Welcome to Mrs. LiCausi’s Class!
This slide show will provide you with a brief overview of the
curriculum and resources used in the Gifted and High-Ability
Program for Norte and Niños. This presentation covers the
domains of Language arts, Math, and Nonverbal services.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may
have.
Thank you for taking the time to become familiar with us!
Weekly Reflection Forms
New This Year!
 Look for these forms to view your child’s behavior status and
learning goals for each day and class period.
 These forms will come home every Friday. Some students keep
them in their binders and take them home daily.
Language Arts
Basic Curricular Goals
Reading (Trade Books, Jr. Great Books, Harcourt)
- Comprehension Skills through discussion & Journal Responses
Vocabulary (Wordsmith & Wordly Wise)
- learning in context and using word cells
Writing (Harcourt, 6-Traits)
- Types, Structures, Purpose, Process, writing to think
Grammar (Harcourt)
- Composing sentences, Elaborating, Conventions
Critical Thinking
- Bloom’s Taxonomy
Advanced Instruction (as appropriate)
Classroom Routines
Grades 4 & 5:
1:00-2:20pm
Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri
Wednesdays – students work in their own classroom on
homework, projects, or classroom activities.
On-going assignments that students can always work on are:
- Reading our class Chapter Book and completing responses
- Wordsmith vocabulary practice activities
- Monthly Book Report Project
Harcourt resources for reading skills, writing, and grammar;
Wordsmith vocabulary program; tests & practice. Trade Books
and Jr. Great Books for reading comprehension. Journal
Responses and class participation.
Grades based on percentages for tests and writing projects;
points for worksheets, projects, and assessments. Grades will
be online through SYNERGY.
Their Language Arts homework and materials should be written
out in their Daily Agenda.
Please check website for projects links and DUE dates!
Curricular Goals in Mathematics
Mathematics Knowledge and Skills
Facts, operations, the number system, properties of operations,
different representations for numbers, pre-algebra, etc…
Mathematical Understanding
We will implement the new Common Core math standards, focus on
making connections between strands, problem solving, and
applying knowledge properly.
Advanced Instruction (as appropriate)
Classroom Routines
Grade 4 & 5:
10-11:30am
Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri.
Scott-Foresman texts, Fosnot Units, Investigations, Hands-On
Equations manipulatives, as well as various materials for problemsolving, concept development and practice.
Grades based on percentages for tests and points for completing
homework, daily practice, and assessments. Math homework is a
small portion of the grade. Grades will be online through SYNERGY.
Monday’s homework will always be a skill practice due
Tuesday.
Tuesday’s homework will always be problem-solving due
Friday.
What Nonverbal is…and isn’t…
Nonverbal giftedness refers to a mode of thinking.
Spatial-Visual thinking, invention, construction, visualizing,
manipulating shapes in space and in imagination, drawing,
designing, engineering, building, etc.
Nonverbal giftedness isn’t a single curricular discipline.
The Kyrene district has decided that helping children develop visualspatial skills can be done in many curricular areas; and it is a
better use of time for nonverbal activities to be integrated into the
curriculum, as opposed to being treated as an independent course
of study.
Nonverbal Services in Kyrene
Nonverbal services in Kyrene are based on consultation
between the gifted teacher and classroom teacher.
A DLP (Differentiated Learning Plan) is created to
document a general course for supplementing a child’s
daily activities to include nonverbal activities, or other
curricular strengths that they have. How, when, and
what a child will be doing may vary in each classroom
depending upon the individual child’s needs, or how
the classroom teacher can integrate it into their
regular activities.
DLPs will be completed for students who do not receive
direct instruction from Mrs. LiCausi. The first DLP will
occur during 1st Quarter.
Nonverbal Resources
Internet Resources;
Mrs. LiCausi’s Classroom Webpage & Kyrene’s Gifted
Webpage for helpful links.
http://sw.kyrene.org/Page/16034
*Nonverbal Monthly Activities
This power point is available for student, parent, and
teacher access to nonverbal activities.