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Friday, May 5, 2017

May 8, 2017

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”
Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and
social growth.”

Attaining Learning Outcomes = Higher Achievement

May 8 - 12th.  Brett will be out - the babies are having surgery.  Please be kind to each other and our students.  
  • Monday:  1st Grade Field Trip to Zoo, Science Night Planning Meeting, 
  • Tuesday:  Show Choir to Douglas.  McTeacher Night at McDonalds, 5 - 8 p.m. PLC Meetings
  • Wednesday:  PreK field trip.  Girls on the Run Community Service Event
  • Thursday:
  • Friday:  PreK field trip

Shout out to Ms. Pearson, Ms. Jackson, and Ms. Leeson..... to date they have PERFECT ATTENDANCE!  

Reminder:  The office is NOT your Time Out Room.  Ms. Lopez, Ms. Tucker, and Ms. Ozoyo are enrolling new kindergarten students and new PreK students.  If a child is sent to the office there should be a referral.  Please refer to your PBIS - is this an office referral or a classroom managed event.







Teacher Appreciate Week.
Shout-out to Ms. Martinez,  Ms. Tucker, Coach Barton and Hospitality, and our PTA teachers Ms. Opheim and Ms. Burmaster  who worked so hard to be sure everyone received a treat during Teacher Appreciation Week - not just the lunches and breakfasts. Please remember to thank them for their hard work - they truly went above and beyond.

Summer School Teachers:  We are looking for summer school teachers for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. You will be working primarily with our Coolidge kids, but there will be students from Prairie Queen, Rancho, Hillcrest, and Fillmore at the site.  The site for summer school will be Prairie Queen Elementary, 6609 S Blackwelder Ave.  Summer School will run from June 5th - June 29th, Monday - Thursday.  The teacher positing will be added to Search Soft next week.  If you are available - this is a good way to work in a smaller group with some of our struggling students.  


How to Help Gifted Students Find a Place in Your Classroom Community


When a gifted kid complains that he doesn’t fit in, our first instinct is often to help the child be like other students. But what if, instead, this child might need to find children who share his interests? How can you help integrate gifted students into your classroom?
Teacher Carolanne asked this same question in our  WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group: “I have a student who is gifted. He doesn’t like to work with other students because he struggles with letting others explore their ideas. I’ve been working with him on this and he is doing a little better,” she writes.
“However, he has no friends. He wants them. He has some other less than desirable habits like picking his nose and eating the boogers and tuning everyone and everything out to read. No one plays with him at recess. I’m really sad for him. Does anyone have books or lessons that might help?”
We asked Dr. Ruth Lyons, Gifted and Talented Expert, to weigh in.

1. Teach the gifted student to be a flexible thinker.

Gifted students often get stuck in their own little worlds. They aren’t meaning to be rude or trying to make others feel inferior, they just aren’t aware. Teaching a student to be a flexible thinker takes time. Give extra warnings when an activity is about to end or there is a transition is about take place.
Also, letting a student know that there will be additional time to finish an unfinished task is helpful. Gifted students can get caught up in the task at hand and be unaware of what is happening.

2. Use bibliotherapy to help the gifted student identify.

Chances are, books are already a major part of a gifted child’s identity. Allow books to be the mentors. Bring in titles that may help them identify with the main character, such as Matilda, Westlandia, and Archibald Frisby.

3. Provide opportunities for this student to be successful in social settings.

Gifted students who struggle with social skills and cues may not have a wide array of success in this area.  Put them in charge of a classroom task you know they will be successful at and offer praise for the social aspect of that leadership role. Students need to experience success before they feel comfortable emulating it on their own.

4. Help the gifted student find his or her tribe.

Gifted students need to have some time in their week where they are surrounded by like minded peers. Start a book group during lunch, a LEGO club after school, or find local extracurriculars that may allow this student to find his or her tribe and experience social success there.
Being with like-minded peers lets a gifted student feel accepted and allows them to build a sense of belonging.

5. Provide visual or verbal cues for the gifted student.

We’ve discussed how the gifted student can get caught up in what they are doing—this means they can often become unaware of unsavory habits like nose-picking, nail biting, or humming.
Speak to the student in private and create an agreed upon motion or word that you can use to bring them back to reality and as a cue that they need to stop what they are doing.

6. Be the hostess with the mostest!

Just as you would at a dinner party or event, introduce like-minded students whom you think would get along, “Billy, meet Tommy. Tommy just went to the zoo over vacation with his family. Tommy, did you know that Billy knows a lot about reptiles? I am sure you two have a lot to share.”

7. Learn more about what it means to be gifted.

When gifted students grow up and reflect on their schooling, a common reflection is that they wish the adults in their life knew more about what being gifted meant. There are an abundant of great resources out there for teachers to grow professionally. Join a webinar with www.nagc.org or www.seng.org, read Raisin’ Brains, or contact your state affiliate group for resources.

8. Be patient.

Gifted students’ intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth are often uneven. Understanding this may help you interact with the student in a different way. Provide positive reinforcement for behaviors you want to continue to see and be sure not to shame a student when they do something not socially acceptable. By incorporating some of the above advice, hopefully over time you will see some positive growth.
 on March 28, 2017  We Are Teachers

To Develop Every Child Into a Reader:
  • Everyday a child reads something they choose to read.
  • Every child reads accurately
  • Every child reads something they understand.
  • Every child writes something that is personal and meaningful daily.
  • Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
  • Every child hears an adult reader read fluently.
Coolidge Elementary Academic Goals for 2016-2017
  • All Students WILL achieve academically.
  • Reading:  Increase reading proficiency by at least one grade level.
  • Math:  Increase math achievement by 10% with 80% mastery of math facts on grade level.  
  • Writing:  Increase writing proficiency by 15%
  • Student Attendance:  Increase student attendance to 98%.
  • Increase Faculty Attendance to 98%
OKCPS Literacy Standards
          1st Grade
          2nd Grade
          3rd Grade
          4th Grade
          5th Grade
          6th Grade
OKCPS Math Standards
          Pre-K
          Kindergarten
          1st Grade
          2nd Grade
          3rd Grade
          4th Grade
          5th Grade

Melissa Brett | Principal
Coolidge Elementary School | Oklahoma City Public Schools
5212 S. Villa, Oklahoma City, OK 73119
(405) 587-2800
(405) 208-1581 (cell)

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