GT LEAD
LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ACADEMIC DISCOVERIES
MATH TELESCOPING TEST
Students in grades K - 5th have an opportunity to take an End of Course math assessment in order to skip a grade of math. A parent can register his or her child for testing through the link below or by calling the number below. There are two deadlines for two testing events. These dates have also been in Mrs. Pedevilla's weekly newsletter this semester. If you have questions about this process, I am happy to answer those.
MATH TELESCOPING DATES &. MATH TELESCOPING WEBSITE
JUNE Testing: Online June 7-17 & Paper June 7-10.
Registration Opens: March 22
Registration Closes; April 1st
JULY Testing: Online July 19-29 & Paper July 19-22
Registration Opens: June 14
Registration Closes: June 22
In order to telescope in math, a student must take a grade level end of course exam and score 90% or higher. For example, a first grader would take an end of course 2nd grade exam. If that child scored 90% or higher on it, then the next year as a 2nd Grader, that student would take 3rd Grade math. If you are wondering if this could be a good fit for your child, reach out to your child's math teacher to discuss this opportunity. If you choose to move forward with testing, then contact the Assessment Department at GCISD Administration Office (817-251-5524) to schedule and pay for testing.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW KINDERGARTEN GT LEADers!
We have also been using literature to look at characters' relationships with each other in the book, Hey Little Ant, specifically comparing/contrasting multiple perspectives (Depth and Complexity icons).
Another way we used Depth & Complexity with literature is using the Big Idea icon. Before we began to read the book, Courage, your amazing kindergartners brainstormed times when they were courageous:
- going upstairs in the dark
- walking into the cafeteria while big kids were in there
- trying something for the first time, like riding a bike
- eating a new vegetable
- sleeping without a night light
- going to a new school
Overall, Kinder GT LEADers are building their toolkits right now with identifying and analyzing multiple perspectives and with some logical reasoning through sudoku and math comparison problems.
SELFIES
1st Grade - Contribution
Sink or Float
Similes and Metaphors
2nd Grade - Systems
THE SYSTEM OF THE BRAIN
They have gotten INTO the brain and can even sing you a brain song!
With their research, I used this opportunity to teach them how to create Google Slides on their research so they would have a new digital resource in their toolkits. The first goal was to evaluate and pick the information we thought our audience would be most interested in and learn something new. We also learned about layout and order of slides.
This week and next, students will be presenting their slides as either doctors, reporters, or as the brain itself. For 2nd Grade, this is the first time they have presented in this way to a whole group...very scary! However, they have risen to the challenge. They have brought props, and they are giving each other specific compliments after each presentation. I am SO PROUD of them! I look forward to next week's presentatons.
Below are last week's presenters.
3rd Grade - Discoveries
For the last two weeks, third Graders have been discovering secret codes and uncovering reasons why people would create them and send them. As part of Spy School, they have created their own secret messages using a shift code or a pig pen code and uploading those to our class blog. Then, we spent some time solving those codes. The next type of code students solved was a secret word code. We have discussed Morse Code and the Navajo language as a type of secret code and how it was used. They are learning the necessity of details and the art of asking questions.
Meg
Lorelei
Charlotte
Brilee - Leadership Goal
4th Grade - Explorations
Enigma Research
Most Original - Harper
Best Idea - Fisher
Best Details (Research evident in game) - Aleyah and Devan
Best in Tech - Hudson
5th Grade - Change
Depth & Complexity
After that each student SCAMPERED (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify/Magnify/Minify, Put to another use, Elaborate, Reverse/Rearrange) their favorite game and found ways to improve the existing game.
Kathy Griffin
Email: kathy.griffin@gcisd.net
Location: 5300 Pool Road, Colleyville, TX, USA
Phone: 817-305-4870
Twitter: @OCTGriffin