Girls vs Boys? October 26, 2007
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NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COALITIONS
News Brief #4106 Category: Studies and Reports
TITLE: “Parents Count in Mathematics and Science”
According to a study entitled “I Can, But I Don’t Want To: The Impact of Parents, Interests, and Activities on Gender Differences in Math,” parental involvement and encouragement plays a significant role in a child’s confidence and interest in mathematics and science. In particular, the study shows that parents buy more mathematics- and science-related items for their sons than for their daughters, a behavior which reinforces the gender stereotype that males are more talented than females in those subject areas. This further reinforces the overall trend of girls losing interest in mathematics and science as they progress from elementary to high school and the resulting lack of women pursuing those academic and career fields.
The study, a joint project between Pennsylvania State University and the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, is available at http://www.rcgd.isr.umich.edu/garp/articles/jacobs05.pdf.
SOURCE: Education Week, 23 October 2007
WEBSITE: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/10/24/09dads.h27.html (registration required)
December SATs October 25, 2007
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Please note that if your 7th or 8th grader is planning to take the SAT exam at DHS on Dec. 3 we will NOT be able to proctor a room just for middle school students as previously thought. However, we have been assured that every year there are middle schoolers who take the exam alongside high school students with no problems. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Reading Resource you can Access online October 23, 2007
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Are you familiar with MARVEL? Some of your children may have been introduced to MARVEL through a librarian, classroom teacher or Chapter 104 consultant. This site is a great resource for finding new books to read and for searching more books by a favorite author or on a certain topic. We’re always happy to recommend a book or provide your with a booklist, but sometimes that may not be convenient or you may want to read some reviews before you buy or make a trip to the library.
This is how to access MARVEL:
Go to your school’s website. If you’re not sure how to find it, go to www.portlandschools.org and click the SCHOOLS link on the left. It will take you to a page that provides the latest school link (look near the apple icon).
Click the school link, then find the Library link. It will probably be on the left also. At the library link, click on MARVEL.
For novels, go to ‘N’. Older, middle school students might use the regular Novel link while elementary and young middle school students can use the Novel link for younger people.
If you use MARVEL, feel free to comment and provide some feedback on whether you find it useful, informative, accurate, and user friendly.
Thanks for Joining Us! October 23, 2007
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We all enjoyed meeting and reconnecting with you at Parent Nights last week.
Sincerely,
The Chapter 104 staff
NECGT Conference October 15, 2007
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On Thursday and Friday 4 members of the 104 staff particpated in the New England Conference on Gifted and Talented Education at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. Teachers, administrators and consultants from all over New England gathered for a series of speakers and sessions addressing a wide variety of topics and curriculum. Presenters included Sally Reis, Department Head of the Educational Psychology Department at UCONN who spoke about the development of curiousity, engagement, joyful learning and creative behaviors gifted edcuation should foster. A Maine educator, Lee Worcester, Director of Gifted and Talented and Title I in Bangor’s public schools, led an impressive session on Best and Promising Practices in Gifted Education. She advocated for talent searches, such as Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University, as a means of identification and a door to opportunities for gifted students.
Brian Housand. a researcher and writer from the NEAG Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development and an instructor at UCONN introduced Google Earth as a resource for social studies as well as other academic subjects and a way to stimulate learning with technology.
Leslie Ross, Carol Hager, Denise Sucher and Robin Payton all attended the two day conference and return to classes newly inspired this week.
