Excel Extra
October 2015
This continues to be an exciting year, as each Excel class learns new skills, discovers and explores through adventures, collaborating with like minds. Social and emotional lessons for our unique gifted learners are inter-weaved throughout the year. I wish I had more photos to share, but our class time passes so quickly, and I'm having so much fun challenging the students.
The beginning of each class 1st and 2nd gathers in a rectangular circle for a class meeting. All students solve the instructions of the day written on the board in plexar format. At the end of class, if time permits, I'll offer 1-2 minutes of brain teasers. This week the kids tried to solve Halloween themed Hink Pinks and Hinky Pinkies.
Here's what's happening...
1st Grade Detectives - Deductive Thinkers
Listening to clues in stories or examining pictures, students (proudly wearing their Detective badges) solve multiple mysteries. A few iPad apps are occasionally used for improving deductive thinking skills! Ask about the hand motions for each of the Super 7 GT Expectations - Ethics, Communication, Collaboration, Autonomy, Growth Mindset, Creativity and Critical Thinking.
One of many mysteries solved by our critical thinking detectives. "This is hard" followed by "I did it" - words I love to hear!
GT Super 7 Expectations - Ethics includes using a system of organization, which begins with the Excel class binder.
Binders are filled with challenging activities to do when first entering the classroom, finishing early, or waiting for Mrs. Barron to finish helping someone. They LOVE Sudoku!
2ND GRADE NATURAL RESOURCE EXPLORERS
Insightful discussions followed reading the books "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein and "Alejandro's Gift" by Richard E. Albert. Using technology, second graders learn safe ways to search for information. Enthusiasm grew daily with A-Z research on endangered animals, and hearts begin to melt as they viewed the pictures of each critter.
While only one endangered animal was required for each letter of the alphabet, several enthusiastic researchers searched for more.
Organization doesn't come easy for all gifted children, but they are working on it, with their Excel class binders. Each grade level has different activities to complete if research or activity is finished early.
Super Seven GT Expectations - not just for decoration! Each student evaluates and writes his own interpretation for individual expectations.
3rd Grade Ancestor Adventure
Critical Thinking
Researching native clothing
Creativity
Creating native clothing for ancestor puppets
Critical Thinking
Using research to accurately design native clothing
Communica-tion
Adding researched information on selected country to "luggage"
Creativity
Incorporating visual and written research on luggage
Autonomy
After researching and coloring continent on world map, used perseverance to create 3D globe through Quiver app (blocked out faces for security)
4TH GRADE CARDBOARD ARCADE
Fourth Grade GT Students used all of the Super Seven GT Expectation skills while designing, building, and facilitating the Cardboard Arcade - Critical Thinking, Creativity, Autonomy, Communication, Collaboration, Ethics, and Growth Mindset.
KHES and WSES raised a combined total of $103.00 in donations for Casey's Kids, when all the fourth grade homeroom classes played the games during the Cardboard Arcade!
Thank you for sharing your amazing child with me!
GT Specialist - Advanced Academics
Webpage: http://campus.kellerisd.net/Teachers/13850/default.aspx