Family Programs (K-2)
Gifted LearningLinks (GLL) for families with children in kindergarten through grade 2 offers classes with enriching and engaging activities designed for families to learn together. Families should plan to engage in core activities and then select from a variety of supplemental and/or extension activities. There will be online discussion, providing a chance for participants to share their accomplishments with others in the group each week.
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Program Specifics
Classes begin four times a year and are thematically based. Families may enroll in any or all sessions. All sessions are nine weeks in length, which includes the orientation to online learning. Every effort is made to schedule "real time" class sessions around busy schedules. These sessions are recorded and available for later viewing by all class members, regardless of whether they attended or not.
Most communication between instructors and families is email-based. This includes coordinating activities, leading discussion board activities and providing feedback as needed. Instructors are also available during the week at pre-specified office hours or by phone to help students and families.
Families should expect to spend two to five hours per week working on class activities. This time frame will vary, depending on the number and type of activities the participants choose to complete. To gain the most from the course, families should try to complete the core activities prior to the scheduled online discussion that is facilitated by the instructor.
Parents will be given access to an online discussion board on which they can pose and respond to questions from others. They are encouraged to use this medium to create a network with others. Parents are also encouraged to participate in the "real time" class sessions through text-based chats or audio discussions (if a computer microphone and speakers are available in their home).
The course site and all of its tools are available to families throughout the duration of the course.
Technical Recommendations:
Gifted LearningLinks (GLL) for families with children in kindergarten through grade 2 offers classes with enriching and engaging activities designed for families to learn together. Families should plan to engage in core activities and then select from a variety of supplemental and/or extension activities. There will be online discussion, providing a chance for participants to share their accomplishments with others in the group each week.
| Program Model | Grade Levels | Session | Theme | Application Deadline | Start Date | End Date | Time Committment |
| Flexible Cohort | K-2 | Fall | In My Own Words | September 1 | September 15 | November 17 | 2-5 hours per week |
| Winter | Kid Chemists: It's Not Magic; It's Chemistry | January 1 | January 15 | March 19 | |||
| Spring | Mad About Math: Shapes, Space & Measures | March 15 | April 1 | June 3 | |||
| Summer | Music in Our World & In My Own Words |
June 1 | June 15 | August 17 |
Program Specifics
Classes begin four times a year and are thematically based. Families may enroll in any or all sessions. All sessions are nine weeks in length, which includes the orientation to online learning. Every effort is made to schedule "real time" class sessions around busy schedules. These sessions are recorded and available for later viewing by all class members, regardless of whether they attended or not.
Most communication between instructors and families is email-based. This includes coordinating activities, leading discussion board activities and providing feedback as needed. Instructors are also available during the week at pre-specified office hours or by phone to help students and families.
Families should expect to spend two to five hours per week working on class activities. This time frame will vary, depending on the number and type of activities the participants choose to complete. To gain the most from the course, families should try to complete the core activities prior to the scheduled online discussion that is facilitated by the instructor.
Parents will be given access to an online discussion board on which they can pose and respond to questions from others. They are encouraged to use this medium to create a network with others. Parents are also encouraged to participate in the "real time" class sessions through text-based chats or audio discussions (if a computer microphone and speakers are available in their home).
The course site and all of its tools are available to families throughout the duration of the course.
Technical Recommendations:
- A properly-maintained computer with broadband Internet access
- A recent-version of Mozilla Firefox (that is Java- and cookie-enabled and does not block pop-up windows)
- A stable email account
- Highly recommended: A computer microphone or headset to allow for audio-based discussions during the "real time" class sessions
- Optional: A digital camera or scanner will be helpful to enable families to share their processes and projects with others on the class site and during the weekly virtual meetings.
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In My Own Words (Fall & Summer) Area of Interest: English & Writing Do you have a blossoming author on your hands? Nurture the novice and experienced writer/s in your family with engaging activities. Journal writing and drawing are used to generate ideas, develop a voice and learn how to communicate on the page. Participants build writing confidence while exploring interactive web sites and playing vocabulary-building games with the family. Weekly reading and discussion of an award-winning children's book help encourage children's personal responses to stories. Families read and write various genres, such as mysteries, fairy tales and fantasy adventure. Note: Students are not required to be able to write. |
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Kid Chemists: It's Not Magic; It's Chemistry (Winter) Area of Interest: Science Turn your kitchen into a chemistry lab with this engaging course in which families explore the composition of matter and its states of being - solid, liquid and gas. Hands-on, age-appropriate experiments add an 'element' of excitement to this investigation of the chemistry that surrounds us. Build a foundation for the observations, curiosity and questions that chemistry requires. |
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Mad About Math: Shapes, Space & Measures (Spring) Area of Interest: Math How many shapes can you identify in the world around you? How is measurement used in everyday activities? Young mathematicians discover many ways of determining the size of simple objects using both standard and non-standard forms of measurement. Families search and explore 2- and 3-dimensional shapes, using a variety of tools to analyze, create and investigate geometric shapes and patterns. Make meaningful math together! |
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Music in Our World (Summer) Area of Interest: Interdisciplinary Music tells a story, often about the experiences, life and times of the composer. Participants learn about different types of music and instruments native to different locations around the world. Family members may sing, play and/or compose while they engage in games with rhythm and other activities. Engaging in virtual summer music festivals promises to make this an unforgettable experience. |
