Excel Expedited
April 2016
Speeding through this newsletter before GT testing begins
No Excel Classes for a While...
Way to Go - Kindergarten GT!
Binders and Plexars and iPads, oh MY!
Just like the other grade levels, Kindergarten GT students brainstormed class names. Drum roll please...
WSES - Masters of Words
KHES - Super Smarties
Why am I in GT?
Another Unique Character
Just like Jackson Pollock!
And this is what it means...
Introducing iPads...
Skill building apps...
3-D Builder (analytical skills)
Crazy Maze
The remainder of this newsletter will be brief,
as I’m running out of Friday,
and want to send this before the weekend.
first grade
Max the Magician uses patterns
Yolanda the Yarnspinner uses imagination
Yolanda Bookmark...
Paint a picture in the mind...
Words, words, words...
Can you CDB?
second grade...
Talk about your designer zoo...
NEXT...
Students are creating some type of written presentation in their choice of format. The subject can be the zoo, their own new species, or anything else related to the zoo. Various formats using different tools are being utilized. Comic strips, press releases, creative fiction, and newspapers are some of their methods of communication. They are never ready to leave - wanting to keep working on this project which they say hurts their brains, but they LOVE it!
third grade
Board games
Games of skill
Misc. Toys
And more games...
There are actually several games/toys not pictured, but equally inventive. Most of their uniquely designed toys are still in the construction phase.
Once finished - LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
fourth grade
Profectionism - Purrfectionism - Perfectionism Workshop
* puzzle was missing a piece
* puzzle had two extra pieces
* puzzle must be solved with pieces face down, and no box with picture
* everyone wore oven mitts to put puzzle together
And then the discussion -
How did it make you feel to have your particular challenge?
How would you relate it to projects in school (maybe bridges in GT, project in regular classroom)
What could you do to be successful despite the challenges?
Which careers need perfectionists?
What is the difference between perfectionism and excellence?
Extra puzzle pieces
No box, no idea...
Wait - we're missing a piece
Oven mitts - seriously?
Missing a piece of the puzzle
Ish - perfect for perfectionists
Bridge Building is OVER
Websites you might find beneficial
http://campus.kellerisd.net/gt/Pages/default.aspx
SENG - Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted
NAGC - National Association for Gifted Children
TAGT - Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented
Duke University TIP - Digest of Gifted Research
Davidson Institute for Talent Development
http://www.davidsongifted.org/
Hogies Gifted Education Page
And finally...my funny GT students
"Mrs. Barron, when did you get glasses?"
"I've been wearing glasses for about 10 years."
"No you haven't. I never saw you wear them."
This opinion was consistent with almost all of my classes, grades K-4. I couldn't convince them I had been wearing glasses all year, as they apparently were invisible. Grin.
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Thank you for sharing your amazing child with me in Excel classes. I will be away from the computer much of the time during GT testing, bur if you need me, please send an email. I'll reply as quickly as possible.
Gayle Barron
GT Specialist, KISD Advanced Academics