mrs. Dawn Olson