Summer Camps 2020

      If you are looking for summer camps for 2020, now is the time to start researching on what’s out there, that might be of interest to your child. Here I am listing a few (some local) with links to their websites.

What is Algebra Readiness Testing?

Algebra Readiness  Test is given to eligible students in elementary school or middle school to test their ability to take more challenging mathematics coursework. Algebra Readiness  Test (a.k.a  Iowa Algebra Readiness Assessment,IARA in Iowa) is given to students who have scored high in NWEA/MAP testing, and  in state administered standardized tests like Iowa Assessments. IARA can be given to students as early as 4th grade or 5th grade (depending on the school district) to eligible students to place the them in secondary mathematics curriculum.

Advertisement

Back to School: What to expect this year (academic milestones for each grade)

It’s back to school time! Hope everyone enjoyed their summer. I am ready for the kids to go back to school and get back to a regular routine.

You will find many websites with information on physical, cognitive and social milestones for a child’s growth.  But it is not easy to find information on what to expect in each grade in school as far as academics goes. Before the kids head back to school, here is an overview of what to expect in the year ahead from what I have learned over the years.

Summer Learning opportunities for High Schoolers

Here are some summer programs to keep your high schoolers busy and challenged this summer.

Summer Programs by West Des Moines Schools

The registration for the Summer Enrichment Adventures (SEA) by the West Des Moines Community Schools is now open!

ISU’s OPPTAG

ISU’s OPPTAG Summer Camps are open!

The applications for the summer camps at the Iowa State University’s OPPTAG, a program for the Talented and Gifted children from grades 3 through 11 are now open. It opened today, March 1st and a couple of the math camps are already full by the end of the day. Please check the eligibility requirements for each groups before you apply.

You can find more information on their website here. These camps are on the expensive side like most other college camps as I mentioned in my post for Belin Blank at the University of Iowa. Read here for similar programs in other states.

I do not have personal experiences or opinions to share about the OPPTAG camps. Both my children haven’t had a chance to attend them yet. So if you have any experiences to share about this camp or any other college camps, please leave a comment below or  you can reach me at smithas2centsworth@gmail.com .

Standardized tests in public schools

Many of the students who attend public schools in Iowa took Iowa Assessments (formerly known as ITBS) a couple of weeks back. If you have a third grader, this is the first time they took a standardized test administered by the state. Any test in which the same test is given in the same manner to all test takers, and graded in the same manner for everyone, is a standardized test.

Belin Blank Center at the University of Iowa

The Belin Blank Center at the University of Iowa provides resources and support for educators and students in the field of gifted education. There are various opportunities and programs for students at grade levels 2 – 12. Students and teachers from 11 countries participated in the various programs at Belin Blank last year, but it is surprising that many local students and parents are not aware of this great opportunity at the U of I.