Cassidy Gifted and Talented News
May 18, 2020
Announcements
Virtual Showcase
Although we cannot have our in-person showcase, I would still love to give students the opportunity to share their work with their classmates and to see each other. Do not stress if students haven't gotten far on their projects during NTI. This is just an opportunity for us to get together one last time for the year and for anyone who would like to share a little bit about their work.
I have scheduled the showcases for 9am via Zoom and the schedule for each grade level is below:
Kindergarten: May 18
1st Grade: May 19
2nd Grade: May 20
3rd Grade: May 21
4th Grade: May 22
Fifth Grade: May 26
Here is the Zoom Link and Info:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93068985887?pwd=cmRLdlpnenBvNU5weGRaaTQ0VTBGUT09
Meeting ID: 930 6898 5887
Password: 2ZCM8a
Kentucky Youth Storytelling Competition
This would be a wonderful opportunity for GT students, particularly in literacy or drama. Click here for more information.
Lexington Children's Theater Classes
The Lexington Children's Theater is offering some virtual classes. These would be great for drama students. Click here for more information.
Lexington Ballet Free Summer Dance Classes
Click here for more information.
All Abilities Drama Camp
Due to Covid, the All Abilities Drama Camp in Nicholasville has cancelled their in person sessions for the summer, but will be hosting a virtual camp June 15-19. This would be great for any students interested in drama. It is an inclusive camp for students with and without disabilities. Click here for more information or like and follow their Facebook page.
Community Arts Week is This Week
Lauren Case, our District GT Arts Specialist, has put together a wonderful week of arts activities for our students with local artists. See below for the schedule and click on the image for the link to more info.
Plans for This Week
If students are finished with all of their work and their reflective piece and you would like further work for your child to do, you can always contact me and I can share some things or I have posted ideas below:
All Areas:
I have posted a variety of activities on my website that students can explore. Click here to access.
Language Arts/Math:
Imagine Learning (see directions in the Online Platforms for NTI Work below for how to access) is a wonderful, adaptive online program that adjusts to meet children at their level of performance.
Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Creativity:
All Google Classrooms have a variety of activities posted for children to explore. Mrs. Case's GT Arts page also has a variety of activities that they can choose from and the link is posted in all of the Google Classrooms as well.
Leadership:
Choice boards are posted in Google Classrooms with a variety of leadership activities for students to choose from.
STEM (Science, GI, Math):
Choice boards are posted in Google Classroom with a variety of STEM activities for students to choose from.
Social Studies:
4th grade students have an on-going research project they can continue working on. 5th grade students have options posted in Google Classroom.
Online Platforms for NTI Work
Imagine Learning
This week, the district added a resource called Imagine Learning for all PTP/GT students. This is an online platform for reading and math. It is adaptive, meaning that it figures out where they are and then will scaffold their learning up. This is super useful for PTP/GT learners because it can take them above grade level content. Students can access this by going to Clever (www.clever.com) and signing in with Google using their FCPS email and password. They can then scroll down to the apps for Imagine Learning (there are several they can choose from for reading and math).
Google Classroom:
I have setup a Google Classroom for each of my classes. This is an online platform that allows me to post notes to students about what they can work on. They can also use this to submit assignments or send me messages. Each week, I will post directions that the students can see in their Google Classroom class(es) if they look under the NTI Days section and then Directions for NTI Days so your child can also check on what they need to work on there. Here are directions for how to setup Google Classroom if your child does not have access and here are the codes. Most of my students already have access to their classes, but several will not, so please check in with your child to see. Please have your child sign in to their Google Classroom and make sure they are set up for any/all of their PTP/GT classes and that they review what they need to work on each week.
Seesaw:
I have also set up Seesaw for each of my classes. Seesaw is an online platform that allows students to post videos, journals, links, documents, etc. for me to see, for you to see, and for others in their classes to see. This will be a great way for students to communicate with me and their classmates about what they have been working on or what they need help with. I have posted directions for all of them in their Google Classrooms so that they can access it that way or here are directions for how to sign your child into Seesaw (click on the option for Email/Google Account Sign In). Here is a list of the codes. Most of my students already have access to their classes, but several will not so check in with your child to see. Parents can also sign up to view their child's work on Seesaw through a parent account. The information for how to do that is located at the end of this newsletter. Please have your child sign in to their Seesaw account and make sure they are set up for any/all of their PTP/GT classes.
Resources
KAGE has some excellent resources for PTP/GT children.
Here is a link for some resources on Social and Emotional Support for GT Learners During Covid.
Here is a link for lots of educational resources for GT Learners.
Dr. Madden's Website
I have made a website to compile a lot of resources for students. Here is the link. I have also posted it to each of their Google Classrooms so they can access it as well.
Sharing Our Work With You!
Seesaw Sign Up Links
Seesaw is an online journal where students can make posts to document and share their learning with you and each other. They can take videos and pictures, make drawings, type notes, etc. I am beginning to use it in several classes and will roll it out to more as we go along so if you do not currently see your child, please continue to check in with them or check back in to see if they have set up Seesaw yet or not. If your child participates in one of these groups, you can sign up with Seesaw to view their work by clicking on the link for their group, choosing their name from the menu, and then signing up for an account. There is also a Seesaw app you can download on your phone.
4th/5th Grade Dance/Drama
4th/5th GT Art (COMING SOON - Students have to setup accounts first)
Homeroom
Homeroom is an app/online site that lets me share pictures with you of what we are up to in PTP/GT. Here is the link to our Homeroom site!
Contact Information
Gifted and Talented Teacher
Cassidy Elementary
859-381-3018 ext 21252
angie.madden@fayette.kyschools.us
Email: angie.madden@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: www.cassidy.fcps.net
Phone: 859-381-3018